Dear CHOGM member Heads of State and Governments,
Africa stands at a pivotal point in its history – the choices we make now will influence our continent’s future and shape the wider world. We strive for a narrative that dares to dream of creating an economy and civilisation based on the values of relationship, freedom and social innovation.
As you prepare to meet in Rwanda, at the heart of the African continent, we - the youth and church clergy as part of the Renew Our World and Abundant Africa movements, call on you to:
- Rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually, including 50% for adaptation.
- Ensure that finance reaches local communities on the frontlines of climate change.
- Invest in good green jobs for youth, including through climate finance
Daniel Kayembe of Eco Brixs presenting the letter to Ugandan Minister of State for youth and Children affairs, Hon Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke
Firstly, why rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually, including 50% for adaptation:
In 2009, leaders of wealthy nations promised to deliver $100 billion a year from 2020 for climate-vulnerable countries and communities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Sadly this promise has still not been met, and much of the funding so far has come as loans, adding to national debts. This is not sustainable and instead threatens the viable futures of so many African youths.
As wealthy nations have not yet delivered the promised support for frontline communities to adapt to the climate crisis, this meeting in Rwanda, which brings together the leaders of some of the wealthiest and some of the most climate-vulnerable countries, is an opportunity to rebuild trust on climate finance. It’s time for wealthy nations to deliver.
The costs of the climate crisis are being pushed onto the communities that did the least to cause it and have the fewest resources to respond to it. Half of the world’s population is already highly vulnerable to the climate crisis, and they are disproportionately populations living in poverty in low-income countries. The most climate-vulnerable nations are being forced to divert money away from essential public services, such as healthcare and schooling, to mitigate, adapt and protect themselves against climate impacts. The Africa we want to live in provides for its young people and creates a platform for them to innovate. However, this cannot be achieved if our nations constantly have to divert resources away from public services. Delivering on the $100bn is key to leveraging the scale of finance needed for communities to respond to the climate crisis.
Secondly, why ensure that finance reaches local communities on the frontlines of climate change:
It is estimated that less than 15% of climate finance went to low-income countries in 2019. We want to ensure that local communities (including young activists, church leaders, and entrepreneurs) speak up and innovate to shape a future in which they and their communities can thrive.
By delivering on climate finance promises and ensuring that the money reaches local communities, both donor and recipient Commonwealth countries can support young people, women and vulnerable climate communities worldwide to continue to innovate, mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.
This is not just about the money - it is a token of trust that shows that high-income countries understand their responsibilities and obligations in this crisis and honour their commitments, made at international platforms, to climate-vulnerable communities. To tackle the climate crisis, we need greater trust between international institutions and vulnerable communities. Africa has many successful cooperative models built on strong relationships in families, extended families, clans, tribes and villages. This must be the basis of the trust built to facilitate climate finance.
Collins Lungu giving an interview to Rwandan national Television
Thirdly, why invest in good green jobs for youth, including through climate finance:
Creating dignified green employment for young people through innovation is one of the key themes emerging from the report ‘Abundant Africa: our decade to shape the African century’, co-published by 16 organisations in 2021. This report recognises that investing in young Africans could be the fuel that creates a new green economy.
We ask that the Commonwealth supports the development of youth green jobs in Africa. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), jobs are green when they help reduce negative environmental impact and ultimately lead to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies. More precisely, green jobs are decent jobs that:
- Reduce consumption of energy and raw materials
- Limit greenhouse gas emissions
- Minimise waste and pollution
- Protect and restore ecosystems
There is an urgent need to invest funding in youth green jobs skills training, upskilling, incubation, apprenticeship support, startups and accelerators in Africa. Climate finance can play a role in this; it should be given primarily as grants, not loans, which can be invested by communities into good green jobs for young people. We ask that the Commonwealth supports research that informs the development of Africa-wide frameworks for the development of a youth green economy.
Our recommendations:
Delivering the promised climate finance is key to supporting and building trust with the communities that are paying the highest costs but did the least to cause the climate crisis.
Members of CHOGM should use their influence to:
- Rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually, including 50% for adaptation.
- Ensure that finance reaches local communities on the frontlines of climate change.
- Invest in good green jobs for youth, including through climate finance
We are already seeing climate solutions innovated by frontline communities. Wealthy Commonwealth countries have the opportunity to play a vital role in funding locally-led initiatives, making sure climate finance reaches the communities most affected by climate change.
We submit these calls to you reflecting a keen and ready ability amongst young people to work with leaders to better all Africans and bless the wider world.
God bless you all. God bless Africa.
