Since June 27, 2022, at Kenyatta University, different youth from various countries were in Nairobi, Kenya for the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice organized by PACJA and RCCDN staff were among participants for the two weeks training.
The Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice was being held for the second time, organized by Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). In this edition’s opening, Dr Jean-Paul Adam, Director at TCNS, UN Economic Commission for Africa UNECA said “We can’t create aside countries. Let’s take care of the ones we already have. Ahead of COP27, we look forward to supporting young people’s ideas to address and solve different climate change issues.”
The High-Level Symposium Facilitator, Eugene Nfomgwa said, “We’re so concerned about the lives of people that the global community refused to take care of. We demand Climate Justice for the better future and for us too.”
In his Welcoming and High-Level Remarks, the Ag. Executive Director at PACJA, Charles Mwangi shared that Climate Change is a big issue and YOUTH should beware so as they may act accordingly to ensure the best sustainability and accessibility of a green and clean environment.
Three Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network representatives in Nairobi, Kenya for the two weeks of training learnt more in such, including that 80% of greenhouse gases are produced by the countries that control 80% of global GDP. So there’s a clear relationship between the capacity to pollute and so our potential development made possible essential.
H.E Amb. Maarten Brouver, the Perspective from the Duch Ambassador to Kenya said, “I am so convinced that the future is bright based on the youth that is partaking in this training to learn more on Climate Change and so together ensure Climate Justice.”
In addition to that, Ben Opaa from Kenya and Dr Godwin Ojo from Nigeria explained more about Climate Change impacts on the global South as its proportionate vulnerabilities of communities and the impacts of climate change on livelihood systems ecosystems and biodiversity. So there should be the aim to fight against climate change injustice.
Climate change was there before we come on this earth, it is here now and will still be there when we leave for the next generation. The Glasgow Caledonian University’s Prof. Jafry Tahseen talked about how Health Environment is everyone’s right and yes Climate Justice Protection and upholding needs more defenders.
The entire planet is in crisis and bad buildings are badly to blame as highlighted by Mthobisi Masinga from SA, Green Building Council on his Urbanization and City Level Climate Resilience. Prof Tahseen asked a valid question, “My interactions with governments in Africa have shown that Climate Justice and Climate Change tend to feature in pockets of ministries and agencies, but no one wants to take ownership and responsibilities. Can Africa sort this fact out?”
