By Praise Chinecherem
In a significant step towards building a more climate-conscious society, young people from Orumba North, Orumba South, Awka North, and Awka South Local Government Areas of Anambra State have undergone intensive training organized by ActionAid under the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) initiative.
The three-day event, held at Hilton Leisure Hotel, Awka, aimed to strengthen the capacity of youths SDGs with a specific focus on climate action and climate policy advocacy.
The training covered key topics such as climate change, its effects, and the role of youths in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also emphasized the importance of policy influencing, resource organization, and practical engagement with government initiatives on climate action.
The participants were tasked with applying their new knowledge to real-life situations, culminating in group presentations where they developed actionable plans to address climate challenges in their communities.
The youths officially identified themselves as the “Climate Change Youth Champions (CCYC)” and their collective network as the “Youths Community of Practice (YCoP).”
In line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, the youths committed to Individually Determined Actions (IDA), pledging initiatives like tree planting, proper waste management, and awareness campaigns on achieving a net-zero future.
The training climaxed with the formulation of their Hilton Protocol, an agreement to promote community services and hold the government accountable on climate policies through feedback mechanisms, while promoting community-based solutions.
The youths called for collaboration across all sectors to make the Earth a safer, cleaner place, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities. This united vision reflects a shared commitment to leaving no one behind in the fight against climate change.
