Spotlight on 6 Young African Environmental and Climate Activists
Written by Nadine Kilala
The youth on the African continent are mobilising in numbers to demand greater action on climate change. In Africa, climate change is not a future threat but a pressing reality. The continent disproportionally suffers the severe effects of climate change despite contributing the least to climate change. With youth accounting for over 75% of Africa’s population, they increasingly understand that the action or inaction that the leaders take today will determine their lives and the generations that follow. Unimpressed by the continued political gestures of inanity, young Africans are taking a stand against a system that has repeatedly failed to take proper actions toward fighting for their futures.
The Climate Justice movement has a history of exclusion and erasure of African people from being at the forefront of mainstream climate movements. Young African climate activists are rising to the challenge to grasp any opportunity to raise their voices against climate injustice on a global stage. The climate activism scene in Africa is leading critical dialogues in bolstering more robust civic engagement and legislative advocacy. From calling on their leaders and corporations to leading grassroots movements, African activists seek transformational change in all its forms.
As stated by UNICEF, “climate change impacts everyone but the future belongs to young people”.
Feeling inspired? Us, too — Here are our top picks of young African climate and environmental activists taking space and honing their power in pushing for climate justice.
Adenike Oladosu
Adenike Oladosu speaking at the Elevate Festival in 2020
To Oladosu, climate activism is not a choice but a necessity. Oladosu wears many hats, from being a galvanising figure in the climate activism scene to being an avid intersectional eco-feminist – Oladosu always seeks to inspire through her work. Known for constantly pushing the bar for action, Oladosu always keeps her hands full, such as being the initiator of Fridays For Future Nigeria, an ambassador for African Youth Climate, and the founder of the pan-African ‘ILeadClimate’ movement – to name a few.
Passionate about rendering quality climate education, Oladosu realised a knowledge gap on climate change in Africa. In response, Oladosu started ILeadClimate – a pan African Climate Justice Movement that aims to foster a culture of climate action. ILeadClimate runs grassroots climate education and action initiatives in numerous rural and urban African communities. Oladosu believes that climate education should not be confined to the classroom. Instead, she actively pushes for climate justice to be more prominent in conservation in everyday social settings such as religious places, farms, to social gatherings.
Oladosu believes that youth climate education is critical in allowing communities to secure a climate just future because they will be the next leaders. Oladosu emphasises that everyone should take responsibility for creating intergenerational equity regardless of age, geographical location, and status. As a true pan-Africanist climate activist, Oladosu invests in empowering the youth with incisive knowledge to raise context-specific climate adaptation and mitigation solutions innovatively. Follow Oladosu’s vision on Instagram and Twitter.
Nkosilathi Nyathi
Nkosilathi Nyathi speaking on children environmental rights at COP25 (Photo credits: Rosa Castaneda)
Nyathi has been a fierce advocate of advancing Zimbabwe’s climate and environmental agenda from an early age. The teenage activist has demonstrated to young Zimbabweans that they can take powerful steps in mitigating climate impacts within their communities. Nyathi started his activism journey by using the power of visual media to document first-hand experiences of the devastating effects of drought, flooding, and soil erosion within his home community in Victoria Falls. Nyathi’s vivid video documentary has shed light on the raw experiences of the socio-economic damage climate impacts have to the fabric of his home community.
Despite Nyathi’s numerous award-winning accolades, the Zimbabwean activist is no stranger to putting effort into doing the real work. With a knack for public speaking, Nyathi has been a leading voice for the youth. As the UNICEF Zimbabwe representative, Nyathi is a fervent advocate who has delivered compelling appeals to world leaders for climate action in various conferences such as COP25 and the African Regional Summit on Sustainable Development to address climate change urgently Not only is Nyathi committed to holding leaders accountable, but he also co-heads the green club and hosts global virtual talks to numerous youth groups on climate action.
Alongside the various leadership roles, Nyathi always seems to find a way back to create impact at grassroots levels. For instance, Naythi has contributed to building a biogas digester in his former primary school that is used in the school kitchen to replace firewood. In addition, Nyathi has also lent a hand in establishing a solar water pump at his high school. These projects aim to demonstrate to the local communities that creating sustainable livelihoods is an achievable feat. Nyathi’s climate leadership affirms that the voices of the African youth do count and matter in the Climate Justice Movement. You can check out Nyathi’s work and journey on his Instagram.
Elizabeth Wathuti
Elizabeth Wathuti speaking at COP 26 in Glasgow (Photo credits: UN Climate Change)
“Open your hearts and act on climate crisis” – Elizabeth Wathuti
Wathuti is a strong advocate for the climate crisis to be approached in a more humanised way. Wathuti encourages the global community to attentively listen to the concerns of vulnerable communities with more weight so that we take more intentional measures towards addressing the injustices faced by those who fight daily for their futures in the face of climate change. Wathuti’s voice is a vessel that shares the on-the-ground realities of climate insecurity in Kenya and the African continent on a global stage.
As a devoted nurturer of the environment, Wathuti established the Green Generation Initiative, which aims to build youth environmental consciousness and appreciation by growing trees. The Green Generation Initiative uses nature-based practical solutions to educate learners, volunteers, and participants on the symbiotic connection between the environment and human life. The initiative has successfully planted over 30,000 fruit trees around Kenya. The initiative has also empowered communities with practical solutions to combat food insecurity and climate change.
Wathuti is a powerhouse activist who is an exemplar leader who leads with compassion in fighting for the planet’s future. As stated by Wathuti, “If our actions are not truly genuine, then we are not going to be doing any justice to the people that are impacted by the crisis right now.” Check out her Instagram here.
Ghaamid Abdulbasat
Tanzanian-born environmental activist Abdulbasat continues to pave the way for more young Africans to have a seat at the table in shaping the climate agenda in policy-making and concrete action. The award-winning activist is an all-rounded climate activist who consults, leads, researches, and communicates compelling environmental issues to the world.
Passionate about citizen science, Adbulbasat believes that the power to build more sustainable behaviours lies within the people. Abdulbasat uses digital tools to include citizens in being direct contributors to the production of environmental knowledge within their communities. Concentrating on people-centred capacity-building, Abdulbasat tirelessly mobilises youth to participate in policy-making processes actively and stimulate innovations that cater to their nuanced needs in building sustainable habits and communities.
Abdulbasat has an astounding resume that illustrates his strong dedication to global citizenship in addressing climate change. As an ambassador of over 5 international environment coalitions, Abdulbasat has represented Tanzania in numerous international climate decision-making processes. Abdulbasat’s presence in global ambassadorial roles has been a powerful statement in demonstrating strong African leadership while pushing African climate injustice experiences to the forefront of mainstream climate movements. It is clear that Abdulbasat’s impact and exceptional work in the environmental space show tenacity and relentless drive in inspiring a pan-African environmental movement.
Vanessa Nakate
The Ugandan climate activist is a compelling voice for Africa in the global climate movement. Known for being critical and blunt with her analysis of what is wrong and what must be done, Nakate skips the political platitudes and gets straight to the hard-line truths and facts of the present state of climate injustice. Unafraid to call out the powerful, Nakate has been a valiant figure in the global climate movement. From speaking to world leaders to being on the cover of Times Magazine, Nakate has always remained faithful to the movement.
Having seen and experienced the climate crisis in Uganda, Nakate was alarmed by the drastic climate changes that intensified drought spells and flooding in her home community. Motivated to address the climate crisis, Nakate became the first Ugandan climate activist to lead Uganda’s Fridays For the Future campaigns. Thereafter, Nakate founded the Rise Up Climate Movement – a movement that aims to share and amplify the voices of climate activists across Africa on a global stage. Leading by example, Nakate also puts her words into action; for example, her Green Schools Project has installed solar energy in Uganda schools. In addition to Nakate’s work and climate advocacy, Nakate has published a book titled The Bigger Picture – the book candidly illustrates the dire consequences of our continued path of climate injustice. Inspired to be the change, Nakate’s persistent activism has aided in sparking important climate conservation within and beyond Africa.
Yola Mgogwana
Yola Mgogwana at a climate march in Khayelitsha (Photo Credits: Beautiful News)
“My age does not mean my views on the world are not valid” – Yolanda Mgogwana.
Yola has proven once again that climate activism has no age stamp. Driven with the mission to end climate change denialism, Mgogwana has risen to be the voice of the voiceless. Through first-hand experience, Mgogwana understands the hardships of climate injustice in township communities throughout South Africa. Side-lined by mainstream media and development, Mgogwana is committed to being a bold voice for marginalised communities pursuing climate justice.
Climate education has been a defining aspect of Mgogwana’s activism journey. Through the eco-warrior’s program, Mgogwana was inspired and empowered with the knowledge and tools to be an advocate for climate justice within her community and the world. Being committed to climate education, Mgogwana has also established the Green Environment Group for young learners between 6 to 9. Twice a week, Mgogwana convenes with young learners to teach them about the fundamentals of climate change and activism. As an active eco-warrior, Mgogwana has not kept quiet from participating in rallies, projects, interviews, and conferences – Mgogwana has not shied away from any opportunity to spread awareness and demand change.
Mgogwana’s story showcases climate education’s power and value in driving climate action. Education in climate activism has been a transformative tool that has inspired a new generation of African activists — like Mgogwana — who understand their rights and are empowered to transform the system. You can read about and donate to her inspiring cause here.
These young Africans use their voices to disrupt a structure harming the planet. Moreover, they are collectively creating a platform where they are shaping the African climate change narrative on a global stage while leading grassroots initiatives at home. They demand actions towards transformational change today, and we stand by them!
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