AFRICAN YOUTH CLIMATE CARAVAN

YOUTH CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change confronts us with profound Negative Realities. We face these Harmful Impacts as a Nation, as members of the World Community, as Consumers, as Producers, and as Investors. And unless we do a better job of adjusting to these new realities, we will pay a heavy price. We may not suffer the fate of the Dinosaurs, but there will be a Heavy Toll on our Environment and on our Daily Lives, and the Impact will be more Catastrophic with each New Generation. It’s of paramount importance that we act now, since we have Faith for a healthier future!
Warming up of the Climate System is beyond argument, as shown by observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, the widespread melting of snow and ice, rising global average sea levels, frequent floods and the prolonged drought in Kenya amongst other nations in the World. Evidence of a warming world includes shorter freezing seasons of Lakes and River ice, decreases in the extent of Permafrost and rising soil temperatures.
Observations from across the World show that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate change, especially by temperature increases. Other effects of regional climate change on humans and ecosystems are emerging. Many are difficult to pinpoint, both because of steps to adapt to changing climate, and because of factors unrelated to it. They range across areas as different as planting crops in Kenya to changes in allergic pollen distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, changes in the extension of areas where infectious diseases are transmitted or effects on activities depending for example on snow and ice cover on Mt. Kenya, Kilimanjaro and others.
The drought in Kenya and other African nations has been so severe in the year 2011 and many people have lost their lives. In addition to this, livestock have also died and this is detrimental to our growth and development as a nation. This is a direct result of Climate Change in the region and we must be proactive as we come up with lasting solutions to Climate Change growing threat.
There is no doubt that the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid- 20th century is due to the observed increase in Green House Gases (GHGs) emanating from human activities.
It is on this background that AYICC (Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change) is organizing a Caravan from Nairobi to Durban – South Africa. AYICC – Kenya comprises of youth from YMCA, Green Warriors Movement, Y’s Men, St. Johns Community Centre, University of Nairobi, REEN, Tembea, Kenyatta University, Kibera, Ruai, Mombasa, Nyeri, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nanyuki, Machakos and many others. The vibrant movement has been on the forefront in mapping up strategies to address climate change in Kenya and the World in general. AYICC has chapters in other countries as well and they coordinate their efforts aimed at being a credible voice in Climate Change matters. These countries are: Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Malawi amongst others.
To mitigate the effects of Climate Change, AYICC members have been organizing Tree Planting exercises, Clean up Events and Environmental Education Programmes in schools and other forums. These efforts are all geared to reducing the negative effects of Climate Change through a practical aspect of doing things and information dissemination. From November to December 2011, AYICC is organizing a Caravan from Nairobi to Durban – South Africa where the Conference of Parties (COP 17) will be held. The caravan has a Campaign called; We Have Faith Campaign: Act Now for Climate Justice”. The caravan aspires to create more awareness and challenge people positively to take up actions that will reduce the effects of Climate Change.
The noble Caravan plan is a Youth Led Initiative whose idea was generated in 2009 by AYICC – Kenya during a meeting in Nairobi. To achieve its objective, the Caravan will have concerts in all the countries that it will be passing through. These are Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and finally into South Africa with seven (7) Climate Change concerts to create awareness in the major cities along the way. The “We have faith: act now for climate justice” Campaign is jointly run by Ecumenical Movements, Churches, Communities and Youth in Africa and together, we will amplify the African voice on Climate Change concerns. Other dedicated young persons from Norway, UK and other nations are also in the campaign and through harnessing our energies; we will become the ultimate “Global Voice on Climate Change”.
Well; the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) and its Kyoto Protocol has made notable achievements in addressing the challenges climate change imposes on humanity. Responding globally to the climate change problem, stimulating an array of national policies, creating an International Carbon Market, and establishing new institutional mechanisms may provide the foundation for future efforts to slow Climate Change. But to be more environmentally effective, future mitigation efforts would need to achieve deeper reductions covering activities with a higher share of global emissions.
By:
Cyrus Gachanja Omondi Ole Rabui
AYICC - KENYA