Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) Southern Africa (2024) – Zambia
Article by Letago Kgomoeswana – Climate YES South Africa
Attending the Regional Conference of Youth on Climate Change (RCOY Southern Africa 2024) as a delegate for ClimateYES has been an empowering and transformative experience. Held under the theme “Shaping Financial Climate Resilience for Child and Youth-led Adaptation,” the event brought
together passionate young leaders from across Southern Africa to confront the urgent impacts of climate change in our region.
On Day 1, we dove deep into discussions about how climate change is impacting our communities. The gathering was a space for shared insights and innovative solutions, with the ultimate goal of driving sustainable change. One key takeaway for me was the emphasis on collaboration—how schools, churches, and faith-based movements like ClimateYES can serve as pivotal actors in advancing climate action. This was particularly meaningful, as our movement operates at the intersection of faith and climate justice. The emphasis on leveraging moral leadership from religious institutions reaffirmed my belief that these spaces hold untapped potential to rally communities in
the fight against climate change.
Day 2 featured a compelling session led by COMESA, focusing on the nexus between climate change, peace, and security. It underscored how climate-induced forced displacement is becoming a human face of the crisis, particularly affecting young people. With resource scarcity driving migration, youth are vulnerable to exploitation, recruitment into armed groups, and cycles of poverty. The discussion also shone a light on the disproportionate impact on women and girls, who bear the brunt of climate-induced displacement and the insecurity that comes with it.
We also explored Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as a path to addressing food and water security and biodiversity conservation. However, the challenge of inadequate funding to scale NBS was a recurring theme. This resonated deeply with me, as it highlighted the urgent need for investment in youth-led and faith-driven climate resilience initiatives—something ClimateYES is working toward.
Day 3 was the highlight of my experience, as I had the privilege of contributing to and leading the drafting of the final statement, which was presented to Zambia’s Permanent Secretary of the Minister of Green Economy, alongside high-level delegates from the UN, UNICEF, Save the Children, and COMESA. This moment was a powerful reminder of the influence youth can have in shaping climate policy. Our calls for equitable climate finance, adaptation strategies, and youth-sensitive climate policies reflected the collective aspirations of young people across Southern Africa.
As we look ahead to #COP29, my time at RCOY Southern Africa reaffirmed my commitment to youth leadership in climate advocacy, particularly through faith-based initiatives. This journey will be instrumental in advancing ClimateYES’s mission to blend faith and climate justice, ensuring that young voices remain at the forefront of the global climate agenda.