Climate YES at AFAN-CJ

Article by Climate YES members

The young people of Climate YES were invited to attend the Continental Capacity Building and Roundtable of the Africa Faith Actors Network for Climate Justice in Nairobi Kenya from 27th to 29th August 2024. Four youths from Eswatini, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia participated in the meeting, representing the different hubs. The team comprised two females and two males. The youth engaged in meaningful participation at the meeting and gained experience in various aspects of climate justice like climate finance, carbon markets, and nationally determined contributions.

Climate YES convened young people who attended the meeting to develop a youth statement that was presented to the meeting steering committee and adopted into the official statement of the AFAN-CJ

YOUTH KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• As youth, we are leaving this conference with invaluable knowledge especially on the hugely technical topics for example climate finance, carbon credits among others. This is a foundation for us as we head back to our various communitie. Therefore we extend our sincere appreciation to every participant for sharing knowledge.
• As young people, we have gained the insight on taking immediate action towards climate justice with the resources we have within our capacities and where we are.
• From this meeting, it is clear that youth need capacity building on theology as youth faith actors in climate justice so that our efforts and mandate is clear.
• Collaboration with every stakeholder and public participation is the best  strategy for getting everyone onboard but most importantly build and strengthen our relationship with the generation before us to constructively, jointly and amicably address climate change.
• A point of concern identified throughout this conference is that young people are not as visible as  expected under AFAN-CJ, they are not on the frontline for this cause as evidenced in the reports presented by various regions.

YOUTH KEY ASKS TO THE AFAN-CJ COMMUNITY

Meaningful Youth Engagement: 

• We recognise the presence of the youth representative on the AFAN-CJ Steering Committee, we further ask that AFAN-CJ should create a structure for youth involvement through regional and country representation structures that outline their engagements at all levels. 
• We ask for a clear roadmap and terms of reference for youth engagement on the steering committee and the different levels of the network.
• We further ask for Reporting and Accountability Mechanisms that will hold young people accountable in their engagement and activities so their actions can be traceable, visible and therefore impactful. 

Youth Capacity Building And Training: 

• There is a gap in knowledge of youth leaders to enhance their mandate. We therefore ask for clear and precise training for youth leaders in the network  e.g eco-theology short courses, leadership courses and mentorship.
• Create a learning environment for young faith leaders that will make us informed when we attend local and international platforms for meaningful participation of youth from the faith community. 

General appeal by AFAN-CJ to faith leaders to prioritize and promote supporting youth-led green businesses and green initiatives through development programmes at church levels.

YOUTH KEY ASK FOR COP29 FROM FAITH COMMUNITY

• Framing climate financing demands that directly invest into youth; financing for both adaptation and mitigation to address youth needs and create clear timelines for these commitments
• Strategy to protect children and youth on climate migration through creating legal frameworks at country and regional level

YOUTH COMMITMENTS

We also recognise that it is important that as we make demands we also put forth what we commit to do:

1. Creating visibility and advocacy of AFAN-CJ initiatives: using our social media platforms to share activities, engagements about the efforts of AFAN-CJ. 
2. We commit our willingness, time and availability to mobilize more youth faith actors
3. We commit to listen, learn and take the advice so as to make informed decisions 

Information credited to the youth in attendance

Collins Lungu (Climate YES – Zambia), Resty Nabaggala (Climate YES – Uganda), Busiswa Dlamini (Climate YES – Eswatini), Augustine Muema (Climate YES – Kenya), Sandra Ombese, Jeanne Abayo, Rose Seinyah Bangura, Evelyne Chirwa Lungu.