TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Action Aid Zimbabwe, a non-profit organisation , is advocating a youth climate-focused fund, which will enable the youths to intensify awareness campaigns, Business Times can report.
Eric Moyo, the climate justice advocate for Action Aid Zimbabwe, who spoke at the Global Youth and Youth Action Diaries launch, in Bulawayo, said climate change has affected a lot of things and most youths have been adversely affected.
“It’s a popular topic (climate change). Not only popular, but we are dealing with real matters that are there,” he said.
Moyo said they are advocating to get funds from the government to create employment.
“Now with the climate change thing in our midst, it’s even worse. Climate change has been predicted to even worsen the situation.
There is a real need for mechanisms to meaningfully finance climate change programmes.
“From those funds, we are saying how young people can benefit from them.
So, we are saying, we need a national youth climate fund,” he said.
Moyo said they were not trying to deviate from other funds such as the Youth Bank and the Youth Fund but wants the youth to benefit from green jobs creation.
So this one, he said, is a call for a strict financially climate focused fund. That’s the gist of the campaign plan.
“In terms of developing ourselves, young people need to take climate justice and climate change issues very seriously. The issues are crucial and they speak to the core of existence and development of a better future. Young people should take a stand, this is not a thing for climate activists only but is for everyone ,” Moyo said.
Zaka North Member of Parliament, Robson Mavenyengwa, said the youth need to protect the environment.
“So there is a need for them to participate in the issues to do with climate change. If they do not participate it means it’s them who are going to suffer since by the time they become old, the climate would have already been destroyed, which means they won’t be able to do any meaningful development,” he said.
