Cape Town - As the world observes COP27, the 27th UN Climate Change conference in Egypt this week, more than 700 African youths have signed a joint open letter calling on the leadership of the AU to prioritise systemic change in the face of the worsening climate crisis.
The letter comes after a series of conferences aimed to amplifying messaging from communities across Africa whose voices were not always heard in the negotiations taking place at meetings such as COP27.
This was organised by the African Climate Alliance, a youth-led, Cape-based group acting and advocating for Afrocentric climate justice.
During online conference sessions, youth from across the continent discussed pertinent issues arising in communities affected by climate change and vowing to collaborate on the development of the open letter.
“We believe that COP27 – on African soil – is a great opportunity to effect the most impactful change any COP has ever had. Please do not waste it,” the letter stated.
In the letter, the youth appealed for further financing and development of renewable energy sources in Africa as well as the inclusion and consultation of indigenous knowledge in creating climate solutions.
African Climate Alliance programmes manager Mitchelle Mhaka said: “We need to prioritise indigenous knowledge and to call on the global north to provide climate reparations to address the loss and damage facing communities in Africa due to climate impacts.”
The youth believed that while some argued for African countries to now be given the opportunity to exploit fossil fuels, history should not be misused as an excuse to build fossil fuel infrastructure and put the land and people in harm’s way.
“As leaders of the African Union (AU), you are in a unique and powerful position to negotiate for climate reparations for loss and damage finance rather than loans that accrue interest.
“Climate reparations are essential to compensate for the loss and damage in Africa due to the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. Reparations will also assist in building green infrastructure,” the letter stated.
The letter was also endorsed by 350 Africa, Don’t Gas Africa, Power Shift Africa, Khantsa Energy and others.
South African team leader Glen Tyler-Davies for 350 Africa said young people have the most to gain or lose in how they respond to climate change, and therefore often speak with the greatest clarity.
“Their calls for people-centred development powered by renewable energy and an end to the extractive economies that powered colonialism are especially timely,” Tyler-Davies said.