Caravan to Boost Youth Participation in Policy Discussions Launched

Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) has launched a caravan aimed towards setting the pace for young people to participate in policy discussions.

The Organization reveals that this will be through empowering and setting the pace for inclusive youth participation in climate policies and discussions.

The organization also held a conference aimed at building capacity of young individuals and organisations on international climate policies and its processes including negotiations, and how they can position themselves to follow up on or contribute meaningfully.

Taking into consideration the Uganda Local Conference Of Youth (LCOY) and the Conference Of Parties (COP) that happened in Egypt, in the two days workshop, the participants had the opportunity to frame the discussions, home key recommendations and messages which were included in the youth global statement for COP27. Most importantly, proposing key priorities of action for different groups of stakeholders and how those can be advanced before, during and beyond COP 27.

Speaking at the launch of the Children and Youth Forum on Environment and Climate Action, Louise Ellis MBE, Chargés D’Affaires at the British High Commission Kampala said ‘the UK are committed to playing a leading role in tackling climate change.

She revealed that they have advocated to government on the importance of the youth voice and the importance of a coordinated approach for that youth in engaging Government on policy change.

According to GAYO Uganda youth involvement in climate policy discussion is key and thus the need for strengthened stakeholder participation, more capacity building initiative and financial allocations for local and indigenous climate action.