CLIMATE CHANGE EDITION by Peeple of the Soil

SPECIAL EDITION | 2021

PEEPLE

OF THE

SOIL

CLIMATE CHANGE

EDITION

CONTENTS 06 SIMPHIWE JULIA THABEDE

Photography

14 AMANDE NACIR How can Mozambique Respond to Climate Change

22 YOSEF GETACHEW Photography

28 JOHANNESBURG YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN African Youth Perspectives in Climate Discourse: A look at South African Participation in Policy Making

36 TOPE AJAYI

Multimedia Artwork

42 YO-WASTE 21st Century Solution to our Waste Management Problem

48 SIYA MKHASIBE Photography

56 WANDE OSENI Acrylic & Digital Painting

62 KOPANO MOKOENA Water: a Puzzle Piece to African Identites

70 MANDISA KHUMALO Plastic - A Friend or a Foe? A Contributor to Climate Change

Cover Photo by Simphiwe Julia Thabede

EDITOR’S NOTE

NATHI DASS Editor-In-Chief

Welcome, dear readers old and new, to this special edition of our zine. We were approached by the amazing Tamika du Pont to collaborate with the Global Youth Climate Network and put together a zine that focuses on how climate change affects Africa’s youth and how they are often at the forefront of climate activism. We sent out a call and got back some truly amazing works that cover everything from our fraught relationship with plastics to youth participation in the creation of national environmental policy. This edition just underscored what I’ve felt for a long time: if we are to stop climate change, we’re going to need a radical overhaul in how we relate to ourselves, each other, our things, even our time and space. Make no mistake, climate activism is radical. Black and brown people fight and die everyday to protect the world and the environment. Sometimes they fight under banners named decolonisation, anti-capitalism or gender activism. Sometimes they die for the rights of

Indigenous people, workers, queer people, and animals, etc. These are not separate struggles. No, they stand tall, arms linked in solidarity. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Keystone Pipeline protest, Occupy Wallstreet, Stonewall, the protests against Amazon happening as I write this in Cape Town etc all share in a singular struggle. They struggle against capital, against white supremacy, against colonialism because there where capital dances, destruction closely follows. But more than that, these people are fighting for a place beyond today. It is our duty not only to ourselves but to others that we join the fight. Use this zine as a primer. See what the youths are doing and see where you could help. Never forget who got us here on this ecological cliff and are doing their utmost to leave us out to dry. Tracy Chapman told us revolutions start with a whisper, and so even in our darkest hours I pray we never stop whispering. A luta continua... 5

SIMPHIWE JULIA THABEDE 6

Born in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, Simphiwe Julia Thabede is a visual artist, photographer and digital collagist. She draws her inspiration from various visual artists like Pamela Tulizo, Ogorogile Nong, and Mary Sibande, to name a few. Her work is influenced by contemporary visual culture, Dadaism and Pop culture. Currently, Thabede is completing the Intermediate photography course at The Market Photo Workshop. Simphiwe uses the camera as a tool for communication, she is passionate about photography and believes that every individual has their own story to tell. 7

INGUBO YOMSEBENZI Under the conversation of the African Lived Experience my focus was directed to the overalls that one sees on a daily in Johanesburg and also the uniform worn by ‘domestic workers’

A part of me realised that the ‘domestic worker(s)’ individuality is displaced by the uniform but in this body of work I am not necessarily speaking about individuality that has been displaced by the uniform.

(The work is still in the process of development).

The work speaks of the beauty that I see in the uniform, it is an appreciation to the ‘invisible women’ whose identity is masked by the doek and the pinafore.

The initial idea was to do research on the uniform; it’s history, the different colours and its designs. I am from a family that has a history of domestic work and I grew around what was/is considered a white space but during that time I had no idea of what was happening around me until I was a bit older and that was when I started taking note of my surroundings and all that was happening around me.

HOW CAN MOZAMBIQ RESPOND TO CLIMAT CHANGE

QUE

AMANDE CASIMIRO NACIR Let us first rephrase our topic. A more realistic topic should be “How can Mozambique improve its response to climate change?” This restatement is accurate for two reasons. The first is that climate change – perceived as caused by natural phenomena – is an issue as old as humanity itself. Therefore, climate change adaptation has been something societies have had to adapt to. This brings us to the second point. That climate change was caused by humans – anthropologic origin – has twisted the course of what we knew to be climate change. The threatening reality of climate change has resulted in a global shift resulting in increased prioritization and calls to government and civil society to take the necessary steps to deal with the issue at hand.Effectively, Mozambique has been implementing policies to face the issue of climate change since the end of the last century. The question is, are those enough? Can those be improved? The answer seems to indicate a resounding ‘yes’. In fact, there is always room for improvement. Additionally, those questions are important because the assumption, often right, ist hat climate change brings is that it increases vulnerability - vulnerability being the state of being weak or poorly defended. And this vulnerability is related to the capacity to respond to natural disasters (floods, cyclones). Thus, in our attempt to answer the question in our topic, two tenets help our argumentation: strive for antifragility and indigenous knowledge integration. Yet, those two elements lead us to a journey of some other interesting aspects that can improve Mozambiques readiness and ability to respond to the challenges of climate change. In other words, we consider that if Mozambique becomes anti-fragile, we can improve our response to climate change, and we can significantly reduce the vulnerability towards natural disasters.

Moreover, it will be interesting to integrate indigenous knowledge into the mechanisms and politics against climate change. It is important to note that those two tenets are intermingled, for the integration of indigenous knowledge fosters anti-fragility. ANTI-FRAGILITY AS A MEAN TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE Firstly, we bring the concept of antifragility via Nassim Nicholas Taleb. He considers anti-fragility to be a state of constant improvement and where external shocks do not hinder the system, but they allow for the betterment of the system (Taleb, 2012). Indeed an antifragile system is one that is resilient, as resilient systems resist shocks but remain the same, meanwhile, anti-fragile systems not only resist the shock but also improve the systems capacity to respond to the next shocks. Scientists have found that future events related to climate change will be yet more frequent and intense. And these future events are referred to as extreme events. What is best then, other than getting ready for those events? BUT HOW DOES A SYSTEM, A COUNTRY, LIKE MOZAMBIQUE BECOME ANTI-FRAGILE? Well, there is not a singler response to the question. However, we can discuss some aspects that if taken into consideration can probably make Mozambique a better off country on fighting the adverse effects of climate change. From now on,

we consider the system as the ensemble of institutions that make the state, ergo, Mozambique. Mozambique is thus a system. Let us then look at conformity. When conformity is present in an entity, people tend not to consider opinions outside of their milieu, outside of the range of conformity. And that can harm mechanisms of prevention for instance: opinions that suggest something different are not considered even if accurate. So, the proposition here is to build a system that is against conformity, a system where diverse opinions strive so that we can build an anti-fragile system. Institutions that directly deal with climate change issues, are paramount to build unconformity as a mechanism that characterises them. Unconformity brings the idea of non-optimising the system, and if everyone thinks that the system, in our case the country, is not optimised, efforts will be made to ensure an optimisation that shall never occur. So we must instigate diversity of thinking and avoid a “one thought policy”, i.e. everyone thinking the same thing. The fundamental reason for that proposition is as simple as this: diverse opinions can prepare for diverse scenarios, and natural disasters are as diverse as the environment itself. In this way, the leaders should incite innovative ideas that will prepare the country for the unpredictable negative impacts of climate change. What is more unpredictable than natural disasters influenced by climate change? That is how Mozambique can strive for anti-fragility. It’s an important

issue because the question now is not if there will be another Idai or Kenneth (names of two cyclones that struck Mozambique in 2019) but when will it arrive? So, a proper implementation of a risk basis analysis, with the concept of anti-fragility in the center, can give us some hope. Here, Mozambique should be able to create scenarios and responses to tackle them, in order to not be caught off guard. And note that this is not an exclusive responsibility for the government, as all the citizens are welcomed and encouraged to take part in it. When we mentioned scenarios and uncertainty, the idea of the infinite comes as an interesting one. Note that the infinite is unknown. So are the frequency and intensity of climate change events of the future. We can predict them, yes, but not accurately enough to master them. Yet, the uncertain characteristic of the infinite does not and should not mean inexistence. Let us conclude this first part by elaborating on bureaucracy. Indeed, bureaucracy is one of the issues that hinders the development of a country. And it can also hinder the ability of a country to become anti-fragile and to fight against the negative impacts of climate change. In fact, reducing bureaucracy can foster the diversity of ideas and contribute to unconformity, as the administrative burden does not hinder the discussion of new and disruptive questions. Idriss Aberkane has a thoughtful definition of bureaucracy: a situation in which the procedure is more important than the result (Aberkane, 2017). As

expected, those situations create a slowness/ delay in treating/ addressing urgent issues. And climate change is, supremely, an urgent issue which cannot depend solely on formal-administrative procedures. It has to be treated/ addressed as fast as required, so that the system can duly respond to its challenges. For instance, when there is a need to discuss a critical and urgent aspect, say the probable occurrence of floods, by former standards, we can take much time scheduling a meeting, or requiring authorisation to perform a determined task, and so on and so forth. Note that each delay can raise the death toll or the damages on crops, to mention few consequences. And when bureaucracy is exaggerated, we talk about bureaucratism, that is to say, the “dominion or excessive influence of bureaucracy (Infopédia, 2020). A state on which the system must avoid reaching. The damages of bureaucratism are just unimaginable. Conversely, when the results are more important than the procedure, we can, say, “Forget” some of the procedures in the good name of potentialising the system’s capacity to respond to climate change adverse effects. We should nurture the idea that procedures are created to facilitate the reaching of goals, not the other way around. When they do not serve their essence, we should change them, replace them, and create brand new ones. Climate change can somehow be characterized as a crisis. And let us remember those interesting words from

Winston Churchill at the creation of the United Nations (UN): “Never let a good crisis go to waste” (OECD, 2020). Climate change is an opportunity to create a better world for everyone. It is an opportunity for mankind to reflect on its errors and tackle them while creating the possibility of a better life a reality. Therefore, taking profit of a crisis, not letting a good crisis go to waste, in terms of climate change may mean to observe our past errors and make them our strength for the future. To take profit of a crisis, is to take note that future events will be yet more destructive than past events, from what we know of climate change; yet, to calmly understand that we can face them dully. Not to let a good crisis go to waste, is to create a disruption on our epistemological approach, a disruption pragmatic enough between the anterior and the posterior. Not to let a good crisis go to waste may mean becoming anti-fragile. In fine, we have to build a system that is beyond resilient, an anti-fragile system prepared for the improbable and incognito. Since, traditionally, we only get ready for probable risks, now we have to change our modus operandi. Only then, we can talk about our preparedness to face climate change adverse consequences in an optimized way and with an antifragile system. We can then reduce our vulnerability towards climate change risks. INTEGRATE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHALLENGES

We advanced in the previous section the idea of anti-fragility. And one key element of anti-fragility as we understand it, is to foster diversity of ideas. It is by this means that the integration of indigenous knowledge can aid Mozambique’s response to to face the adverse effects of climate change. This idea is based on the fact that the indigenous people know their environment better than everyone else and how to live there/ inhabit it. And as most indigenous people live by the coast and the coast is also a location of often occurrences of climate change’s adverse consequences, such as cyclones or erosion, it becomes yet more imperative to have their say on how to manage those climate change challenges. Integration includes various elements, and in this case, the indigenous knowledge shall be integrated to the scientific one, which is often taken into consideration to support governmental decisions. I mean,who does not want to be labelled as “scientific” these days? Actually, this integration has already begun, even if it is not a systemic one. One of the results of a systemic integration is that we can change how we view sustainable development. And as sustainable development is in itself related to climate change, re-thinking the concept of development seems to be a rational thing to do. Development is a concept carried with tons of performativity, par excellance. When we talk about it, we want to achieve it, or take part in it – if considered as a process. Thus, it is also a normative concept, as we theorize

mechanisms to achieve it; but it is also a positive concept, in terms of values associated with it, i.e. wishable for the society and for the individual. However, as every applicable concept in human relations, development has contextual difficulties. By contextual difficulties, we consider the inability or difficulty of adapting a concept in a determined geographic space, although not discarding its theoretical-conceptual value. This inability is more than a distance between theory and practice, as we can apply the concept dully and successfully in other realities from the first. There, the problem is not in the impossibility of operationalising it but on how to operationalise it. The concept of development has been frequently criticised and problematised. And one of the criticisms has to do with climate change, as it was understood that development hindered the environment as well as social sustainability. In fact, development was very much related toeconomic growth. That is why we evolved to sustainable development. And in 2015, the UN advanced the concept of sustainable development by establishing seventeen goals to achieve by 2030, the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). An integration that respects boundaries - What do we gain from that? On one hand, we learn how the villages, the indigenous people, have been adapting themselves to face the adverse effects of climate changes. And we can transfer this knowledge to the cities, when applicable.

On the other hand, we can share the experiences on how the cities, and nonindigenous knowledge, a fortiori, are adapting to face climate change’s adverse consequences, and act accordingly in distant communities, when feasible. Returning to the idea of development, it was once defined as the transformations of economic growth to social gains. That said, sustainable development adds in that equation the idea of a transformation of economic growth to, not only, social advantages but acceptability and consideration of good use of the environment. There, we should heed advice from the indigenous on how to use “their” forests, for instance, in a world where natural resources are used at the local communities expense, what is the say of the latter? Do they accept it? How? Does it harm the environment and reduce the capacity to respond to climate change? Those are some questions to take into consideration to foster indigenous knowledge integration. That is why we talk about pillars of sustainable development: (i) economic - growth, (ii) social - acceptability of the economic growth, via the equation costbenefits; and (iii) environmental - good use of the resources, so that the next generation can also use/benefit from it. And this last point is interesting, because it is this dully use of natural resources that will allow for the next generations to benefit from natural resources, and thus make it a sustainable development – it will sustain itself until the arrival of the next generations. When? That is another question for another day.

Let us remember that the idea of sustainability is attached to the concept of development, for development was badly approached previously, risking the devoid of natural resources – we wanted infinite economic growth, in a world of finite natural resources which sustain finite growth. That is why a good definition of development is automatically sustainable. The concept of development has been problematised already, by more brilliant minds during our history of economic and social growth, and more recently environmental preservation. Thus, we think here in terms of how Mozambique can insert itself in a sustainable development according to its reality and needs. There are diverse ways to think it through. First, we can consider an adequacy with the SDG’s. Second, we can think of economic growth that can compensate for allocations to environmental preservation. Or, we can think about environmental conservation in detriment to economic growth. And so on, and so forth. Nevertheless, we here advance some elements that consider all aspects of sustainable development and may tackle the climate change issue. Far from being the solutions, these are just “food for thought” in this age of global warming, climate change and related issues. We need to redefine development, according to what will be brought by the integration of indigenous knowledge, then implement the new definition of development and finally adequate partnerships to our definition.

Indeed, redefining development should not mean an opposition to the existing concept. Rather, it will be inspired by the current definition. What needs to be done is to consider what the country really needs, once indigenous knowledge is integrated. For instance, we note that literacy occupies a capital place in the international notion of development. However, it is understandable that sometimes, not everyone needs to be literate to be developed. Let us take an instance of a peasant from the interior of Mozambique, who is not literate but feels happy with his condition, even knowing the life outside his community, and contributes to the growth of the country. We can, reasonably, think that he needs to be literate, but he can tackle climate change’s adverse consequences without formal education. Why would we really need to literate him? The effort of doing so can be devious. This example however, should not be taken as an argument against literacy. It just informs us of the need for consideration of other views of the world. For the notion of literate and illiterate is one external to Mozambique, by matters of its origin. And this is a symbolic instance that can help us think how climate change can benefit from the ideas of all segments of the population. Secondly, if well defined – according to national needs – we can act upon our concept of development. It is evidently a great challenge to have individual opinions in a world where liberty of thinking can often be labeled as abject thinking. But the quality of the

definition of development – a quality we can attain by integrating indigenous knowledge – ought to allow for a smooth implementation of measures to tackle climate change as everyone shall be on the same page. And as stressed above, if well defined, it will be sustainable. The deliberation on changing ideas is challenging, and to embody oneself with original ideas for original problems is not always a welcoming approach; human kind tends to be expedient, conventional and easy. Finally, the ideas of development that we use today have emerged from contexts that are not ours; maybe from similar needs, but that are not ours, from populations with habits and costumes that are not ours, yet all humans. Extensively, even sustainable development, responds to an agenda that is not properly Mozambican, which does not mean that it is strange and prejudicial to Mozambique. On the contrary, it is beneficial. Notwithstanding, we should not look into this matter in a binary form of good or bad, external or internal, international or national, for the world is too complex for such a reduction. But let us ask for the right, inconvenient, and provoking questions so that we can better tackle climate change. For we are all humans, and climate change affects all of us.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Aberkane, I. J. (2017). 2. Infopédia. (2020, Agosto 22). Infopédia, Dicionários Porto Editora. consulted on Infopédia, Dicionários Porto Editora: https://www.infopedia.pt 3. OECD. (2020, August 22). Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. consulted on OECD: https:// www.oecd.org 4. Taleb, N. N. (2012). Anti-fragile: Things That Gain From Disorder . Random House.

YOSEF GETACHEW 22

My name is Yosef Getachew also known by my alias @etography_. I am a 23-year-old selftaught photographer based in Dessie, north-east of Ethiopia. I mostly take pictures with my phone. My photographic interests are taking pictures on the street, walking around my city, Dessie, and looking/ searching for interesting moments in the street. I have been inspired by talented photographers and many of the local street photographers. In the future, besides street photography, I would like to be an analog (film) selfportrait photographer. I think that in a lot of intimate situations, film has a way of expressing and naturally putting one in a mood that is very hard to replicate digitally. But that’s not to say that digital is far off or not capable of doing the same thing. I just admire and would like to go back to that vintage vibe. 23

Healthcare Workers Dear healthcare workers, thank you so much for everything you do. We live in such hard times right now, and I can’t imagine the bravery you must possess to go out there,help people and save lives. Because of your great contribution, we have a chance of surviving this horrible pandemic. You truly are the best of the best that humanity has to offer. You all are examples of greatness, bravery, compassion, and kindness. You deserve so much. Thank you. 24

Unorthodox During COVID-19, I saw this guy in an Ethiopian orthodox church wearing a mask.

UNSUNG HEROES Unsung Heroes wake every morning before anyone else to clean the city but nobody gives them respect. Shoutout to everybody who works hard to keep our cities clean. 26

WOMAN IN THE MIRROR This is an image of a young homeless girl smoking cigarettes. Before I took this photo, she looked at her reflection in the car mirror and was smoking. I love this picture because her pose is everything.

AFRICAN PERSPECTIV IN CLIMATE DISCOURSE: A LOOK AT SOUTH AFRIC PARTICIPATIO POLICY MAK

VES

CAN ON IN KING

JOHANNESBURG YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN Climate Change is one of the greatest existential threats to current and future societies. Vulnerable communities and nations that have had minimal contributions to the crisis are currently bearing the burden of climate related disasters. At the frontlines of the climate crisis sits young people, living with the impacts of extreme weather events and facing the reality of an uninhabitable and uncertain future. However, young people are not apathetic to the situation. We are leading a movement that forces governments to enhance their ambitions and implement the policies that will prepare for and alleviate the impacts of climate change. This movement is being led on several fronts; some are striking for their future: some lead local initiatives that support their community in adapting to the new climate scenario; while others such as ourselves are changing and taking charge of the narrative through policy. Through the health crisis that has plagued the planet for the past year, we have seen that people can change two important elements necessary to adjust to the forcefulness of overwhelming change: namely culture and behaviour. However, the greatest preparations and impact will be delivered through effective policy development and implementation, which has been consistently lacking for Global North and South Nations alike. For this reason, and the many we detail below, we wholeheartedly believe that youth deserve to be meaningfully engaged in policy-making. In the African context, it is our continent and we deserve a say in how it is governed. We no longer want decisions being made for us without us, we are taking our rightful seat at the table to ensure that the approach to climate policy-making

and implementation is intersectional, decolonised and evolving. Young people are currently the largest age demographic on the African continent with 60% of the population under the age of 25. While those above the age of 18 can contribute by electing a political party that embodies their ideal future, a large proportion of the youth demographic is unable to do this. Our present and future is being decided for us in policies ranging from economic development to land access to education, which affect how we will be able to shape our society in the years to come. In a climate changed future, the jobs of today are either obsolete or do not exist yet. In order to ensure that young people on one hand will have a job in the future, and on the other be able to create a job and contribute to the economy, relies on robust planning and engagement today. From our personal experiences with policy engagement, we have noted that the government listens to the activists who meet them where they are at, and that is in policy. Our success in the policy-making space is highly linked to our approach, being diplomatic activists and unrelenting in our fight for meaningful inclusion of young and diverse voices in policy making processes. It is through this approach that several current and former members of our lobbying body, the Youth Policy Committee, have attended the annual climate change Conference of the Parties (COP). As a group of young people actively engaged in the policy-making space, we

aim to share our insights, knowledge and the innovative approaches we are co-creating to make our world green, just and intersectional. It is our generation, and the generations to come that will bear the brunt of the destructive effects of climate change. It is our generation, and the generations to come that will have to witness their descendants perish due to unbearable living conditions that will arise from a climate changed world. We are the ones we have been waiting for and are gatekeepers of tomorrow’s world, it is up to us to preserve our tomorrow. We are already experiencing the effects of climate change, with vulnerable communities experiencing the effects more severely. The time to act is now. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND YOUTH POLICY-MAKING CASE EXAMPLE: JOHANNESBURG YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WHAT IS THE JOBURG YCAP? In 2020, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) embarked on establishing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). As 50% of the climate ambition set out in the Paris Agreement can be achieved through local climate action, the City took up the responsibility to support this ambition. As young people that currently live or have grown up in the City, we took up the challenge of ensuring our voices, vulnerable populations and future inhabitants are heard. Thus, we embarked on developing a Joburg Youth Climate

Action Plan (YCAP). This process ran alongside and informed the City’s CAP document in two ways: 1) As a policy input and 2) as a youth section to be included in the CAP. We initiated it through a structured dialogue with youth from across the City and posed the question: “If you had two minutes to talk to the Mayor on climate change, what would you say?.” What followed was a sharing of lived experiences and climate concerns including waste management, energy management, food systems, equality and accessibility of resources, intersectionality, decolonisation and the just transition. These inputs were all transcribed onto one document which served as the basis for the Joburg YCAP. The authors of this article served as the lead drafters who collated these inputs and established a provisional Joburg YCAP. Initially, our approach to synthesising inputs was to group according to themes such as Adaptation, Mitigation, Capacity Building etc, however this soon changed into looking at principles that will guide the implementation of the actions. These principles were Intersectionality, Systemic Change, Just Transition, Leadership and Advocacy, Innovation, Accessibility and Sustainability. Importantly, the process was not static - revisions were constantly being made following consultations with Professor Coleen Vogel (from the Global Change Institute), Youth@SAIIA, the CoJ and C40 officials. The final YCAP was incorporated in the CoJs CAP in a section titled “Mobilising Stakeholders”,

with the entire document due to be officially launched in late April. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JOBURG YCAP: The Joburg YCAP takes youth engagement in policy making spaces to an advanced level. Traditionally, young people are invited (if at all) to provide comments and inputs into a draft policy. While some of the Joburg YCAP content was absorbed into the City’s CAP, the City agreed to feature this section written by young people in their official, legally-binding document. Thereby, changing the sphere of meaningful youth engagement with policy. As such, young people in the City will not be passive recipients of climate action, but will be leaders and effectors of it. We recognised that we cannot only be lobbying for our inclusion in this space as policymakers, but as conscientious citizens it is our duty to uplift and prepare underprivileged communities and marginalised groups (i.e youth, women, children, homeless people etc.) to adapt to and limit the impacts of climate disasters. Ensuring that the most vulnerable communities do not become shock absorbers for climate impacts was an important impetus for the YCAP. In doing this, we sought to give prevalence to climate justice and intersectionality by emphasising that vulnerable communities are galvanized from climate disaster impacts to create more climate resilient societies. The Joburg YCAP seeks to ensure the non-

neutrality of climate impacts on these groups and communities, is recognised and mitigated. Throughout this process we have ensured that we are at the forefront of climate discourse and are leading conversations and actions that would be effective in turning the tide on our current trajectory of reducing emissions. REFLECTIONS ON DRAFTING THE JOBURG YCAP:

“Being a part of the Joburg YCAPs drafting team was eye-opening. Being a young high school scholar in a team with university scholars was intimidating. Getting over my imposter syndrome in that space took a lot of conscious self-reassurance and growth. It’s because of this experience that I thoroughly believe that the youth should be involved in policymaking processes. Being a part of the YCAP’s main drafting team entailed understanding the importance of the work that I am doing. It meant that we had to be open to critique and correction. The process of creating the YCAP was tiresome yet exhilarating. Tiresome because the team would spend about 6 hours working on and perfecting one section. Exhilarating because this is a topic that we were all passionate about. Therefore the exhaustion that resulted from the long working hours was not a deterrent as we knew that this cause was bigger than us.” - KHAHLISO “Youth participation in policy making

has to be the bedrock of catalysing climate action, and this is one of the aims of the YCAP. It’s aim was to ensure that the voices of young people are heard and that their perspectives were not seen as additives in the climate change discourse. The document is a culmination of the vigour and commitment of young grassroots activists to ensure that we shift from the carbon-intensive economic model of the city to one that is more sustainable and provides enhanced adaptive capacity to vulnerable and marginalised communities while capacitating climate resilience in the livelihood of its people. This meant recognising that social justice and climate justice are inextricably linked and cannot be seen as distinct parts as they ensure that the smallest contributors to carbon emissions do not have to pay the highest price for the wide scale changes to the production and the economy that will precipitate from climate action.” - SIBUSISO “I think at first, I didn’t see the power of what we were doing. Having written and edited so many youth inputs to policy, this felt like a longer version of that work. But, upon reflecting on the work and utilising it to develop a National YCAP, we have continued to demonstrate youth leadership and how we should be engaged in policyprocesses. In that regard, young people do not need policies and plans being made for them, they need them being made with them. Though te process of including (and somewhat equating)

young people to policy-makers, we have effectively given young people the chance to meaningfully act for their future.” - TYLER

more effective, accessible and inclusive climate change policy frameworks. Furthermore, with recommendations in areas such as policy implementation, public participation, public-private partnership, accountability, education & employment, we were able to visualise and express the green, intersectional and just future that we as young South Africans envision in our country. The APRM currently stands as a Pan-African tool to drive sustainable good governance, development and democracy for all participating countries. This made it imperative for young people to be active participants in the review process, especially since youth voices are excluded or tokenistically included in decision making tables. Working on such a high level document that comments on the national climate change activities of the country in a space mostly youthled was a reflection of the direction that African governance has to go. It is not enough for young people to be mentioned in national discussions; they have to be in the room, taking their rightful place at the table. This experience has not only highlighted how the onus lies on regional and national governance to consider young people as valued stakeholders with regards to their participation in and accessibility to decision making. It has also shown how young South Africans have the capacity to make bold strides in spaces slow to acknowledge our validity and worth.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNANCE: THE APRM YOUTH SUBMISSION Initiated in 2002, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a system to monitor how African nations implement policies and drive development across the continent. The mandate of the APRM is to ensure that policies and practices of the African Union’s member states are aligned to the transformative political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards contained in the African Union Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. The voices of young people have been heard and recognised and a pilot program for youth submissions to the APRM have been spearheaded in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa. Over 150 young people in South Africa contributed to a review of national policies across several thematic areas. These included Education, Economic Participation, Land and Infrastructure and Climate Change among others. In the climate change group, we critically evaluated the state of South Africa’s climate action. By considering existing policies and acknowledging the recent work of relevant stakeholders in climate-related matters, we were able to highlight and critique the need for

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CLIMATE DECISION MAKING While the Fridays for Future movement, headed by Greta Thunberg, has created an extensive platform for youth engagement in and awareness on climate change, it hasn’t ensured that the youth voices on the ground are always translated and incorporated into national climate plans. In addition, the media’s search for the ‘Greta Thunberg’ of a country disregards the diversity of voices and lived experiences in the climate dialogue. Further along these lines, the portrayal of the faces of the climate movement neglects to reflect those who are currently the worst impacted by the crisis whose present rather than future has been irrevocably changed by climate change. In response to this, we then raise the question of how should the Global North ensure that those worst impacted by their process of development and subsequent exploitation of Africa’s people and her resources, be included and accounted for in the just transition? One such solution is to fund youth groups’ climate projects and young people’s engagement in the climate dialogues. In 2019, South Africa’s COP25 delegation included three official youth delegates, each with the ability to negotiate and speak on behalf of the country. While three is much more than many African counterparts whose entire COP delegations remain small, it is not nearly enough to ensure that every voice of a person impacted by climate change is heard.

The International Youth Climate Movement or Youth Constituency to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (YOUNGO) is one space where young people can ensure their voices are heard at the annual COPs. However, their engagement in the negotiations space is limited. While YOUNGO is offered a space in plenary sessions at the COP to deliver an intervention, they do not have a say and voting power in the negotiations room. That is, the voice of the youth in international climate policy-making is dependent on national inclusions of youth delegates. As young people, we see the need for greater financing towards the inclusion of youth delegates in international policy negotiations to ensure the accurate inclusion and portrayal of youth voices in these processes. Moreover, concerted and coordinated steps will need to be taken at a global front to ensure that platforms to youth from developing nations, who are often absent or underrepresented in global climate discourse, are given to create international solidarity in climate action and account for equity that will ensure that no country is left behind. Young people continue to shape the narrative of the activism they would like to see in a manner that is geared to work in a Pan-African context for Pan-African communities. To achieve this, we have had to recognise the importance of noting and upholding principles of intersectionality and climate justice which are the cornerstone of our activism. This is important in a Pan-African context as

we are dealt with a double whammy of addressing the need for basic human right like peace and security, poverty and health care in many African states while having to address the issue of climate change and the systemic changes that need to occur at the same time. While this is a challenge, we’ve had to realise the distinct opportunities for novel, sustainable and innovative opportunities for development that the need for systemic change in current systems has provided. Are we going to be the generation that continues to ignore climate change? Or are we going to be the generation that worked tirelessly to hold big corporations and governments accountable? As the continent with the largest youth dividend, it would be impetuous for us to be excluded from decision-making processes. Policies only work for the population if the population is represented in the rooms that are drafting these policies. What do 70-year-old high-income class men know about the climate crisis and issues that affect the youth? But, we the youth have told you our story, have you heard it? Have you felt it? When will you act?

‘TOPE AJAYI 36

‘Tope Ajayi is a multi-faceted artist creating with different media. His eclectic style finds him cutting through visual and audio-visual experience with different aesthetics and approach. ‘Tope is presently creating art with traditional art, digital art, photography, film and animation. His art reflects the themes of the black experience, afro-futurism and afro-surrealism with larger subjects as the universe and our place within it. 37 37

THE ORISHA SERIES. The Orisha series explores the thin line between mythology and reality in a metaphoric narrative of a goddess. This series is an adoration of women and their unique power. Women are the height of creation and the perfect chaos sitting in a vessel waiting to be unleashed. Women are goddesses. I wanted to explore something cultural and afro-surrealistic at the same time with the Orisha series. Prints from the Orisha series are currently available.

“LOVE DON’T COST A THING” SERIES. WAITING & FOUND: Love comes with a price and it also doesn’t cost a thing. When you go beyond the price tag, you realise love costs you nothing.

THE 21 CENTURY SOLUTION OUR WAST MANAGEM PROBLEM ST

N TO TE MENT

YO-WASTE Twenty-five years ago, Yo-Waste did not exist. In fact, the innovators of this brilliant tech solution to poor waste management might not have been born by then. That did not render the evil of poor waste disposal absent. While Africa was starting to heal from Independence struggles, the reality of the bad habit of using and poorly disposing of plastic waste was ignored. Industrialization was on an escalation, but the gospel on how to safely dispose of garbage was suffocated. Hold that thought for now.

WHEN DID CLIMATE CHANGE BECOME WAR? Climate change, you will agree, has been a rather dismissed affair on the African continent for far too long. It has and is still a trouble educating masses about what the phenomenon of climate change is. It has been abused and accused of being a foreign and alien idea that is in the way to reconquer Africa. The fight against climate change has been misunderstood. This is because our hearts haven’t well settled for the reality that the changing climate is an ogre that is bound to destroy livelihoods and life, personally and globally since we’re all shielded by the same sky. For this reason, it is almost unknown when climate change became war; nothing in history starts at a precise moment. The Scientists might never be able to trace when the first crack in the ozone layer was birthed.

The plot of the story on climate change has seen beginnings and risings of hazards born of the careless nature of humanity regarding disposal of waste, but the denouement of this monstrous story is yet unknown, but Yo-Waste is on mission to afford the story of climate change in Africa a happy ending.

HOW IS THE MODERN INNOVATION OF YO-WASTE TRYING TO CURB THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE? First, we shall understand that waste is directly affecting the climate. And here is another idea; Proper waste management is positively impacting climate change. HOW DOES WASTE AFFECT THE CLIMATE? You must have learnt in your lower school science that climate is the change in weather conditions over time. It goes without saying that poor disposal of garbage (over time) is one of the major causes of climate change. As our population grows, especially at the citizen level, the tons of garbage generated grows. Since collection is hard, some people burn the garbage causing pollution in the air. Burning garbage is one of the biggest carbon emitters into the atmosphere. When it is not burnt, garbage is

thrown on open streets by citizens, it rots there and produces methane gas which is 25 times more dangerous to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide which is the major gas emitted by burning trash. What the burnt garbage could have released 25 times is produced at once by rotting waste. Taking garbage to landfills is a fair solution but landfill models are being fought because in most parts of Africa, landfills are not well treated and methane gas is still being generated. The best model usually is to generate no waste at all which is impossible. You wouldn’t for instance tell CocaCola, “wewe, don’t generate that plastic!” hahaha. Well, maybe we could… Carbon emissions and methane plants holes in the ozone layer, then the dangerous radiations from the sun will befall the earth. HOW DOES PLASTIC POLLUTE OUR ENVIRONMENT? Usually plastic finds its way into water

channels, in oceans and lakes, they create a layer which makes it hard for aquatic life to get fresh air, some fish eats the particles and dies. On top of that, plastic waste from 20 to 500 years to decompose. HOW IS YO-WASTE HELPING? Yo-Waste, a tech solution which has been summarised into an app is helping to reduce the garbage that would have been burned in homes and setting up a recycling system to allow for reusing of the waste. Yo-Waste connects homes and businesses to the nearest and most reliable garbage collector. People can now schedule garbage pick-ups of domestic or household refuse, medical waste, hazardous waste and sorted or recyclable waste such as plastic, e-waste, paper, cardboard.

SIYA MKHASIBE 48

Siya Mkhasibe is an Editorial photographer based in Johannesburg, born and bred in Soweto. He Studied photography at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg and is currently working at a global Marketing/Advertising agency. Siya’s key interests in photography are fashion, advertising and documentary but his self-confessed real passion is photographing people and spaces, he believes both these elements have so much stories to tell, and the process of documenting these elements has so much to teach and he believes he can always learn to see and capture. 49

SM Port 01

SM Port 02 50

Poelo at the Barber

Corner Barber 01 51

umzingeli

druban beach front 52

izintsiwa

two 53

WATER: WATER: A PUZZL A PUZZLE PIECE PIECETOTO AFRICAN AFRICAN IDENTITIES IDENTITI

LE O N S IES

KOPANO MOKOENA Water is life, a statement that stands truer than political manifestos. A global cliché underpinning the high level of importance people place on the resource. In all its forms – rainwater, aquifers, streams, ponds, springs, lakes, rivers, ocean water, snow, ice, and water vapour – water is an essential and central resource sustaining life. Water moves around the earth’s hydrosphere in a cycle. The hydrological cycle is driven by five different steps – evaporation, precipitation, condensation, runoff, collection, and infiltration, all of which are susceptible to anthropogenic and climatic effects. Climate change has been a global buzzword, a conversation starter, a popular word couple on everyone’s lips. But are we understanding the concept well enough? The Intergovernmental Panel has defined Climate Change, IPCC (2001) as “statistically significant climatic variations that persist for an extended period, typically decades or longer.” It includes shifts in the frequency and magnitude of irregular weather events and the slow continuous rise in global mean surface temperature. It is classified as a “permanent shift,” and this simply highlights we’re living in an era of climate variability, which will ultimately drive us to climate change. This should reduce the misconception of Climate change and encourage us to adapt and work towards minimising our harmful contribution. Climate, water resources, biophysical and socio-economic systems are interconnected in complex ways, so a change in any one of these induces a change in another. Through clearing forests, agriculture, and industrial emissions, among others, human-induced climate change adds significant pressure to Africa that is already confronting the issues of sustainable water resource use and resource availability.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR WATER RESOURCES? Principal threats to water resources for humans include water scarcity (the change of runoff regimes and the change in groundwater levels); water pollution (the contamination of surface water and groundwater reservoirs with chemicals and microorganisms); and most importantly, global climate change with consequences such as redistribution of precipitation, rising sea levels, change in the CO2 absorption of the oceans and increases in extreme rainfall events. Climate change is having a multitude of immediate and long-term impacts on water resources in African countries. These include flooding, drought, sea-level rise in estuaries, drying up of rivers, poor water quality in surface and groundwater systems, rainfall, and water vapour pattern alterations. These effects, when combined, have devastating impacts on ecosystems and communities, ranging from economic and social impacts to health, and food insecurity, all of which threaten the continued existence of many African regions. Consequently, climate change impacts are complex, they can be both direct and indirect, and they can be a serious threat to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa. The impacts on water accessibility depend on the underlying condition of the water supply system and water resource managers’ ability

to respond to population growth and changes in demands, technology, and economic, social, and legislative conditions. Due climate change and incorrect management practices in accessing water in many African regions, the change has a potential conflict breeding ground. As there will be a rise in pressured demand for freshwater because of household, agricultural and industrial uses, increasing the vulnerabilities of many Africans. Despite the increasing importance placed on freshwater resources, vulnerabilities, and inequitable access, we are beginning to take freshwater resources for granted. Most of the freshwater we use is wasted and polluted. Sadly, our water use ethics, especially in more developed African cities and countries, is somewhat questionable. Climate change can affect the availability and quality of water resources adversely, and the evidence suggests that the causes of climate change are complex, involving both natural forces and anthropogenic activities. Human activities are rated to have significant effects. While African countries have contributed little to the magnitude of the global problem, they stand to bear some severe consequences. The impacts in Africa are likely to be the greatest, especially when they co-occur with a range of other stress factors such as population growth, unequal access to resources, food insecurity, poor health systems, and poverty. Furthermore, Africa’s ‘low

capacity’ in science, technology, and innovation will deepen the vulnerability and impacts of climate change on water resources.

change in other global regions. Our Groundwater reserves are estimated to be 20 times larger than the water stored in lakes and reservoirs above ground in Africa. These are the freshwater stores flowing in rocks and sediment below the earth’s surface. Accessed through wells, boreholes, and springs, Groundwater is valuable because it can be found almost anywhere and is generally high quality, supports rising populations, and irrigates crops and municipal and industrial water systems. It’s often a more reliable source during drought than other water sources. As climate change affects the reliability of water supplies at the surface, more freshwater will likely be drawn from beneath the ground. The big question is how much Groundwater can be used sustainably as the climate changes? Recent droughts have brought a soar in borehole drilling, groundwater integration into municipal water supply systems, technological advances, and most of us know of Cape Town’s “Day Zero,” for example. We have seen how the water restrictions, water-saving measures, reused greywater and behavioural changes on the part of the city’s residents, sufficient rainfall in recent months, and a strong focus on integrating Groundwater into water supply systems have helped alleviate the drought. From this, we see that Groundwater has the potential to be a foundational resource to support irrigated agriculture, urban and rural water security, and drought resilience

BUT DO WE REALLY HAVE ‘LOW CAPACITY’? Perhaps in human capacity, but “Africa is the world’s richest continent with vastly diverse ecosystems, magnificent landscapes, abundant mineral sources and indigenous cultures that are equally mystic and require urgent advocacy to better protect the African environment, its people, and their belief systems.” Such a statement highlights the importance of Africans rallying behind climate science and conservation, especially in the surge into climate change. As Africans, we suffer from resource underestimation; apart from underestimating our capabilities and indigenous knowledge, we underestimate the value, quantity, and economic enhancement our resources have or can offer. A simple example, Groundwater resources in Africa. Despite its obvious importance, surprisingly little is known about Groundwater in Africa and how resilient it is to climate change. We haven’t fully explored the extent of renewable groundwater benefits till recent droughts; a groundwater boom has been key to irrigation, water security, and drought resilience. Groundwater use has supported the process of economic structural

across the region, as it has in many other global regions. Our water resources hold the key to our development as a continent. Water holds potential for growth in irrigation practices and supply and in more technological advances such as hydropower, which currently accounts for 17% of the electricity generation in Africa on average. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia trail blaze this sector and highlight the benefit of our water resources along with research and innovation that have created paths to sustainable development. This brings to question whether we really are of low capacity or just haven’t fully developed our voice in the global natural resource use and climate change conversations. IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN AFRICA The place of water resources in Africa is not only tied to tourist attractions, development, food security but also to our identities, our culture, and for many, a way of life. Throughout the continent, people value water as much as they value life. Psyche Charter’s Nokulunga Magubane suggested that “African belief systems are so deeply entrenched in environmental consciousness that climate change has a detrimental effect on the psycho-

development of a personal African identity.” In many ways than one, water essentially is a puzzle piece to our identities and cultural practices. Suppose we are to explore ancient and present-day African livelihoods and our relationship to the natural environment, climate change, and African belief systems. In that case, we can identify that Africa is no stranger to environmental conservation and sustainable use. Droughts, floods, heatwaves, etc., are honestly nothing new to earth; however, Indigenous communities have been living holistically with planet earth, developing sustainable management techniques respecting the natural world. So why exactly are we undermining our indigenous knowledge? Harnessing our important ancient wisdom alongside western science-based knowledge is critical in protecting our identities and supporting our ecological and water systems while cementing our voice in global Climate Change policy development and implementation. HOW SHOULD WE NAVIGATE A WATER-CONSCIOUS SOCIETY? How are we going to reduce the problem of climate change is the question we need to ask ourselves; I can see from my research that some efforts are being made to improve management

in freshwater resources. I’m certain coping, adapting, and building the resilience capacities of African countries towards the impacts of climate change on water resources requires a holistic approach involving systems thinking and risk management strategies. Solutions pivot on taking urgent action to utilize science, technology, innovation, indigenous knowledge, and policies relevant to water resource evaluation and management. The involvement and continuous engagement of private, civil, and international sectors in establishing appropriate water governance, policies, regulations, and measures to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, especially as they affect water resources. In the global arena, we need to have a cohesive agenda and strategy for achieving favourable negotiations at international meetings to avoid tragic failures and delayed development. Africa as a continent of 53 nations should utilize the collaborative and partnership opportunities available in order to respond to the multitude of complex impacts of climate change, especially on water resources.

raise awareness. Become advocates of environmental justice and implemented sustainability practices. Steer the wheel in developing environmentally conscious communities. Find out what your government, municipalities, NGOs, and university water research communities are up to and how much their work is actually in practice. Catch a bucket of water while it rains, or just before you hop into the shower, and improve your daily water use practices.

IN THE AFRICAN YOUTH WATER COMMUNITY? Join empowering and active chapters and organizations such as Young Water Professionals, Working for Water. Use social media as a tool to educate and

WANDE OSENI 62

Wande Oseni, is a self-taught Nigerian visual artist based in Lagos State. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Finance from the University of Lagos. She draws inspiration from her experiences, those of close relations as well as her opinions and commentary on issues of women’s rights, gender equity, mental health, societal and environmental struggles. Wande’s preferred mediums are acrylics and digital painting using distinctive biological gender symbols to represent the subject’s heads. 63

PLASTIC PLASTIC: FRIEND OR A FRIEND O A FOE? FOE? A A CONTRIBU CONTRIBU TO CLIMAT TO CLIMAT CHANGE CHANGE 70

MANDISA KHUMALO

A R OR

UTOR UTER TE TE 71

What if plastic was never invented? Once a revolutionary invention, it is now filling up the oceans and killing thousands of marine life thus posing a threat to human health. Just how much plastic do we have around us? Would life be less comfortable without it? How many animal species could we save by getting rid of plastic debris? This is ‘what if’ and this is what would happen if plastic was never invented. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, plastic is a light, strong material that is produced by chemical processes and can be formed into different shapes when heated. Plastic cannot be easily decomposed. Since the 1950s, we’ve approximately created 8.3 Billion tons of plastic, 9% of it we’ve recycled, another 12% incinerated, that leaves us with 79% of plastic waste to accumulate in landfills or as litter in our natural environment. If we could gather it all, this plastic mountain would be bigger than Mount Everest. A lot of this waste ends up in the sea, killing marine animals who mistake that indigestible for food. If we eliminate plastic from our lives, we’d save hundreds of marine species from entanglement and plastic ingestion but what about us? What could our routine be like without plastic? How much do we depend on plastic anyway? Even if you avoided using plastic containers to bring your lunch to work or bagged your groceries with reusable shopping bags, you would still be a far cry from going absolutely plastic free. Plastic is everywhere. Aluminum cans are lined with plastic resin. Without it, your Cola would corrode within three days. Paper cups hide a thin layer of plastic too. No plastic would also mean no tea bags since they’re heat sealed with polyethylene.

Without plastic, grocery shopping would look very different. Our liquids would come in glass bottles, our meats and cheese would be wrapped in paper and you pack all your groceries in paper bags or cardboard boxes. One of the main benefits of plastic packaging is that it keeps food fresh longer. Without this basic method of food preservation, a lot of our food would actually need to be raised or grown locally and much of it would only be available seasonally. Organic waste would fill up the landfills and become our major environmental concern. Our clothing would be limited to natural fibers. No polyester socks, nylon dresses or acrylic sweaters. You could say goodbye to your fleece jacket, heat and water-resistant safety wear would not exist either. Without the plastic needed for electrical insulation, there would be no inexpensive circuits to build your phone or computer. Even early electronics in the 1910s used one of the first plastics, Bakelite. Without any plastic, we’d be stuck in 1870, still using non-durable and hazardous lacquer and rubber to insulate our wires. All the progress we have made with affordable electronics would never have happened but at least we wouldn’t be polluting the earth with disposable coffee cups, water bottles, toothbrushes and other plastics. It was in 1907 that the earliest modern plastic, Bakelite, was developed. It pointed the way to a whole new family of products based on synthetic polymers, that is, compounds of large molecules made up of simple repeated units. In the late 1950s and early 1960s,

an upgrade in manufacturing processes brought the cost of making plastics down drastically, accelerating cheap mass production. It is not too much of a stretch to say that plastic made the modern world possible. Many things that we appreciate less today depends on it. Milk, for instance, no longer has to be delivered in glass bottles, making it safer and convenient to transport. Modern medicine has also greatly gained from the disposable plastic syringe, invented in 1955. According to the British Plastics Federation, studies have also shown that if plastic packaging had to be replaced by other materials, it would lead to a rise in consumption of packaging, in terms of mass, energy and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it says different material to plastic would result in 2.7 times more greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime. Therefore, the challenge is rather to mitigate the worst effects of its proliferation and find ways of reducing the pollution it causes. CLIMATE CHANGE Weather, global warming and climate change all have a connection. Though climate change and global warming are often used correspondingly, they have distinct meaning. Likewise, weather and climate are often confused though they refer to events with broadly different spatial – and timescales. Weather refers to atmospheric conditions that occur locally over a short period of time – from minutes to hours or days. Examples include rain, snow, clouds, winds, floods or

thunderstorms. Climate, on the other hand, refers to the long-term regional or even global average of temperature, humidity and rainfall patterns over seasons, years or decades. Global warming is the long-term heating of the Earth’s climate system observed since the pre- industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere. The term is frequently used interchangeably with the term ‘climate change’, though the latter refers to both human and naturally produced warming and the effects it has on our planet. It is commonly measured as the average increase in Earth’s global surface temperature. Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define the Earth’s local, regional and global climates. Changes observed in Earth’s climate since the early 20th century are primarily driven by human activities, particularly fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere, raising the Earth’s average surface temperature. These human-produced temperature increases are commonly referred to as global warming.

impacts will have knock-on effects for many communities and sectors that depend on natural resources, including agriculture, fisheries, energy, tourism and water. ∙ Water: In many regions, floods and water quality problems are likely to be worse because of climate change. ∙ Food: Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Although agricultural practices may be adaptable, changes like increased temperatures, water stress, diseases, and weather extremes create challenges for farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables. ∙ Health: Human health is vulnerable to climate change. The changing environment is expected to cause more heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor air quality and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents. ∙ Environment: Ecosystems are also affected by climate change. Changes are occurring to the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of carbon-dioxide that is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. As a result, the ocean is becoming more acidic, affecting marine life. THE LINK BETWEEN PLASTIC POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE Plastic not only poses an immense pollution problem – it also exacerbates climate change. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) report warns that the greenhouse gas emissions from plastic jeopardize our ability to keep the global temperature rise below 1.50C. If plastic production

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE Research on future scenarios predict climate change will have a dramatic effect on natural environments, plants and animals, leading to acceleration in biodiversity loss in some areas. The

stays on its current trajectory, by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions could reach 1.34 billion tons per year. This is because more than 99% are made from fossil fuels, both natural gas and crude oil – and because plastic results in greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle. DISCARDED PLASTIC After it is used, plastic is incinerated, recycled or ends up in a landfill. Carbon from fossil fuel feedstock is locked into plastic products and emitted when plastic is incinerated or decomposes. For example, in 2015, 25% of global plastic waste was incinerated in the U.S., emissions from plastic incineration were equivalent to 5.9 million metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the emissions from heating 681 000 homes for a year. Only about 8.4% of plastic is recycled. According to scientists from UC Santa Barbara, even recycling plastic produces greenhouse gas emissions, as fossil fuels are combusted to run the machines that shred plastic waste and heat it up to make other products. Plastics in the environment, such as those that persist in landfills and litter coastlines all over the world, have been found by the University of Hawaii researchers to release the greenhouse gas methane and ethylene when sunlight heats them. Moreover, emissions from plastic on the ocean surface increases as the plastic breaks down. Plastics produced globally in 2015 emitted greenhouse gases equivalent to 1.8 Giga tons (Gt)

of carbon – dioxide (referred to as “carbon-dioxide equivalents” or CO2e) over their life cycle. This amount corresponds to 3.8% of the 47 Gt CO2e emitted globally that year. Of the 407 metric tons (Mt) of plastic generated globally in 2015, 58% of plastic was discarded or landfilled, and only 18% was recycled. It is estimated that 4.8 – 12.7 Mt of plastic waste generated by coastal countries entered the ocean in 2010. Not only does plastic in the ocean negatively impact marine ecosystems, human health, food supply and tourism economically, but a recent study also showed that plastic degraded in the ocean releases methane and ethylene, two powerful GHGs, further exacerbating climate change. [Source: www.amp.dw.com ] EARTH IS OUR HOME The first step to change is letting people know about the cause and what they can do to change their environment for the better. Advancing technologies alone will not solve the plastic crisis. There is far too much plastic produced in the world and we must reduce its pollution both at its source and as end products. Therefore, all stakeholders in our society have a role to play in responding to the urgency of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is an issue that demands worldwide attention, similar to climate change, as they are two sides of the same coin We all need to help reduce the consumption of single-use plastics: ∙ Support bans on harmful single-use products through local campaigns.

∙ Support ocean friendly restaurants and local businesses that avoid plastic waste while spreading awareness of the issue. ∙ Buying locally ∙ We need to implement more sustainable and environmentally friendly recycling technologies in our environments. ∙ Promote zero-waste communities We are humans and we will always have a personal connection with our environment. For me, a desire was forged so deep that I particularly enjoy the beautiful scenery of mother Earth. It pains me to see it going into distraction due to our carelessness in the name of modernization. I have an urge and I believe that change starts with a single person and through that person a movement can be created. As a young, Swati female, I believe that this is my first action to take of being the voice that my society needs to hear more. My vision is very big and this marks my beginning. With this information I can only hope that our communities will see the need of joining our hands together in the name of saving our planet. All the little actions, from avoiding littering, to applying the recycle, reuse and reduce techniques in our everyday lives will make a difference to curb the effects plastic pollution has on the environment. We need to rethink more about considering how our actions affect the environment and also recover ways of putting waste products into use. Plastic produces toxic chemicals throughout its whole life cycle hence the linkage between plastic pollution and

climate change. It is thus vital that we implement various methods to reduce its pollution in the best possible ways we can, whether from simply avoiding the use of single-plastic to advanced technologies that will help reduce the effects. The question is: Are consumers prepared to accept compromises to reduce plastic waste?

CONTRIBUTO 06 SIMPHIWE JULIA THABEDE

(ISRI/UJC-Mozambique) and a Master Degree in Social Sciences (Paris Saclay – France). I have done volunteering and worked for both the government and non-governmental organizations. Currently living in Maputo I am a polymath wannabe.

Simphiwe Julia Thabede born 1999 from Katlehong, the east of Johannesburg. Thabede is a visual artist, photographer and digital collagist. She draws her inspiration from various visual artists like Pamela Tulizo, Ogorogile Nong, Mary Sibande to name a few. Her work is influenced by contemporary visual culture, Dadaism and Pop culture. Currently, Thabede is completing the Intermediate photography course at The Market Photo Workshop. Simphiwe uses the camera as a tool for communication, she is passionate about photography and believes that every individual has their own story to tell.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Web: www.amadenacir.com Blog: www.nformandoemudando. blogspot.com LinkedIn: Amade Casimiro Nacir Instagram: @amadecasimironacir.com Twitter: @AmadeNacir Facebook: .com/LuqmanAlhakimX

22 YOSEF GETACHEW Hi my name is Yosef Getachew also known by my alias @etography_. I am a 23-year-old selftaught photographer based in Dessie, north-east of Ethiopia. I mostly take pictures with my phone. My photographic interests are taking pictures on the street, walking around my city, Dessie, and looking/ searching for interesting moments in the street. I have been inspired by talented photographers and many of

14 AMANDE NACIR My name is Amade Casimiro Nacir and I was born in Lichinga (1993), Niassa Province, in northern Mozambique. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy

ORS the local street photographers. In the future, besides street photography, I would like to be an analog (film) self-portrait photographer. I think that in a lot of intimate situations, film has a way of expressing and naturally putting one in a mood that is very hard to replicate digitally. But that’s not to say that digital is far off or not capable of doing the same thing. I just admire and would like to go back to that vintage vibe.

Change youth submission and a current project lead for the SA-YCAP process. Tyler attended COP25 where she negotiated on the Lima Work Programme on Gender and its Gender Action Plan. She is the current focal point for the Climate Change Youth Policy Committee and Contact Point of the YOUNGO NDC working. LA’EEQA MARTIN is a South African climate, youth and sustainable development activist. She is an active member of the Youth Policy Committee Climate Change working group, a current project lead for the SA-YCAP process and a Youth Coordinator at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) under Youth@SAIIA. She was also a lead drafter for the Climate Change group of the SA APRM youth submission.

28 JOHANNESBURG YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN INSTAGRAM: @basically_booth @khahliso.myataza @laeeqa002 @sibusiso_m17 @youth_saiia TWITTER: @TylerJess38 @khahlisomyataza @wandering_donut @MazombaSibusiso @Youth_SAIIA TYLER BOOTH was a lead drafter of the Joburg Youth Climate Action Plan (YCAP), the SA APRM Climate

SIBUSISO MAZOMBA was a lead drafter of the Joburg YCAP, writing lead of South Africa’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for the Land and Housing Working Group, Youth Coordinator at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA),

current implementation lead for the SA-YCAP process and an active member of the Youth Policy Committee in the Climate Change and Biodiversity and Wildlife working groups.

and animation. His art reflects the themes of the black experience, afro-futurism and afro-surrealism with larger subjects as the universe and our place within it.

42 YO-WASTE

KHAHLISO MYATAZA is a PanAfrican, afro-feminist climate activist who served as a lead drafter on the Joburg YCAP, where she strongly advocated for the decolonisation of economic and education systems. She currently serves as the Chair of the Conscious Campaign, while simultaneously studying at the African Leadership Academy. Khahliso is an active member of the Youth Policy Committee Working Groups on Gender, Inequality and Race and Climate Change.

Yo-Waste is a tech-based company building innovative digital tools for the waste and recycling sector in Africa. Our mobile app, Yo-Waste App connects garbage generators (i.e residentials, businesses) in urban communities to local waste haulers and recyclers who operate in those given communities and are efficient and reliable. Currently operational in Kampala, Uganda.

36 TOPE AJAYI

48 SIYA MKHASIBE

‘Tope Ajayi is a multi-faceted artist creating with different media. thisHis eclectic style finds him cutting through visual and audiovisual experience with different aesthetics and approach. ‘Tope is presently creating art with traditional art, digital art, photography, film

56 KOPANO MOKOENA

inspiration from her experiences, those of close relations as well as her opinions and commentary on issues of women’s rights, gender equity, mentalhealth, societal and environmental struggles.Wande’s preferred mediums are acrylics and digital painting using distinctive biological gender symbols to represent the subject’s heads.

Kopano Mokoena is currently the Eastern Cape Deputy-Lead for the Young Water Professionals (YWP), a MSc Hydrogeology candidate at University of Witwatersrand, and previously a Green Matter and Water Research Commission Fellow (2019/20). Her work focuses on hydrological modelling and groundwater drought monitoring, but her passion lies in environmental learning and education, particularly in water resource management and governance. She aspires to play a significant role in future knowledge building, planning and management of water resources, through exploring alternative water sources and improving current monitoring systems.

70 MANDISA KHUMALO As an African female, I am a big environmental enthusiast who holds a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering. My main interest is to research and apply suitable innovative chemical engineering technologies to solve environmental problems that threaten us every day. Hence, my focus is on how plastic pollution impacts climate change.

62 WABDE OSENI

Social Media Handles: LinkedIn: Mandisa P Khumalo Instagram: @mandisamzilikazi Facebook: Mandisa Mzilikazi Email: mandisamzilikazi@gmail.com

Wande Oseni (b. 1995), is a selftaught Nigerian visual artist based in Lagos State.She Wande holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Finance from the University of Lagos.She draws