Youth vital in fight against climate change

The involvement of youth is paramount in the fight against climate change.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this at the National Youth Climate Summit and Namibia Local Conference of Youth, which took place under the theme ‘Empowering youth for climate actions’.

"Youth education represents one of the most effective tools to combat the destructive potential of climate change and cultivate an international understanding among members of the next generation since it is a long-term process that will impact an infinite number of future generations."

Shifeta said over three decades ago, the world realised that industrial development was affecting global temperatures, leading to extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, cyclones, extreme heat waves, and sea level rise, to name but a few.

"These impacts are alarming, especially for young people who will inherit the world in the years to come."



Harmonised approach

Devastating changes in climatic conditions propelled the world to adopt sustainable practices to combat climate change, the minister said.

"However, these sustainable practices need a harmonised approach from all of us actors, communities, and individuals to play our part and reverse the environmental calamities."

According to him, these efforts include restoring degraded ecosystems, practising sustainable land management systems, and cutting carbon emissions.

Shifeta said that Namibia is recognised and projected to be one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

He said Namibia’s vulnerability is a result of its already arid conditions.

"Ultimately, Namibia suffers extreme drought events, flash floods, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme temperatures as a result of climate change. These impacts increase our communities’ exposure, and the pressing social and economic challenges further limit their ability to adapt."

Last year, Namibia experienced a late rainfall onset season, which began in late December, peeked into early January, and was accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms.

"This harsh weather led to flash floods, resulting in the loss of properties, human lives, and economic losses."



Global pacts

He said the world is aware that greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels for industrial development are among the major causes of global warming, leading to climate change.

As a deliverable under the Paris Agreement, countries, including Namibia, have agreed to communicate their climate actions periodically every five years, including national commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Namibia was first submitted to the UNFCCC in 2015.

Namibia recently updated its NDC and realised the urgency of encouraging national youth engagement in its implementation.

"It is worth noting that the NDC does not only address Namibia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, but it also remains and serves as a national framework to address pressing developmental challenges in various social and economic sectors of the country, mapping Namibia’s priorities to mitigate and adapt to the emerging challenges of climate change catastrophes."

The updated 2023 NDC calls for participation with various stakeholders, key players, and institutions to ensure successful implementation and the realisation of Namibia’s commitment towards global efforts to combat climate change while at the same time strengthening resilience in our local communities.

Shifeta said youth voices are a critical part of the inclusivity needed to ensure national policies, such as the NDC, are well directed, implemented, and monitored for appropriate and transformational climate actions.

He said the summit is and will be among those initiatives to consolidate the voices of youth in relation to the framework established to govern environmental, social, and ecosystem management and ensure community resilience towards climate change.