Youths demand stake in climate change decision-making

Youths in the country have demanded a stake in climate change decision-making processes, saying they are among key victims of the negative impact of the environmental destruction.

They issued the call in Lilongwe during a meeting which the National Youth Network on Climate Change with funding by Save the Children International organised for youth groups in the country.

During the meeting, the youth outlined the consequences they face due to climate change, including failure to attend classes when rivers flood, suffering malnutrition when droughts hit and suffering from skin cancer.

Crazymatic High School student Antonio Singini said the majority of the country’s populations are youths; hence, the need for their input to dominate policy direction.

He said: “The Malawi population for now is 19.65 million and 80 percent are the youths. It is, therefore, important that we get involved more in the climate change fight.

“In fact, we are the ones who will continue to suffer greatly for the losses and damages as we have more years to live.”

The youth network’s national coordinator Dominic Nyasulu said his organisation will push the concerns expressed by the youth into the country’ climate change agenda.

“One of the project’s aspects is to promote the participation of children in the decision-making processes, but also just to remind each other that Malawi is a signatory to the children and youths declaration on climate action,” he said.

Nyasulu said one of the declarations is that children should be at the centre of decision-making processes.

“But we also need to put in place policies that are going to address all the challenges that young people, especially the children have highlighted,” he said.

The meeting was organised under the five-year project called Sida Civil Society Organisation Capacity Strengthening Programme which Save the Children is implementing in the country.