GLASGOW DECLARATION BY AFRICAN YOUTH4CLIMATE
United Kingdom, Glasgow on 30 October 2021
We, the Official Youth4Climate PreCOP26 and COY 16 Delegates representing Africa, gathered in Milan from 28 to 30 September 2021 at the invitation of the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Office of the UN Youth Envoy, in the framework of the “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition” event of the preparatory summit of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ; and in Glasgow from 28 to 30 October 2021 at 16th UN Climate change Conference of Youth COY 16 :
Strongly concerned about the climate urgency to effectively address the urgent issues of ‘‘climate change mitigation’’, adaptation and loss & damages, biodiversity protection, land restoration and regreening in the Sub Saharan, Sahel, Small Island Developing States (SIDs) and all other regions of Africa ;
Aware about the need and role of youth, women and other marginalized groups towards an inclusive and sustainable recovery to combat the COVID-19 health crisis that has amplified the high vulnerability of African youth, women and communities to climate change that requires a transition to sustainable food systems, green jobs and stimulus package for small businesses ;
Considering the “red alert” given by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through its 2021 report, which clearly states that the global surface temperature has risen by 1.09°C over the decade 2011-2020 compared to the decade 1850-1900;
Noting that, despite the progress made by Parties in implementing the Paris Agreement and the Gender Action Plan adopted at COP23, there is an urgent need to multiply ambitions to continue to strengthen climate policies that promote gender equality, youth inclusion, intergenerational equity ;
Recalling that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change, and that African women and youth are the least resilient and least supported ;
Building on the various formal commitments of the parties including those in Article 4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requiring developed country Parties and other developed Parties to also assist developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, mobilize and provide adequate financial resources for climate and transfer environmentally sound technologies to African countries ;
Considering also the awareness, strong determination and ingenuity of youth and women, civil society and the private sector in implementing various climate initiatives and innovations ;
Congratulating the international community’s climate justice efforts and support for developing countries through their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC);
Reaffirm our determination to take further action to :
– Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty and hunger, protect the planet, ensure prosperity, peace and justice, and achieve a better and more sustainable future for Africa’s people ;
– The implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change by keeping temperature rise to not more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial levels.
Express our strong commitment to :
– The establishment of a unifying or federating organization « African Youth4Climate » to unite member networks, organisations, green businesses and stakeholders in federating climate action across the continent in a formal regular and concrete manner whilst including and monitoring youth voices and innovations in African Union and United Nations decision-making processes on climate, environmental and sustainability issues ;
– African Youth4Climate envisions to pioneer as a continental organization that federates and ensures, within a formal framework, the synergy of climate action, the inclusion of youth voices and their diverse green innovations for a healthy, carbon neutral, resilient, more just, peaceful and sustainable Africa.
Recommend :
– Consideration of various youth delegate proposals from the Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition event at the ministerial summit of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ;
– The inclusion and participation of African youth in the design, planning, negotiation, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of decisions and commitments related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Africa ;
– The inclusion of local youth-led green organisations and innovations in the implementation and monitoring of the Great Green Wall project ;
– The strengthening of the capacities of African climate organisations and Green businesses to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which unfortunately still does not benefit the climate actions and innovations of young people in our continent ;
Ask :
The effective participation, support and inclusion of African youth in the negotiation processes of COPs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ;
Call on :
The African Union, the Parties as well as technical and financial partners to support the promotion and scaling up of youth climate actions and innovations to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
GLASGOW DECLARATION BY AFRICAN YOUTH4CLIMATE
United Kingdom, Glasgow on 30 October 2021
We, the Official Youth4Climate PreCOP26 and COY 16 Delegates representing Africa, gathered in Milan from 28 to 30 September 2021 at the invitation of the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Office of the UN Youth Envoy, in the framework of the “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition” event of the preparatory summit of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ; and in Glasgow from 28 to 30 October 2021 at 16th UN Climate change Conference of Youth COY 16 :
Strongly concerned about the climate urgency to effectively address the urgent issues of ‘‘climate change mitigation’’, adaptation and loss & damages, biodiversity protection, land restoration and regreening in the Sub Saharan, Sahel, Small Island Developing States (SIDs) and all other regions of Africa ;
Aware about the need and role of youth, women and other marginalized groups towards an inclusive and sustainable recovery to combat the COVID-19 health crisis that has amplified the high vulnerability of African youth, women and communities to climate change that requires a transition to sustainable food systems, green jobs and stimulus package for small businesses ;
Considering the “red alert” given by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through its 2021 report, which clearly states that the global surface temperature has risen by 1.09°C over the decade 2011-2020 compared to the decade 1850-1900;
Noting that, despite the progress made by Parties in implementing the Paris Agreement and the Gender Action Plan adopted at COP23, there is an urgent need to multiply ambitions to continue to strengthen climate policies that promote gender equality, youth inclusion, intergenerational equity ;
Recalling that Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change, and that African women and youth are the least resilient and least supported ;
Building on the various formal commitments of the parties including those in Article 4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requiring developed country Parties and other developed Parties to also assist developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, mobilize and provide adequate financial resources for climate and transfer environmentally sound technologies to African countries ;
Considering also the awareness, strong determination and ingenuity of youth and women, civil society and the private sector in implementing various climate initiatives and innovations ;
Congratulating the international community’s climate justice efforts and support for developing countries through their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC);
Reaffirm our determination to take further action to :
– Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty and hunger, protect the planet, ensure prosperity, peace and justice, and achieve a better and more sustainable future for Africa’s people ;
– The implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change by keeping temperature rise to not more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial levels.
Express our strong commitment to :
– The establishment of a unifying or federating organization « African Youth4Climate » to unite member networks, organisations, green businesses and stakeholders in federating climate action across the continent in a formal regular and concrete manner whilst including and monitoring youth voices and innovations in African Union and United Nations decision-making processes on climate, environmental and sustainability issues ;
– African Youth4Climate envisions to pioneer as a continental organization that federates and ensures, within a formal framework, the synergy of climate action, the inclusion of youth voices and their diverse green innovations for a healthy, carbon neutral, resilient, more just, peaceful and sustainable Africa.
Recommend :
– Consideration of various youth delegate proposals from the Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition event at the ministerial summit of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ;
– The inclusion and participation of African youth in the design, planning, negotiation, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of decisions and commitments related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Africa ;
– The inclusion of local youth-led green organisations and innovations in the implementation and monitoring of the Great Green Wall project ;
– The strengthening of the capacities of African climate organisations and Green businesses to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which unfortunately still does not benefit the climate actions and innovations of young people in our continent ;
Ask :
The effective participation, support and inclusion of African youth in the negotiation processes of COPs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ;
Call on :
The African Union, the Parties as well as technical and financial partners to support the promotion and scaling up of youth climate actions and innovations to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.