In the borderlines of Hurungwe and Nyaminyami districts, in Chitete village, Netsai * walks a combined distance of 20 kilometres every day going to school. When she returns around sunset, she has to fetch water. The nearest water hole which is the source of life in the village is four kilometres away, making it a tedious trip. For the past 3 years since she enrolled for secondary education, Netsai has been exposed to the seemingly permanent experience as there is no water nearby.
Anthony Hudini, an elder in the community says water used to be available in abundance, but, since climate change is intensifying, water sources and other wildlife are dwindling, causing a panic and threat to humanity.
“In such cases, children and women have become vulnerable to various life-threatening scenarios including abuse. Children like all other humans survive on water and food from the field, but, climate change is affecting the production of food and the general way of life,” said Hudini.
On the side-lines of the Africa Green Waste & Energy Expo and Conference which was hosted in Zimbabwe at the end of July, the Zimbabwe Sunshine Group 2021 with the support of UNICEF Zimbabwe and the Government of Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) hosted a children’s conference under the theme – The Young and Green.
Children have been at the receiving end of climate change due to the gradual rise in global warming and pollution, and seldom get the platforms to demand climate justice and advocate for their rights as individuals.
Children at the conference said that, high temperatures and low rainfall for the past years have dramatically affected the food production as many farmers in Zimbabwe rely on rain-fed farming. Zimbabwe’s Child President, His Excellency Unathi Nyoni explained the importance of involving children in issues affecting their daily lives.
“Children are the most affected by climate change, but can also contribute in the fight for climate justice and environment sustainability. The earth needs to be saved now and by us. We can achieve a green Africa together,” said Nyoni.
Despite the scarcity of water, children have been affected by climate on the quality and quantity of food they receive. As people unsustainably cut firewood, fetching firewood in distant locations due to deforestation and the rise of human/wildlife conflict is affecting children and women.
Onita Sibanda, a children’s rights activist based in Hwange said, the children’s conference and the involvement of their voices is the beginning of a change in behaviour and support Africa needs in fighting climate change.
“Children’s role in greening our communities is the first line of defence in saving the earth. The ‘catch them young’ approach works for all and they are part of the society which is threatened by climate change. Therefore, their action is equally important,” says Sibanda.
Three years ago, during COP25 in Spain, world leaders joined young activists in the signing of an Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. The declaration was the inaugural obligation to fast-track child centred climate policies at country and international levels.
“Children experience various risks caused by climate change, and that children from poor families and peripheral communities bear the heaviest burden; calling leaders for children and young people for immediate climate action, and their important role as agents of change; the committee advocates for global recognition and fulfilment of children’s inalienable right to a healthy environment,” notes the declaration.
The Paris Agreement at its inception made a commitment in Article 2 to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The involvement of children reaffirms the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and all human rights instruments relevant to the protection, promotion, respect and fulfilment of the human rights of all children and young people.
In 2020, an international humanitarian organisation, Save the Children said, the climate crisis directly affects children around the world and is the greatest threat to their survival, learning and protection.
“We are currently heading towards a global temperature rise of 3 degrees by the end of the century. We have less than 10 years to act!” said Save the Children.
According to another global humanitarian player, World Vision, commenting on the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), report on ‘Ending violence against children while addressing the global climate crisis’, there is a connection between climate change and violence against children.
In the past years, children have been seen only as victims of climate change and violence yet their agency can be one of the most powerful tools in overcoming these growing challenges. Stakeholders at the expo and conference said engaging children as ‘agents of change’ in the fight for a better world is one of the most powerful but underused strategies adults have at their disposal
Children attending the conference said they are seriously concerned about climate change and the impact it is having on their communities.
“This perspective contrasts with traditional views of childhood, which portray children as passive recipients of aid or helpless victims. It’s a shift to a portrayal of children that respects them as people with something to bring to efforts to improve our world,” said one of the child participant.
