What could seven girls and young women from Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, India, Benin, Madagascar and Tanzania have in common? Anxiety about climate change! Cultural, linguistic and social differences abound, these girls face pronounced vulnerability in the face of the climate crisis and want to be a part of active solutions. They want to be heard, influence and advocate for responsible climate behaviour and stronger political will from policymakers and decision-makers in order to create a sustainable future for all.
With this goal in mind, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) led a delegation of seven girls and young women at the recently concluded COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The annual UN climate change conference offered the perfect platform to promote youth leadership in climate action. “COP provides girls and young women opportunities to learn about climate change and how countries work together to address it. They get to network with other young people and policymakers passionate about climate change. This helps increase their confidence and self-belief to keep pushing for climate justice”, shares Germaine Umuraza, Advocacy Manager, GLACC.
“India is considered to be one of the most polluted countries in the world and seeing my people and planet suffer makes me very unhappy. I have been advocating for climate change at a local level and see my participation in COP29 as a stepping stone to amplifying my advocacy efforts. Young people, like me, need a seat at the table because we will bear the maximum consequences of this crisis”, says Sharmin Banu one of the seven WAGGGS delegates at the conference.
She is not alone. Her sentiment is echoed by Neunje Patricia, who comes from Uganda, and has witnessed first-hand how climate change intensifies existing challenges, disproportionately affecting young girls who face increased risks such as school dropout, early marriage, and limited access to healthcare, particularly in vulnerable communities.
The desire for positive climate action united the delegation and all through the conference, the girls highlighted the critical link between climate change and gender inequality, and advocated for strengthening partnerships between government bodies, NGOs and the private sector.
Meaningful Partnerships and Engagement
Our team co-facilitated five side events at the conference underlining the need for and benefits of youth participation in climate action.
In one event conducted with Emory University and the University of Melbourne, Hortance Nancy from Rwanda shared a case study on positive climate impact through youth engagement in Africa highlighting how young people are leading the change through their innovate ideas and solutions.
Another side-event titled, “From Promises to Progress: Championing Child and Youth Rights”, brought together representatives from WAGGGS, World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and focused on empowering participants to understand their rights, enabling them to become advocates for themselves and others.
The session underscored the importance of child-led actions, encouraging young people to lead and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Democratisation of Access: Meeting Key Policymakers
COP29 offered a great opportunity to our delegates to witness high level meetings and negotiations and to meet key policymakers. The highlights include a meeting with Rachel Kyte, UK climate envoy wherein the girls shared their lived experiences of climate change and demanded timely interventions and the need to be included in the decisions. The girls also met with several other notable stakeholders from their home countries and used the space to share their concerns and advocate for WAGGGS key demands. These free-flowing interactions, free from bureaucratic compulsions, truly made these young girls and women to feel empowered, included and heard.
“I am grateful for the interactions and the opportunity to meet so many people at COP and learn that work is being done, and that people care. Sometimes, amidst the frustrations of not enough being done, it is easy to lose sight of the small actions that are being taken at the community, grassroots level. I am going back with a renewed vigour to invest more in positive climate action”, says Naomy Asoro Omario from Tanzania, another advocacy champion from the WAGGGS delegation.
Girl-Led Action on Climate Change (GLACC): Inspiring Action, Changing Lives
Since its inception, GLACC, through its curriculum and advocacy trainings, has been giving girls a broader idea of the global causes and consequences of climate change. The programme answers the bigger-picture questions – why climate change is a global issue and why everyone should feel concerned about it. The programme supports direct adaptation and mitigation action at community and national levels and increases the capacity of women to take leadership roles in climate change response.
Looking Ahead...
COP29 may have concluded but the work needed to combat climate change has just begun. As we keep up the pace to meet the Paris agreement targets, it is imperative to involve young people at all levels of decision-making. While young people are accelerating climate awareness, it is essential to involve them in formulating climate policies.
Investing in climate justice education, supporting women entrepreneurs and building capacity for gender-inclusive resilience are some of the ways to do this. Above all, we must leverage the ideas and skills of today’s youth so that they are not just victims of climate change but instead catalysts for powerful climate action. The time for action is NOW!