The YOUTH

BY DOMINIC NAIDOO

Open Dialogues on Climate Change is an international project which brings together stakeholders to create a meaningful dialogue on the climate crisis. This has been done on a regional, national and international level, with a final summing up event at Cop26 in Glasgow. The regional body responsible for initiating the dialogues in Africa is the African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development.

Our writer Dominic Naidoo spoke to the team who put together the inaugural Open Dialogues on Climate Change event for South Africa. This is who they are and what they had to say.

SHAMIELA REID

Reid has a background in environmental science, sociology and gender studies and is the Country coordinator for the 16th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth.

“Young people are key stakeholders in South Africa’s climate change response and just energy transition. They will not only inherit the decisions taken today but also implement them going forward.”

ASHLIN NAIDOO

“In every action I made throughout my daily life I always thought of the natural environment – it was like a whisper in the back of my mind. As I progressed through varsity and into the workplace, this whisper turned into a prominent voice. Now I am adamant about seeing significant action taken by our world leaders to fight climate change. The most severe impacts of climate change will be experienced by the next generation, through no fault of their own.

“I am eager to get involved,” Naidoo continues, “and embed myself in the climate action movement that is shaping the world. Climate change is a global problem, however, solutions to this global problem cannot have a “one size fits all” approach. This further highlights the need for knowledge sharing among problem solvers as creative and innovative solutions will not only be derived from, but also be tailored to, a country’s socio-political environment.

“Climate change requires a robust knowledge base that has longevity. Thus, today’s youth needs to take responsibility for the previous generation’s mistakes and develop all relevant skills to deal with this global problem at a local level and be the leaders of today.”

DEANNTHA KANNIAH

“Leave the world a better place than you found it.“

“This quote by Lord Robert Baden-Powell pushed me through my environmental science degree and led me into researching solar technology for rural development and its role in tackling climate change. I joined the Open Dialogues on Climate Change (ODCC) because it is a platform for our youth to voice their concerns and share ideas on how to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I encourage those who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves to join.”

Kanniah became involved in climate change activism after learning about and understanding the extent and severity of the impacts of climate change.

“It felt like it was my responsibility to make good on the Baden- Powell quote that had stayed with me from an early age. I joined because I felt compelled to be doing something more meaningful and proactive after completing my Master’s,” she says.

“It is especially important for youth to be involved because we have a dual role in the fight against climate change.

“The first is that we are the generation that has the greatest ability and potential to change the course of our future by changing energy behaviours and adopting measures which have already been identified to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“Our second role is that we are the generation that will inherit the decision-making processes related to climate change from our current leaders. So, why not start making a difference now and let our voices be heard?”

LESEGO THINANE

Thinane holds a BA in international relations and is a research activist with a focus on gender and development. She works towards ensuring that some of the population is not left out of building a better and more just society.

“It is important that young people place themselves at the centre of climate recovery and the sustainability of our circular economy. Activism is more involved with me than I am with it. The need to be active in steering our social standing comes from being impacted by decisions made on our behalf.

“Being a part of formulating the engagement at the ODCC, and how it will happen, is most intriguing. Young people are usually called in to just have a little input in such discussions, so this was a fantastic opportunity to be behind the scenes and creating the kind of dialogue that focuses on the thoughts, concerns and solutions of young people.

“The youth has already inherited our emitted environment as it stands. It is important that they bring their energetic and innovative solutions to problems that affect them. Mitigation for our climate can only be successful and sustainable through young people.”

SHAVONA MOODLEY

Moodley is an earth scientist with a specialisation in hydrology. She says that “the ODCC promotes inclusivity in environmental decision making, which I strongly advocate. Climate change has an impact on us all, therefore, we should all be given the opportunity to contribute to positive climate action. Education and awareness created through climate change dialogues is a step towards a more sustainable future.”

Being involved in climate activism was something Moodley was naturally inclined to. “I watched a documentary on global warming when I was younger and instantly knew this was something I needed to create awareness of.”

After her studies in environmental earth science, Shavona began working in environmental consulting which was a completely different ballgame. “I saw, first-hand, the disconnection between those working in the environmental sector and communities are to the actual environment itself. I think that a bottom-up approach to all environmental issues is key to making a change.

“When people are educated on climate change or given the opportunity to work on solutions, they become more connected to the environment. They are equipped to make the necessary changes and can identify environmental injustices on their own. I joined the team because the ODCC is an amazing platform which promotes inclusivity. It facilitates this bottomup approach and gives people who, unfortunately, don’t usually have a voice, the opportunity to join the conversation.”

The climate change conversation isn’t only for governments and scientists, she says. “We need to know we have a responsibility and that we play an extremely important role in mitigating climate change. Values of sustainability need to be instilled in the youth to ensure that the fight against climate change is continued with greater momentum.”

RYSHAN RAMLALL

Ramlall has been interested in environmental issues since a very young age. Ramlall, like Moodley, studied environmental and earth sciences and holds a Master’s degree specialising in hydrology. Although he has always preferred the scientific approach to solving the climate crisis, Ramlall soon came to realise that politics is both the biggest hurdle and the best pathway to achieving positive climate action.

“I believe this is a good opportunity for enabling conversation between decision-makers and those who will be affected the most if radical climate change persists. The people who are in power and responsible for making important decisions will probably not be alive in 20 to 30 years when the worst effects of the current rate of climate change will be felt. Therefore, they don’t have as much to lose from continuing to make bad decisions.

“Young people are the ones who inherited a system geared towards increasing environmental degradation and, for many years, we have been excluded from decision making. While it is unfortunate that we inherited this bad state of affairs, we have no choice but to stand together and convince those in power to make decisions that will reduce degradation and radical climate change. By the time we inherit political and strategic power on this planet, it will be too late to make changes.”

PICTURES SUPPLIED, MARKUS DISTELRATH / PEXELS