EDITORIAL: Put youth at centre of climate change mitigation

Climate change is one of the key contemporary issues that the world is struggling to address urgently. The 21st Conference of Parties in Paris (COP21) due next month is expected to give a comprehensive way forward on mitigating climate change, especially in the developed countries. Rwanda has taken several measures to mitigate climate change in the country. Apart from government pioneered initiatives such as banning plastic bags and establishment of green villages across the country, the government has also invested a lot in reclaiming wetlands through a resettlement programme where people living in wetlands or high risk areas are relocated to safer areas. However, despite these efforts, there is more to be done in mitigating the effects of climate change because Rwanda is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and has been hit by climate change related disasters in recent years due to an increase in droughts and floods. Using the youth as the ambassadors of climate change fight will go a long way in addressing the challenge. This message was echoed at the One Young World Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand last week. Indeed, all stake holders in climate change mitigation should embrace this call. The climate change mitigation campaign should be taken to the youth at all levels from primary schools to institutions of higher learning. More efforts are needed to put the youth at the forefront of environmental protection. For example it should be mandatory for every school to have a monthly tree planting day where every student across the country plants a tree. Other initiatives may be establishment of climate change mitigation clubs in schools and regular national debate competitions on climate change among the youth. The present unfavourable climate threatening activities will affect future generations, hence the need to mobilize the youth to take a pro active role.

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EDITORIAL: Put youth at centre of climate change mitigation