The Deputy Chair of Global Human Rights Organisation has called for the inclusion of young African climate activists in the continent’s climate decisions.
Graça Machel says, the continent needs a ”groundswell of young African climate activists in their numbers to take charge in charting a climate-just future.
‘’It is only right that the voices of the young Africans be heard and integrated into policy decisions and actionable steps.
We need a groundswell of climate activists and young Africans in their millions to take up the charge in charting a climate-just future”, Graca Machel pointed.
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Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, described as ironic calling Africa the “youthful continent”, and yet deny its young population with average age below 20 fair representation in climate decisions.
She observes that Africa has the oldest leaders in the world, with ten of its political leaders aged over 75 and 62 on the average of African presidents.
The international advocate for women’s and children’s rights admits there is nothing wrong with recognizing the wisdom to gained with age, and the African tradition of honouring and respecting elders.
She however, expressed worry over the dominance of old leaders who pass pensionable ages in political decision-making, especially when dealing with the climate crisis.
Graca Machel advocates that fresh and innovative thinking is needed now and going into the future.
She therefore called on old African leaders to give young climate activists on the continent a voice in all climate matters.
According to the Global Center on Adaptation, young people in Africa are politically marginalized the oldest generation largely continue to control political leadership.
Many independent voices within and outside of Africa are advocating for young African climate activists to be part of the landmark’s climate business.
The majority of African population are under 18 years.
By 2050, Africa’s 1bn children will bear the effect of the climate crisis, yet have no say in decisions made by old men.
According to the Children’s Climate Risk Index, an overview of child vulnerability to the impacts of global heating by Unicef, an estimated 490 million children in 35 sub-Saharan countries are at risk from the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Many young activists in Africa are now calling on their leaders to give them adequate representation in the continents climate decision making.
