78% African youth identify climate change an existential threat to existence
Onome Amuge
A groundbreaking study, conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and presented at the ongoing COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, has revealed that 78 percent of African youth see climate change as an existential threat to their existence.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Ichikowitz Family Foundation is committed to unlocking the immense potential of Africa by focusing on key areas such as education, human rights, African history, and biodiversity preservation.
The critical finding in the Ichikowitz Family Foundation’s study underscores the immediate need for action on climate change.
With Africa expected to be home to 40 percent of the world’s young people by 2030, according to population experts, the study serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences climate change will have on a significant portion of the world’s youth if left unchecked.
Ivor Ichikowitz, founder and executive chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, emphasised the significance of the survey results, stating, “Given the disproportionate burden that Africa shoulders for climate change, the intensity of these concerns as articulated in this year’s survey makes sense.
According to the United Nations, 17 out of the 20 countries most affected by climate change are located in Africa, a testament to the continent’s vulnerability to the destructive power of climate change.
From floodwaters ravaging communities to droughts laying waste to arable land and powerful storms battering coastlines, Africa faces the brunt of temperature increases that surpass the critical 1.5-degree Celsius threshold.
Commenting on this, Ichikowitz said, “Make no mistake – the ramifications of continued global inaction in addressing the impact of climate change in Africa will be innumerable, but will certainly include instability, extreme poverty, and mass migration.”
“Of all the world’s youth, Africans offer perhaps the most principle call for action today, because they are the least responsible for the carbon emissions that drive climate change, yet they are also the most adversely impacted by its increasingly violent and disruptive effects,” he said, adding that, “as key players gather for the COP 29, there is a moral obligation to heed these voices as an urgent, clarion call for realizing bold, necessary and accountable goals, without further delay.”
The Ichikowitz Family Foundation’s survey revealed the reality of youth concerns regarding the impact of climate change on Africa.
Access to clean drinking water emerged as a top worry for 76 percent of young respondents, while 40 percent stated that they are spending a quarter of their income on clean water. This water scarcity is compounded by the fact that 73 percent of young Africans believe that climate change is already harming people in their country, as well as future generations, while 71 percent fear that it will fuel conflicts on the continent.
The survey results indicate a striking divide between the perceived efforts of African governments and the expectations of their citizens, particularly the youth, in the fight against climate change.
Despite the work already being done, only 48 percent of respondents were satisfied with their government’s efforts, while an overwhelming 81 percent felt that more action was needed.
The survey respondents identified several critical areas where more government intervention was required, including; increased investment in renewable energy sources (80% agreement), and measures to ensure the stability of food and water supplies in the face of climate change (79% agreement).
According to the survey findings, African youth pointed out several obstacles that are impeding the achievement of the crucial 1.5-degree Celsius target.
Of the respondents, 34 percent emphasised that too much focus is being placed on achieving consensus, at the expense of swift and decisive action.
The survey further revealed that a significant portion of the youth (33% overall, 46% in Kenya, and 44% in Tanzania) believe that individual governments are not doing enough to combat climate change.
The youth survey results suggest a widespread sentiment among respondents that Western governments and oil and gas companies bear a significant responsibility for the current state of climate change.
Specifically, 35 percent of respondents in Cote d’Ivoire, 36 percent in Rwanda, and 34 percent in Nigeria blame lobbying by oil and gas companies for the perceived lack of progress in achieving the 1.5-degree Celsius target.
The survey results indicate that African youth are not only concerned about the detrimental effects of climate change but also recognize the need for global cooperation and collaboration in addressing this pressing issue.
In particular, the results noted that 51 percent of respondents believe that collective action on the international stage, despite potentially resulting in slower progress, is the preferred approach to tackling climate change.
Moreover, a similar majority, comprising 53 percent of respondents, prioritise the search for long-term solutions to future climate change issues, against 44 percent, who suggested seeking financial compensation from developed nations.