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African Young Professionals have been intensify and engaged in the effects of climate change and actions in Africa communities.
Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC), a leading transformational leadership advocate, Climate Investment Funds (CIF), Washington DC, USA and British High Commission (BHC) Ghana are collaborating to intensify the engagement of young people in Africa to address the effects of climate change in their communities and countries.
The YPYC aimed at building the knowledge and capacity of students, young people communities youth leaders and the youth in general on climate change advocacy and solutions search.
Mr Andy Okrah, Founder and President of YPYC at the programme, expressed the excited of the coalition towards such collaborative efforts.
He maintained that, as transformational and generational leadership advocates seeking to inspire meaningful development in Africa, they see Government of Ghana, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Climate Investment Fund (CIF), British High Commission (BHC) and other relevant stakeholders as crucial partners who could achieve a lot together.
According to him, Young Professional and Youth Coalition (YPYC) has built a strong connection with young professionals, young leaders and the youth of the continent in general at various levels for over ten years.
He stressed that, they know and appreciate with insight the innovative energies the youth possess and what they could achieve with that, with respect to the climate change agenda.
Dr Julian Wright, West Africa Senior Advisor for Climate Change and Natural Resources at the British High Commission, expressed the commitment of the Commission to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and that failing to tackle climate change risks undermining development and progress.
He was of the view that, young people would be the most affected by climate change, but the most important in driving innovative solutions, hence the British High Commission is supportive of the efforts of the YPYC and partners.
Ms.Mafalda Duarte, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Climate Investment Fund (CIF), noted that involving and partnering with youth is paramount to driving innovative and inclusive solutions to climate change and the reason, the CIF prioritizes youth engagement.
She disclosed that, the United Nations (UN) and both local and global development stakeholders are concerned about climate change and its effects because of the devastating impact they have on the SDGs and humanity.
She underscored that, they are making all the necessary investments and efforts to win the fight against climate change, but cannot succeed without the youth and young leaders in communities across the world, and to reach them, they need vehicles like YPYC.
From Ernest Best Anane
