Global youth forum challenges leaders on climate change

World leaders should make a firm commitment to tackling climate change ahead of the 21st Conference of Parties in Paris (COP21) due in December, youth at the One Young World forum in Bangkok, Thailand, said last week. Speaking at the forum, Rwanda’s delegate, Isabelle Kamariza, said with 80 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture, Rwanda is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and has suffered its portion in recent years due to an increase in droughts and floods. Kamariza is the founder of Solid Africa, a local NGO that supports vulnerable patients in public hospitals. Kamaliza acknowledged that although efforts have been made in climate change mitigation in Rwanda through government pioneered programmes such as banning plastic bags and establishment of green villages across the country, there is more to be done in mitigating the effects of climate change in the country. She talked of Rwanda’s efforts, noting that through monthly community service, Umuganda, citizens are primary caretakers of the environment. Kamaliza cited Muhanga District, where the first green villages are being created, where homes use biogas to cook powered from manure generated from government donated cows, while solar panels provide electricity and rain water collected for future use. “Climate change still poses a challenge in many parts of our country,” she said, citing droughts in Eastern Province and floods in Northern Province. “With 80 per cent of our population dependent on agriculture, capacity building, knowledge and technology transfer are key to helping us combat climate change and then sustain our economy and self reliance,” Kamaliza said. She added that mitigating the effects of climate change is a challenge that no country can solve alone. Kamaliza emphasised the need for diversification of economy and income generating activities to enable the population not to depend on rain-fed agriculture which is prone to the consequences of climate change. The campaign features personalities from 196 nations, including some of the world’s famous leaders and global icons. Call On COP saw One Young World delegates and counsellors deliver back-to-back speeches as part of an ambitious campaign to pressure global leaders into making significant concessions at COP21. Themes that ran throughout these speeches include the importance for youthful leadership in the fight against climate change, and the need for the world to unite behind this cause. Former UN chief Kofi Annan said the present unfavourable climate threatening activities would affect future generations, hence calling on leaders to lead by example in combating climate change. “Today’s youth will be most greatly affected by climate change – and the decisions made by current leaders. With stakes high and time urgent, I urge international politicians to show young people what leadership is by leading by example,” Kofi said in a statement. Among speakers included Jon Landau, the Oscar-winning producer of Titanic, and Avatar, who accused special interest groups of deliberately casting doubt over scientific evidence through rhetoric, declaring that the world cannot allow ‘big money’ to prevent new policies being created to protect the earth against climate change. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Global youth forum challenges leaders on climate change