The Special Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change at the United Nations, Selwin Hart, has called on African youth to very confidently demand a seat at the table where decisions about their future are being made.
The advice was given at a roundtable discussion with young delegates and activists from various African countries on the side of the ongoing COP28 in Dubai.
”Demand a seat at the table,” he said. ”The NDCs are about your future and it cannot be left alone to the governments. So you have to demand a seat at the table when your respective countries begin the 2nd revision of the NDCs.”
Calling for a more structured pattern in how young people are engaged, Mr. Hart said: “The United Nations Secretary-General has a youth advisory council on Climate Change. It would be good if through the UN each country could also have a youth advisory council to support their government’s climate action plan.”
The Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change also committed to having an annual meeting with African youth and a follow-up meeting to finetune requests made, reassess progress and contribute in ways possible.
By ‘Seyifunmi Adebote
