By Kefiloe Kajane
The United Nation Conference of Youth (COY16) today hosted the first ever Lesotho Climate Change Youth Dialogue to teach young people about the importance of fighting climate change.
COY16’s country coordinator Thabo Mahamo said climate change is affecting everyone worldwide and the youth are mostly affected, hence the need for such dialogues to take place so that voices on inclusivity are unlocked and heard.
Mahamo indicated that the youth need to have an opinion when it comes to adaption and resilience, climate change literacy, biodiversity and nature based solutions as some of the major concerns impacting people on global sale.
“With these discussions, we want to give the youth an opportunity to analyse climate related topics and find out what our leading governmental departments, non-governmental organisations, business enterprises and institutions are doing to include youth in order to combat and adapt the effects of climate change.
“There is a clear need for response action, especially from the youth, since we are the most vulnerable to climate change impacts; in the same breath we are the hand, strong enough to foster change,” she said.
She added that the youth are the future they deserve a seat in decision making not to be negotiating inclusivity.