Experts at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have prioritised youth-centric policies in African nations, emphasising the crucial need for young people’s involvement in crafting and implementing low-carbon policies that reflect their values, priorities, and aspirations.
This inclusive approach ensures policymakers engage with the youth demographic, amplifying their voices and addressing their unique needs.
These perspectives were discussed over the weekend at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) when policymakers, youth leaders, civil society representatives, and international experts gathered at the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza for a pivotal United Nations “Summit of the Future” side event titled “Youth in Front: Opportunities for African Youth in a Just Low-Carbon Transition.”
The event, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Cameroon to the United Nations, IDRC, the Nigerian House Committee on Renewable Energy, UNDP, and the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, served as a critical forum for discussing Africa’s role in leading a just low-carbon transition, with a focus on youth empowerment and inclusion.
Speaking on “Empowering Africa’s Youth,” Anika Altaf, executive director of INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, set the tone for the event by emphasising the vital role of Africa’s youth in achieving sustainable development goals.
She highlighted that young Africans must lead efforts toward a low-carbon economy, framing the transition as an economic and social opportunity.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja by Mr Edward Dibiana, Media Advisor to the House of Representatives Committee, it was noted that Hon. Oyeshina Oyedeji (House Committee on Renewable Energy, Nigeria, who represented Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Chairman of the Committee) opened the panel by discussing how Africa’s vast renewable energy resources can be harnessed to create economic opportunities for young people.
He emphasised the need for policies that balance natural resource exploitation with environmental stewardship and equitable development, calling for frameworks that ensure the benefits of resource extraction, particularly in renewable energy, are shared equitably with local communities and youth.
Addressing “Exclusions in Nigeria’s Low-Carbon Transition,” Victoria Manya, a doctoral researcher at INCLUDE, presented a critical case study focusing on Nigeria’s low-carbon transition.
Dibiana disclosed that her presentation shed light on the conflicting priorities among key stakeholders. It revealed that while much discourse has centred on decarbonisation, far less attention has been paid to creating labour-based incentives that include youth and women in the transition process.
Manya referred to the energy sector as the “fossil fuels handmaiden,” highlighting how the energy and job markets remain heavily influenced by fossil fuel interests. This dependency perpetuates the dominance of fossil fuels and hinders efforts to achieve distributive, procedural, and recognition justice.
“The alignment of the energy sector with fossil fuel structures stifles the growth of renewable energy jobs and reinforces inequities in resource distribution,” she added.
Crucially, Manya emphasised that marginalised groups—particularly youth and women—are systematically excluded from decision-making processes in the energy transition. This exclusion results in policies that overlook these groups’ specific challenges and neglect their potential contributions.
Manya recommended policies that incentivise youth and women employment in renewable energy to address these imbalances, promote entrepreneurship, and develop infrastructure to support the transition.
She also advocated using youth-friendly language in policymaking to ensure policies resonate with the younger generation.
Prominent figures in the global sustainable development sphere recently delivered keynote addresses emphasising the crucial role of international partnerships in empowering Africa’s youth.
Erin Tansey, Director of the Sustainable and Inclusive Economies Division at IDRC, highlighted that while Africa’s youth are the future, they cannot lead the transition alone. International cooperation, technical support, and financial investment are vital to ensure a just transition.
Ambassador Tommo Monthe, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the United Nations, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of partnerships in shaping a sustainable future for Africa’s youth. By prioritising youth development and empowerment, Africa can unlock its full potential and ensure a brighter future for future generations.
Altaf urged participants to continue the conversation and commit to tangible actions to empower African youth to shape a sustainable and inclusive future. The “Youth in Front” event laid the groundwork for ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
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