By Juliet ETEFE
Parliament has pledged its commitment to support youth-led climate actions for a sustainable future, amid heightened calls to prioritise climate action.
A speech read by Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Yves Hanson-Nortey, on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, indicated that leadership of legislature is committed to advocating for policies that support youth-led climate actions; and will work to create a conducive environment for innovation, research and sustainable technologies which aid in the country’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
He added that the committee will advance policies and legislations which promote sustainability, technological innovation and climate resilience.
He noted that climate change is not a distant problem, and the youth have a crucial role to play; not just as advocates, but also as active participants in the development and implementation of climate policies.
“There is a need to promote meaningful youth engagement in agenda-setting and policy development that introduces fresh ideas and innovative solutions to tackle the climate crisis. By doing so, it will increase the youths’ participation in policy formulation and implementation of climate change policies at the national, regional and district levels. This youth-led activism is a testament to the urgency and dedication of young people in the fight against climate change.
“We are aware of the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to address the numerous challenges posed by climate change. Parliament recognises the importance of addressing climate change and supports the involvement of young people in the process,” he noted at the 2023 Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Ghana held in Accra.
For a successful youth-led climate action, the Speaker stated, multi-sector stakeholders must come together and co-create solutions to bridge capacity gaps, highlight opportunities and showcase youth-led climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Climate Change poses challenges for Ghana’s infrastructure, with an estimated amount of US$678.47million required for road repairs and climate adaptation by end of the century, as per a 2014 study. Furthermore, Ghana can expect more pronounced variations in dry and wet periods, and temperatures are projected to rise between 1.7 and 3.7°C by 2080 compared to pre-industrial levels – with the northern regions experiencing even higher temperatures and more temperature fluctuations.
He recounted that parliament has taken steps to address climate change by passing the National Climate Change Policy, which provides a comprehensive framework for addressing climate change in the country while acknowledging the active participation of young people is crucial in the development and implementation of climate policies.
Mr. Yves Hanson-Nortey advocated constant engagement between leadership and the youth activists, saying: “You may not have the platform, but you have some of us who are keen on scrutinising environmental issues in Ghana and will champion the cause”.
Chief Executive Officer-National Youth Authority, Pius Enam Hadzide also pledged his outfit’s dedication to supporting programmes that will ensure all young persons in the country are well informed about climate change as part of an effort to protect the planet.
He also urged the youth to seek mentorship from like-minded experts in the space.
LCOY Ghana 2023
The Youth Climate Council Ghana, in collaboration with the Green Africa Youth Organisation, with its partners hosted the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Ghana 2023 under the theme ‘Accelerating Youth-Led Climate Actions for a Sustainable Future’.
It is an event under the Children and Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (YOUNGO), serving as an antecedent of the Conference of Youth (COY) organised at national and regional levels. It aims at being a space to boost youth climate action locally and create an input for the international United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference of youth.
