Meet the young African climate activists who are speaking out ahead of COP27

It is important that the needs of Africa are reflected in the outcome of the negotiations at the COP26 climate conference. The continent has been disproportionately affected by climate change, with droughts, floods and devastating storms becoming increasingly common.

African countries must now act to protect their citizens and demand that rich nations take responsibility for their emissions. It is time for the global south to be compensated for the loss and damage caused by climate catastrophes.

The COP26 conference presents an opportunity for Africa to show the world that it is serious about tackling climate change. We must take this opportunity to demand action from the rich nations who have contributed the most to the problem.

1. Why is it important for the global south to be represented in climate negotiations?

It is important for the global south to be represented in climate negotiations for a number of reasons. First, the global south is disproportionately impacted by climate change. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that many countries in the global south are located in tropical or subtropical regions, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Additionally, many countries in the global south have economies that are heavily dependent on agriculture, fishing, and other natural resources, which are also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Second, the global south is home to a large majority of the world’s population.

2. Why do some youth activists say that rich nations should be responsible for massive emissions cuts and compensation for loss and damage caused by climate catastrophes?

Some youth activists say that rich nations should be responsible for massive emissions cuts and compensation for loss and damage caused by climate catastrophes for a variety of reasons. First, developed countries have emitted the majority of greenhouse gases since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and so bear a greater responsibility for the climate crisis. Second, developed countries have the financial resources to make deep emissions cuts and to provide compensation, while many developing countries do not. Third, developed countries have benefited economically from fossil fuels, while developing countries have often borne the brunt of climate impacts.

Developed countries are responsible for the lion’s share of historical greenhouse gas emissions.

3. What are some of the climate-induced disasters that the global south has experienced?

The global south has experienced a number of climate-induced disasters, including storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires. These disasters have had a devastating impact on communities, causing loss of life, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of people. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events, with devastating consequences for the most vulnerable communities.

Quick Summary

The past year has seen a lot of extreme weather disasters, and many developed countries are using the slowdown in the economy and the war in Ukraine as an excuse to back out of their promises to fight climate change. The young climate activists from African nations have high demands but low expectations for the UN climate conference that starts on Sunday. After Johnson’s weak energy plan and Truss’s skepticism about net zero, we have Rishi Sunak who didn’t even want to attend. This lack of commitment from developed countries is not going to help the situation at all.