68
strikes and other actions, we must ensure that
measures are put in place to ensure that the youth
can continue their work as climate activists when
they transition to adulthood. Climate change
activists who are working with the youth need a
clear understanding of the life cycle approach.
Such knowledge would enable climate leaders to
determine what types of intervention are required
at specific developmental stages.
Governments and development agencies such
as the UN must ensure that there are adequate
investments in youth development to enable them
to contribute to the sustainable development of
their communities. Such investment in youth
development should be in comparison with
investment in other areas, including infrastructure and socio-economic development.
In his 2020 New Year and decade message,
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, stated
that:
Climate change is not only a long-term problem
but a clear and present danger, and we cannot
afford to be the generation that fiddle while the
planet burns. But there is also hope. This year my
new year’s message is to the greatest sources of
this hope, our young people. Your generation is on
the frontline and in the headlines. And I am
inspired by your passion and determination. You
are rightly demanding a role in shaping the future,
and I stand with you. The United Nations stands
with you and belongs to you. This year, the world
needs young people to continue to speak out and to
speak big, to keep pushing boundaries, and keep
up the pressure. (Guterres 2020)
The Secretary-General of the United Nations
endorsed youth-led positive activism and
validated youth’s pressure on governments and
the business community to break the deadlock on
the climate change negotiations and actions.
Such a bold declaration will now need to be
supported by member governments and the international community to enable the youth to implement innovative programmes to address the
climate change challenge. We need to learn from
the lessons of the 1980s–1990s where governments and the international community made a
bold pronouncement to support youth development but did not provide the appropriate resources
to invest in the youth and ensure their goals came
to fruition. Young people were very motivated
after participating in the UNCED and other processes in 1992 and went back to their various
countries/communities with planned sustainable
development projects but were left disappointed
due to lack of financial and technical resources
from governments and the international community to implement their projects.
The youth are the future of the world; policymakers, development planners and practitioners
must collaborate with them to develop appropriate policies and programmes to enhance their
competences and skills to adapt to climate change
and other development calamities. Climate
change is not a joking matter; therefore, Guterres
must encourage the international community to
allocate funding to support youth development
initiatives at local and national levels. These programmes should focus on engaging the youth in
the development of climate change policies and
adaptation at all levels of education and the community. Financial resources to enhance vocational trades and skills using TVET will lead to
the development of sustainable livelihoods and
entrepreneurship initiatives in SIDS and LDCs. A
portion of funding should be provided directly to
youth development agencies such as the National
Youth Commission and the National Youth
Council to implement projects that build the
resilience of the youth and their communities.
The Piloting of the Youth
Employment and Entrepreneurship
Project (YEEP) in Sierra Leone, West
Africa
In the past decade, Sierra Leone, like most
African LDCs, has experienced a series of development challenges including high youth unemployment, internal conflicts, rampant corruption
and epidemics. The dreadful unemployment situation among poor healthcare and infrastructure
implementation is compounded by extreme climate changes that impact negatively on all
aspects of life.
Poor-quality education provided by training
institutions has worsened the prospects and aspi4 The Emergence of New Climatic Storms: Global Perspective on the Application…
strikes and other actions, we must ensure that
measures are put in place to ensure that the youth
can continue their work as climate activists when
they transition to adulthood. Climate change
activists who are working with the youth need a
clear understanding of the life cycle approach.
Such knowledge would enable climate leaders to
determine what types of intervention are required
at specific developmental stages.
Governments and development agencies such
as the UN must ensure that there are adequate
investments in youth development to enable them
to contribute to the sustainable development of
their communities. Such investment in youth
development should be in comparison with
investment in other areas, including infrastructure and socio-economic development.
In his 2020 New Year and decade message,
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, stated
that:
Climate change is not only a long-term problem
but a clear and present danger, and we cannot
afford to be the generation that fiddle while the
planet burns. But there is also hope. This year my
new year’s message is to the greatest sources of
this hope, our young people. Your generation is on
the frontline and in the headlines. And I am
inspired by your passion and determination. You
are rightly demanding a role in shaping the future,
and I stand with you. The United Nations stands
with you and belongs to you. This year, the world
needs young people to continue to speak out and to
speak big, to keep pushing boundaries, and keep
up the pressure. (Guterres 2020)
The Secretary-General of the United Nations
endorsed youth-led positive activism and
validated youth’s pressure on governments and
the business community to break the deadlock on
the climate change negotiations and actions.
Such a bold declaration will now need to be
supported by member governments and the international community to enable the youth to implement innovative programmes to address the
climate change challenge. We need to learn from
the lessons of the 1980s–1990s where governments and the international community made a
bold pronouncement to support youth development but did not provide the appropriate resources
to invest in the youth and ensure their goals came
to fruition. Young people were very motivated
after participating in the UNCED and other processes in 1992 and went back to their various
countries/communities with planned sustainable
development projects but were left disappointed
due to lack of financial and technical resources
from governments and the international community to implement their projects.
The youth are the future of the world; policymakers, development planners and practitioners
must collaborate with them to develop appropriate policies and programmes to enhance their
competences and skills to adapt to climate change
and other development calamities. Climate
change is not a joking matter; therefore, Guterres
must encourage the international community to
allocate funding to support youth development
initiatives at local and national levels. These programmes should focus on engaging the youth in
the development of climate change policies and
adaptation at all levels of education and the community. Financial resources to enhance vocational trades and skills using TVET will lead to
the development of sustainable livelihoods and
entrepreneurship initiatives in SIDS and LDCs. A
portion of funding should be provided directly to
youth development agencies such as the National
Youth Commission and the National Youth
Council to implement projects that build the
resilience of the youth and their communities.
The Piloting of the Youth
Employment and Entrepreneurship
Project (YEEP) in Sierra Leone, West
Africa
In the past decade, Sierra Leone, like most
African LDCs, has experienced a series of development challenges including high youth unemployment, internal conflicts, rampant corruption
and epidemics. The dreadful unemployment situation among poor healthcare and infrastructure
implementation is compounded by extreme climate changes that impact negatively on all
aspects of life.
Poor-quality education provided by training
institutions has worsened the prospects and aspi4 The Emergence of New Climatic Storms: Global Perspective on the Application…