Samira Bawumia launches African Students in Climate Action Initiative on Green Ghana Day
By Selorm GBORBIDZI, ACCRA
The Second Lady, has launched an initiative to highlight the critical role of young people in the fight to curtail the effects of global warming and ensuring a sustainable future.
The initiative, the Africa Students for Climate Action (ASCA) is under the auspices of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), a platform to discuss the impact of climate change on women, youth, and children in Africa.
The aim of ASCA is to empower students across the continent to be at the forefront of climate action.
Accordig to the Second lady, whowas speaking at an event to mark the 4th edition of the Green Ghana DAy at the Labone Senior High School in Accra, “Our planet faces an unprecedented climate crisis, a crisis that poses a particular threat to Africa. Recent data reveals that Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to global emissions.”
She noted that although continent is experiencing increased droughts, floods, and heat waves, severely impacting on agriculture, economy, livelihoods and well-being, it is women and children who often bear the brunt of these impacts.
She said that this reality has made it necessary to include their voices and perspectives in our climate strategies.
Commenting on the Green Ghana Day, we are reminded of our commitment to environmental stewardship and the urgent need to combat deforestation. The Second Lady noted that by “planting trees today, we are not only contributing to the restoration of our forests but also educating our youth on the importance of environmental conservation.”
She declared that education will be bedrock on which the battle for averting the climate disaster will be fought, highlighting the need for initiatives like ASCA, that aim to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to advocate for and implement climate action within their ommunities.
Samira Bawumia stated ASCA is built on three foundational pillars: education, inclusion, and Innovation.
She stressed that “through education, we seek to disseminate knowledge about climate change and environmental stewardship.”
The Headmistress of the Labone Secondary School , Rejoice Acolor, said the global warming being experienced now is a as a direct result of human activities. She there said that the only way to curb climate change is through collective effort.
She therefore pledge the commitment of the staff and students of the school to playing their role in protecting the environment.
She called for more collective efforts in this regard say, “let us form a united front and create a future that is equitable and conducive for all humanity.”
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, on his part said that ensuring that young people are rallied to be custodians of the future is an extremely important step.
He thus described the launch of the ASCA as marking “a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to empower the youth to take proactive roles in climate advocacy and action.”
He was optimistic that ASCA will provide young people the knowledge and platform to lead in what he described as an important area.
Abani indicated the importance of adopting locally-led interventions and ensure the that women and youth are at the forefront of climate action.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr John Kingsley Krugu, drove home the need to mould young people to appreciate the negative implications of adverse climate action, stating that the attitudes of the older generation are difficult to change, once formed.
He therefore called for more effort to be directed towards “imbibing in the next generation –our children- the acknowledgement of negative environmental practices as it will help us in the battle against climate change.”
Dr Krugu concluded by pledging the unwavering support of the EPA to taking the ASCA initiative to the next level.
Hajia Samira Bawumai ended the day’s activities by joining the other dignitaries to plant trees on the compound of the Labone Senior High School.
