Building on the momentum from COP 26 YME knew that anchoring our Caribbean climate solutions into the conversations taking place in the African continent was extremely important. To facilitate this we attend the CHOGM Climate Justice side event hosted by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance. This was a strategy session in preparation for COP 27
The rolling hills of Rwanda, their clean city streets and the undertone of peace was a beautiful reminder of how it is possible to transform our world and achieve our collective global goal of peace and security.
Sixty percent of Africa’s population is comprised of young people. This means that young people must be at the forefront of creating the solutions that will transform the world. Climate Diplomacy is a critically important skill to develop, especially for young people from Small Island Developing States because if we are not present in the rooms where decisions are being made, our needs are overlooked.
Caribbean youth need increased opportunities to connect with African young people and listen to their challenges and learn about the solutions they are proposing. Caribbean youth and African youth are faced with the challenge of accessing capital that will substantially support their climate solutions. Ensuring equitable access to climate financing and that young people develop the skills or systems to manage large budgets is critical to cultivating environments that foster climate solutions.