(Young people dancing for climate justice, Photo: Guri Storaas/NCA)
On Friday 12th August, 300 young people took to the streets of Nairobi demanding a just international climate agreement. The Dancing demonstration signalled the kick-off for a pan-African climate campaign under the name of We have faith - act now for climate justice. The campaign targets the international climate change conference in Durban in December. Young people from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan participated.
Famine in the headlines
"The drought and famine in the Horn of Africa make our campaign newsworthy, because we need a just international climate agreement in order to prevent disasters such as this one from happening," says Guri Storaas, climate advisor at the Norwegian Church Aid office in Kenya.
12th August is UN International Youth Day, and the campaign's launch took place on a strategically important street between the US Embassy and the UN headquarters in Nairobi.
"While the world's attention is directed towards the famine in the Horn of Africa, it is important we focus on two things: we need to help millions of people in acute need, but we also need to take a long-term approach to stop anthropogenic climate change," says Winnie Asiti from the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC).
Winnie Asiti from the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change.
The event was a strongly visual one, thanks to the 300 young people who danced in unison. Several prominent guests participated, including representatives for the UN and the government of Kenya.
"The drought that has hit Kenya and our neighbouring countries shows how we in Africa will be among those to be worst affected by climate change. And it's us, the youth, who will inherit this planet. World leaders need to open their eyes," says David Wainaina, also from the AYICC.
Contact:
- Guri Storaas, climate advisor at NCA's Nairobi office, tel.: +254 715 690 956
- Winnie Asiti (African Youth Initiative on Climate Change): +254 722 938 254
- David Wainaina (African Youth Initiative on Climate Change): +254 721 615 123