Advocacy
About the Programme
Our advocacy programme focuses on amplifying youth voices in climate justice in Africa and capacitating young people to engage in advocacy in their communities while contributing to the shaping of climate policy.
Our advocacy work includes:
CAPACITATING YOUTH VOICES FOR MOVEMENT BUILDING
We believe that advocacy is a central component of building successful movements that lead to better futures.
As such, we focus on growing the capacity of youth to advocate for climate justice in their own communities, while aiming to build solidarity and collaboration across countries in Africa. We do this by:
Hosting conferences such as our Africa’s Youth Voices Conference series – an annual conference series aiming to foster collaboration and develop cohesive messaging amongst young people in Africa who are calling for climate justice on the continent.
Writing groups – an opportunity for young people to be a part of codeveloping articles, opinion pieces and blogs that advocate for climate justice.
In-person Edu advocacy workshops where we unpack the role of youth in the just energy transition.
DEVELOPING CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE POLICY
Young people’s involvement in developing helpful policies is essential as they will be the ones most impacted in the future by policy decisions. We aim to build the capacity in young people to actively and authentically engage in governmental policy consultations, make written policy submissions, or advocate for strong policies that centre people and the need to address the climate crisis.
Some of the capacity building has so far been focused on:
South Africa’s Climate Change Bill
Nuclear power
The role of youth in South Africa’s just energy transition
CAMPAIGNING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE
As an organisation, we actively take part in advocating and campaigning for climate justice when applicable. This includes:
Participation in the creation of the South African Youth Climate Action Plan.
Responses to policies such as South Africa’s NDC targets, climate change bill, Western Cape Climate Response Strategy and more.
The ongoing #CancelCoal campaign – our future now campaign. A campaign calling for the end of new coal in South Africa for a more sustainable and just future.
The ongoing March for System Change Campaign, which links into regular actions held by the organisation, calls for the climate crisis to be used as an opportunity to address systemic inequalities and secure a more sustainable future for all.
The 2020 Our Future Now Campaign
