The Role of Young People in Climate Change Issues

By Thabiso Makhurane

"The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it’s all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it.” Mike Huckabee

Climate change is by far the most serious, recurrent challenge facing Zimbabwe as it adversely impacts on the sustainable livelihood and well-being of the current and future generation. Climate change has resulted in increased temperatures, heat waves, altered rainfall patterns, drought, diminished natural resources and depleted environments. These changes have enormously affected the economic, social, environmental health and national security. The impact of climate change is that it has plunged communities into poverty, hunger and vulnerability. As leaders of today and tomorrow, young people have a crucial role to play towards addressing climate change issues.

Young people are the largest demographics in the world and the first generation to feel the impact of climate change. Young people are also the most economically active group, have the monopoly of the latest technology, access to information, education and numerous opportunities. If the world is to curb the global challenge of climate change, the honors fall on young people to take the leading role in such issues. The role of young people in addressing the challenge of climate change involves them steering climate change research, education or awareness, information dissemination, adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

The role of young people in climate change research involves them coming up with area specific information about the impact of climate change in specific localities. Research thus entails young people coming up with localized climate change information. Young people also hold the responsibility of creating climate change awareness and education. This entails going back to their communities, education them about the cause and impact of climate change. Since young people have monopoly of the latest technology, they occupy a central role in climate change information dissemination. Young people have the responsible of dissemination information through the various social media platforms. The role of young people in addressing climate change also involves them coming up with adaptation as well as mitigation initiatives. Adaptation initiatives involve ways of reducing people’s vulnerability to climate change while mitigation involves slowing the process of climate change through initiatives like afforestation.

The role that young people play in steering climate change initiatives cannot be overemphasized. Young people have enormous power, energy and potential to initiative social change and create a better tomorrow for the current and future generation to come. Young people are agents of social change and occupy a central role in the addressing the global challenge of climate change.