Young Africans discuss climate change in Durban
Youths between the ages of 18 and 35 from 185 different African countries were congregating in Durban between 27 November and 2 December 2011 for the 'I Pledge' conference, organised by the Africa Youth for Climate Change and the Department of Environmental Affairs.
The primary objective of the conference was to empower young Africans with the knowledge and skills required to respond to the challenge of climate change while giving them a platform from which to voice their concerns. Youths need to hold their governments accountable to the commitments they have already made towards the alleviation of the climate change crisis, and they should strive to instigate an even greater pledge of commitment from their governing bodies.
Potential solutions proposed
The conference consisted of a number of plenary sessions in which high-level private and public leaders from both business and government institutes were addressing climate concerns and propose potential solutions. Networking lunches, breakfasts, clean-up campaigns and workshops also formed part of the conference. Galleries on exhibition at the venue contributed towards awareness and understanding of the climate change crisis.
During the summit, youths representing various African countries addressed conference attendees with a brief summary of the nature of the climate crisis their country is currently facing. Thereafter, another representative of that country, this time a celebrity or member of the royal family, was invited on stage to pledge their support to a sustainable green project which is aimed at addressing this cause; hence the theme of the youth summit 'I Pledge'.
