Mutsa Connie Homera
Zimbabwean and Ethiopian youths have strengthened their call for greater cooperation in tackling climate change and promoting climate justice and environmental protection.
The call came during a youth engagement held in Zimbabwe on Friday, where a delegation of Ethiopian youths met with their Zimbabwean counterparts to exchange ideas, share experiences and discuss ways young people can take a leading role in climate action.
The engagement was held under the Plant Africa Fraternity Initiative, which brings young Africans together to share knowledge and experiences in environmental conservation, afforestation and climate action.
During the discussions, the youths explored issues including climate change, climate mitigation, climate justice and the need for young people to be actively involved in finding solutions to environmental challenges affecting communities across the continent.
The Ethiopian delegation also shared experiences from the country’s Green Legacy Initiative, a programme focused on tree planting, environmental restoration and building communities that are more resilient to the effects of climate change.
For Zimbabwean youths, the exchange provided an opportunity to learn from Ethiopia’s environmental efforts while also sharing their own experiences in climate advocacy and community-based environmental initiatives.
Participants highlighted the importance of giving young people a stronger voice in climate-related discussions and decision-making, particularly as today’s youths will live with the long-term effects of climate change.
The engagement also provided a platform for strengthening relations between Zimbabwe and Ethiopia through youth-led cooperation and knowledge sharing.
With African communities increasingly facing challenges such as droughts, floods, rising temperatures and environmental degradation, participants stressed the need for African countries to work together and develop solutions that respond to local realities.
The Zimbabwe-Ethiopia youth exchange therefore marked an important step towards building stronger partnerships among young Africans and encouraging them to take an active role in protecting the environment and shaping a more sustainable future for the continent.
