Pretoria News

Young SA voices at Glasgow gathering

VAL BOJE val.boje@inl.co.za

KNOWN for its architecture, art and fashion, the city of Milan in Italy is set to play host to a different kind of event this month: the gathering of hundreds of bright young climate change activists from across the globe ahead of COP26 taking place in Glasgow, in the UK, from November 1.

To introduce the dynamic under-thirties chosen as our local climate youth representatives to the “Youth4climate: Driving Ambition” meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Italian ambassador to South Africa, Paolo Cuculi, co-hosted an event in the garden of his Pretoria residence this week with the acting British High Commissioner, Adam Bye.

Guests of honour were climate youth representatives Koaile Monaheng and Sandisile Mkhonza, while Sibusiso Mazomba joined by video.

Monaheng, a Mandela-rhodes scholar pursuing a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at UCT, said his focus was on the scientific basis of the climate crisis, while his call was to look to indigenous systems and transdisciplinary knowledge when determining a sustainable future and one of climate justice in the region.

From Lesotho, he describes himself as an African storyteller speaking on behalf of those who cannot, who wants to conscientise the youth to the human realities of climate change and other environmental issues while building a collaborative network which will help those like himself take the debate beyond Glasgow to COP27, due to take place in Africa.

Mkhonza, an alumnus of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy and a Bachelor of Accounting Science Student of Wits, said she became an activist at age 9 when she realised the impact of climate change on her community.

In Africa, climate advocacy was poorly documented, yet young people had strong opinions and were needed as visible agents of change, she said.

Her particular interest lies in climate finance and economics, and she suggests greater collaboration among cities and between the government and private sector in developing and enforcing a climate action plan.

Cuculi stressed the role of young people in climate diplomacy not only because they were dynamic and innovative but also as decisions on climate action now would have a long-term impact on their generation.

Bye referred to devastating recent weather events, including floods in Europe, and said there was a lot at stake at COP26 with an opportunity to “build back better” and create a more just society.

He said it was important to hear the voice of the youth and for the voice of the youth in Africa to be supported.

Also at the event were activists, some still at school, who have been involved through the SA Institute of

International Affairs in the development of a South African Youth Climate Action Plan, to contribute to a sustainable, just, inclusive and climate-resilient future, due for release in October .

The UNFCCC will meet in Milan from September 28 to 30, and elaborate on proposals on topics that affect the negotiation process of pre-cop26 and COP26 in the UK.

The young delegates have the opportunity to network, debate and hold discussions with ministers who are attending pre-cop26 and COP26 .

METRO

en-za

2021-09-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://pretorianews.pressreader.com/article/281539409091506

African News Agency