At the ongoing COP29 summit, young leaders from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nigeria have called on developed countries to unlock climate finance to help scale up nature-based solutions that address the urgent challenges posed by climate change. These youth leaders highlighted the critical need for financial support to implement projects that protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems, benefiting both people and nature.
The call for climate finance was made during a side event titled ‘Unlocking Actionable Climate Finance for Pan-African Youth-Led Adaptation to Upscale Nature-Based Solutions,’ organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Panelists at the event included David Munene, Programmes Manager at the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa, based in Kenya; Environmental Climate Justice Consultant Lucky Abeng; Mutetelenu Kalama, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia; and Melissa Murirwa, Director of Young Volunteers for the Environment, Zimbabwe.
“We are expecting that developed nations will heed the call for annual climate finance between $1.3 trillion to $5 trillion,” Munene said, emphasizing the importance of unlocking funds for youth-led climate solutions across Africa. According to Munene, the amount demanded by African nations is modest compared to the large sums being invested in global conflicts and subsidies for fossil fuels.
“The money is there,” Munene stated, pointing out that global investments in climate action are dwarfed by those in fossil fuel extraction. “What is lacking is the political will to allocate these resources where they are most needed,” he added.
The youth leaders gathered at COP29 are not merely advocating for funds; they are already leading various innovative initiatives to address the impacts of climate change in their respective countries. Munene shared that in Kenya, young people are using Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ to raise awareness and advocate for the environment. Through these efforts, young people are increasingly taking on leadership roles, finding practical solutions for environmental challenges, and even influencing policy.
For example, in Murang’a County, young people are spearheading tree-planting projects on their ancestral land without requiring external financing. This grassroots initiative demonstrates that youth-driven climate actions can take root even in the absence of large-scale financial support.
Munene also highlighted how women and young people are adopting innovative methods to tackle issues such as solid waste management across Kenya. These solutions, born from local efforts, have been replicated in other African nations like Rwanda and Cameroon. Notably, young people have also adopted a section of the Ngong Forest, now known as the Laudato Si’ Corner, as part of their environmental stewardship efforts.
Murirwa, representing Zimbabwe, shared that young people in her country are embracing agroecology as part of their climate action efforts. The adoption of drought-resistant crops has been particularly successful, with some youth groups seeing positive outcomes. Murirwa also pointed out that the government is starting to shift its focus to support agroecology, acknowledging the role of young people in this transformation. However, she noted that limited access to land and finance remains a significant challenge for many young climate activists.
Similarly, Kalama, from Zambia, discussed how her organization trains young people in basic media skills to advocate for nature-based solutions. Through the Voice for Climate Justice project supported by WWF, young people have been empowered to use radio as an accessible platform to amplify their voices and raise awareness about climate action. Over 200 young people have been trained to advocate for environmental justice, highlighting the importance of media in spreading climate messages.
Despite the challenges, youth across the continent are determined to lead the charge in finding climate solutions. However, they insist that to make their efforts more impactful, developed nations must provide the necessary financial backing. Their appeal at COP29 underscores the urgency of supporting youth-led initiatives that promote sustainable, nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.
By investing in these solutions, developed countries can play a crucial role in helping young people protect and restore ecosystems, thereby securing a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
