spot_imgspot_img
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

YOUNG AFRICANS AT COP27 SAY THEY WANT ACTION, NOT WORDS

Date:

By Kingsley Ighobor

‘Our planet is in trouble, and we, the young people, will be the ones to suffer if action is not taken to save it’ – Yoanna Milad, 21, from Egypt

Yoanna Milad, 21, from Egypt, says she wants to live in a clean and safe environment. “Our planet is in trouble, and we, the young people, will be the ones to suffer if action is not taken to save it. I want COP27 to lead to an agreement on exactly how and when we will stop using fossil fuels, and how we are going to have electric buses on the roads. Let countries tell us not just what they want to do but what they have done so far.”

Yoanna’s compatriot Salma Salah, 21, echoes the same point. In addition, Salma would like young Africans to be at the forefront of finding solutions to the climate crisis. “We hope that as they deliberate, they listen to our voices and our concerns, so that any agreement from COP27 will have broad support.”

The devastating impact of climate change is the key motivator for Sharon Gakii, a 24-year-old climate activist from Kenya. For her, it is personal. “I come from Kajiado County, a semi-arid region in Kenya. My parents lost at least 100 cattle due to drought, and right now they don’t have enough money to pay school fees for my younger siblings.

“I am here to make my voice heard. I am here to let everyone know it’s about time that countries meet their climate commitments. For example, the $100 billion promised by wealthy nations more than a decade ago to help poor countries in adaptation and mitigation has still not been delivered. We are in 2022. Why?” she asks rhetorically.

All solutions?

Not all young Africans believe solutions have to come from wealthy countries. Twenty nine-year-old  Dahiru Mohammad Hashim, a medical doctor from Nigeria who left his practice to concentrate on tree planting, says, “The global solution is the local solution. He believes the onus is on national governments to lead the charge.

“Our governments need to show us how they have met their NDCs [Nationally Determined Contributions],” he says. “Perennial flooding in his country and drought have led to rising insecurity”.

Solani Mhango, a Malawian working in Mozambique with the non-governmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says he would like to hear more about loss and damage.

“I want to see a financial facility made available for loss and damage in Africa because Africa has special needs and circumstances. We cannot suffer for a situation we did not create.”

Solani laments frequent cyclones rampaging Mozambique. “There is no doubt that we are in trouble. Cyclones such as Idai [in 2019] are destroying our land, and there is need for the big, wealthy, and high-polluting nations to fulfill their $100 billion pledges for mitigation and adaption.”

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.un.org/coronavirus

Africa Renewal

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

CLASHES AT CAPITOL HILL HIGHLIGHT POWER STRUGGLES AND THREATS TO LIBERIA’S DEMOCRACY

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Tensions boiled over at the...

‘WHERE IS OUR PRESIDENT?’ SENATOR KONNEH CALLS FOR STRONGER LEADERSHIP FROM BOAKAI

LIBERIA – Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Mohammed Konneh, who...

DR. NYAN ISSUES URGENT HEALTH WARNING AS NPHIL ENHANCES SURVEILLANCE AGAINST VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, the Director-General...

BOAKAI SIDESTEPS SPEAKER KOFFA: LOGICALITY OR PRECEDENT-SETTING BREACH?

President Joseph Boakai's decision to submit the 2025 draft...

A MILESTONE FOR LIBERIA’S HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

The launch of Liberia’s first doctoral programs at the...

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

COMMENTARY

THE LASTING LEGACY OF PRINCE JOHNSON’S DEATH AND THE PATH FORWARD FOR LIBERIA

By Lyndon J. Ponnie, Sr. The passing of former Liberian...

PRES. BOAKAI’S LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS

-A Commentary Joseph Boakai's failure to lead has once again...

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

LATEST NEWS

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

LIBERIANS ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UP AND CDC

  An Opinion By Grace RK Guar Every six...

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link