The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) has called for the active inclusion of youth in climate initiatives to drive innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Professor Benjamin Kofi Nyarko of the Geography and Regional Planning Department, University of Cape Coast (UCC), made the appeal at the launch of Climate Change Action Now (CCAN), a climate advocacy initiative by WASCAL.
The event was part of this year’s World Environment Day celebrations, on the theme “Youth Powering Ghana’s Climate Resilience.”
Prof Nyarko emphasised the need to embed climate literacy in tertiary and graduate curricula, ensuring future leaders acquire the knowledge and skills required to tackle climate challenges.
“We need an ecosystem that supports the youth. Resilience is not about bouncing back but about moving forward,” he stated.
Prof Nyarko urged the government to provide micro-grants and seed funding to nurture youth-led innovations in climate action.
“Climate resilience should be based on bold decisions and real investments. Youth should not be seen as an afterthought.
“They should be given the platform and policy support. Nobody should be left behind when it comes to climate resilience. Climate change is real, and we need to act now,” he said.
Ghana faces increasing climate vulnerabilities, including erratic rainfall, drought, severe flooding, and rising temperatures, which impact livelihoods, security, and public health, particularly among young people and rural communities.
The CCAN Initiative aims to highlight youth-led climate solutions, facilitate stakeholder dialogue, spearhead a national tree-planting drive, advocacy marches, and pledge signings to promote environmental sustainability.
Prof Wilson Agyare, Director of Graduate Studies Programme, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), identified climate extremism and heatwaves as major drivers of food insecurity, with deforestation, urbanisation, and unsustainable farming exacerbating the crisis.
He stressed the importance of climate literacy for children and the preservation of Ghana’s wetlands.
Prof Emmanuel W. Ramde, Executive Director of WASCAL, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to supporting youth-led climate solutions.
He said WASCAL would continue to shape and commercialise youth-driven innovations, noting the link between climate change and entrepreneurial skills as a potential solution to youth unemployment.
Prof Ramde said WASCAL had trained over 500 graduates, master’s, and PhD students in areas such as climate change and economy, climate and conflict, climate and health, marine life, and blue economy.
Musician and environmental advocate Kwame Nsiah, known as Okyeame Kwame, urged the public to make sacrifices for environmental conservation.
“I have personally stopped eating meat because of climate change. That is a concrete sacrifice I have made to help save the climate,” he said.
The CCAN Initiative is expected to mobilise over 10,000 Ghanaians through digital and offline platforms to strengthen collaboration between government and academic institutions.
It will also establish a multi-stakeholder forum to discuss and promote youth-led climate strategies.
To mark World Environment Day, WASCAL and its stakeholders planted trees, reinforcing their commitment to environmental conservation.
Source: GNA
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