African Youth Call for Urgent Climate Action and Inclusion Ahead of COP30

A powerful call to action echoed from Nairobi as African youth representatives issued a bold communiqué demanding urgent climate action, equitable adaptation support, and a seat at the decision-making table.

Gathered under the banner of the Global Center on Adaptation’s (GCA) Youth Academy and leadership training, young people from across the continent voiced their hopes and expectations for stronger global leadership ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit.

“We are not just the leaders of tomorrow , we are leading today,” the youth declared in their communiqué, urging world leaders to uphold the promises of the Paris Agreement and scale up support for adaptation in vulnerable regions.

The statement follows months of rising youth engagement in climate leadership, including preparations for the Youth Adaptation Forum scheduled for September 5 in Nairobi, which will feed directly into Africa’s voice at COP30.

Eight Key Demands

The communiqué outlines eight priority areas for immediate global action:

1. Education & Capacity Building – Equipping youth with skills to lead climate resilience efforts.

2. Green & Resilient Jobs – Creating sustainable employment opportunities in agriculture and clean energy.

3. Nature-based Solutions – Promoting ecosystem restoration and water resource protection.

4. Local & Indigenous Knowledge – Integrating traditional wisdom into national climate strategies.

5. Youth Participation – Moving beyond consultation to meaningful involvement in policy implementation.

6. Empowering Young Women – Supporting gender-equal leadership in climate spaces.

7. Adaptation Finance – Ensuring accessible, predictable funding for youth-led initiatives.

8. Youth-led Local Solutions – Backing grassroots innovation rooted in local realities.

The youth commended the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) for empowering their leadership and called for the expansion of the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), emphasizing that such efforts must continue into the program’s next phase.

A Warning and a Hope

The young leaders did not shy away from warning high-emitting countries about the costs of delay. “Meeting the Global Goal on Adaptation is not optional, it is essential,” the communiqué emphasized, citing the “survival, dignity, and future of millions” on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

The statement comes amid growing concern that wealthy nations are falling short on climate finance promises and moving too slowly on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Yet, despite the urgency, the message is one of hope: “We call upon global leaders to partner with us and build together a resilient world for all.”

With more than 50 African countries represented, the Nairobi meeting marks a turning point for youth climate leadership. It signals a new generation that is no longer waiting to be invited to the table, they are pulling up their own chairs.

Related Developments

• Train-the-Trainers program to be hosted in Nairobi in September 2025, with youth organizations from every African country.

• Youth Adaptation Forum outcomes to be presented at COP30.

As global climate negotiations intensify, the message from Africa’s youth is clear: inclusion is not a request, it’s a requirement.