Event Recording

Background 

According to the African Youth Charter young people between the ages of 15-35 , are knowledgeable and passionate about tackling the climate crisis. However, their meaningful participation and inclusion in climate-related policymaking spaces and processes, remains a major challenge. As young individuals increasingly witness the devastating consequences of climate change, they are rightfully concerned about their future. Furthermore, despite their genuine concerns and valuable insights, young people often find themselves marginalized and excluded from the decision-making processes surrounding climate policies.

There is strong evidence that the participation of young people in formal, institutional political processes is relatively low when compared to older citizens across the globe. A survey carried out by Plan International informs us that an overwhelming majority (84%) of survey participants say their government’s efforts to include them in policies to tackle the climate emergency is insufficient, while only 6% think they are about right. The NDC Partnership Youth Engagement Plan puts in picture the challenges and opportunities for youth engagement in thematic policy making areas. The South African Institute of International Affairs stresses that to eliminate disenfranchisement of youth in climate policy making processes it is essential to redefine what meaningful youth engagement and participation looks like within policymaking processes and to move away from tokenistic initiatives highlighting lack of literature on African Youth in Policy Making.

Youth disenfranchisement in climate policy making is a pressing issue that demands attention. This lack of representation not only denies young voices the opportunity to shape their own future but also hinders their participation in democratic processes, leads to decreased civic engagement, presents a major risk on missing out on their valuable insights for innovation and creativity and perpetuates existing inequalities, preventing policies from effectively addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by marginalized or underrepresented groups.

Objectives

1. To increase the awareness and understanding on climate change science including providing training on policy modeling techniques,
2. To enhance and strength policy analysis and development skills, and
3. To empower youth by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively engage with relevant stakeholders including governments, CSOs, businesses, academia and communities.

Agenda and Format