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Published November 17, 2022 / Environment

African climate solutions. A call to youth

20221117-COP27-Jeunesse-Climat

Sharm el-Sheikh, November 17, 2022 - The Brazzaville Foundation concluded its mission at COP27 by inviting representatives of African youth organisations to debate on the theme "African solutions for the climate". On this occasion, the Foundation was welcomed at the pavilion of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, which had opportunely opened a youth space during the COP.

Caption: Moderated by Raoul Siemeni, Chief Executive d'Afrique Environnement, the debate allowed for a lively and very instructive exchange, concluding on the need to prepare now for COP28 © Brazzaville Foundation.

Promoting the continent's natural and human capital

At the PreCOP27 in Kinshasa at the beginning of October, the Foundation launched an initial an initial survey to understand how Africa is responding to the challenges posed by climate change, and how it is also contributing to the challenges posed by the global climate transition. This first consultation confirmed the need to change the discourse on African capabilities, recognizing that while the continent's countries are among the least polluting, they are also, by virtue of their natural resources, the best placed to respond to climate issues. But it seems that non-African countries are still stuck in obsolete mental patterns about Africa's natural and human capital.

 

For Mahamat, coordinator of an NGO promoting children's rights in Chad, this stems from the fact that Africa is not sufficiently involved in multilateral decision-making processes. A young Congolese scientist goes even further: "Polluting countries don't listen to the suggestions of African scientists", expressing surprise at the disregard for solutions provided by the academic world: "Even within the IPCC, we're looking for African voices".

 

Makia, a Guinean entrepreneur elected Miss Jungle for finding solutions to reforestation, deplores the fact that successful projects are not better supported, as there is an ongoing battle to find the means to take action.

Relying on the primacy of African expertise

Called upon to conclude the debate, the Chief Executive of the Foundation, Richard Amalvy, supported the idea brought by Albert, a Congolese academic, to impose a paradigm shift by relaying the message and image of a successful Africa that refuses the status of victim and eternal helper.

 

The springs of endogenous development require a long time to produce their effects. They are the most likely to create a lasting and definitive impact. The Chief Executive invited the participants to contribute "to the strengthening of the Brazzaville Foundation method, based on the primacy of African competence"  by indicating that its President, Jean-Yves Ollivier, ardently wishes to invite African youth to a series of "solutions forum" within the framework of the initiatives coordinated by the Foundation on climate issues and those related to public health.

 

In the immediate future, the Foundation will conclude the consultation carried out during COP27 which aimed to deepen the survey conducted during the PreCOP. Concrete results will be shared by the end of the year with all those who have the capacity to act politically, socially, economically and scientifically on the continent.

 

The participants parted with one certainty: we must now prepare for COP28 in Dubai.

Caption: The Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IFDD) was a major facilitator to make the voice of African youth heard during COP27, © Brazzaville Foundation.