The future of Africa's youth is hanging in the balance as climate change intensifies, making access to clean water an everyday battle for millions. According to the African Youth Survey, a staggering 70% of young people aged 18-24 in Congo Brazzaville struggle to obtain clean water, compared to 50% in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ironically, the DRC, rich in minerals essential for the global green industrial revolution, sees its resources extracted and processed in the northern hemisphere. This exploitation exacerbates the continent's vulnerabilities, despite Africa contributing only 4% to global emissions.
As the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) unfolds in the UAE, the plight of Africa's youth underscores a broader crisis. The World Health Organization reports that over 398 million Africans lack reliable access to drinking water, with 900 million youth unable to maintain adequate hygiene. In Nigeria alone, six out of ten young people rely on bottled water.
Centuries of exploitation and ongoing neo-economic colonialism have left African nations struggling against the tide of climate change. The continent, home to 17% of the world's population, faces extreme weather patterns that disrupt food and water security, deepening poverty and displacement.
The human cost is immense. The Lancet recently highlighted that pollution has claimed 1.1 million lives in Africa, while the WHO notes that 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to extreme weather events. COP28 presents a critical opportunity to address these challenges and chart a path towards sustainability and resilience for Africa's youth.
Reference(s):
'Too big to fail' – Africa's youth under threat of climate change
cgtn.com
