The Gambia's minister of Youth and Sports,
Alieu K Jammeh, has said that Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) and the
Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) organized Conference will
create space for a youth consultation in the run up to COP2, NaijaAgroNet reports.
COP21, a United Nations’ Conference, NaijaAgroNet reports, is a sustainable
innovation forum 2015 to be held on December 7 and 8 in Paris, France to
brainstorm on issues arising from climate change.
Jammeh was
addressing the 1st Africa Youth Conference on Climate Change held in Zimbabwe, Monday,
on the theme: 'African youth responses to climate change and food security,
action from the frontlines'.
"We
all know that Africa, our continent, is the world's youngest continent with
two-thirds of the population falling below 24 years old and increasing; in fact
expected to double by 2045. There is huge potential in these numbers because
with big numbers, as proven in certain dynamics, they can propel economic
success," he stated.
He told the gathering that it is the people of
Africa that will have to take the lead in shaping the future that they desire
for themselves and generations unborn so that Africa can become the giant that
it should be; a giant of economic prosperity, socio-cultural advancement, and
political tolerance, all within an ecosystem that guarantees their continuous
existence on earth in harmony with nature, NaijaAgroNet learnt.
"In
addition, the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report
states that Africa could face a triple whammy of extreme weather, crop failures
and disease if temperatures rise are unchecked."
"As
the theme for this conference aptly links food security with climate change, we
are called upon to look at agriculture again and ensure that agriculture, being
the biggest economic sector of most of our countries, is revitalised and made
attractive to our teeming youthful population. By getting agriculture fixed and
functioning well, two issues of employment creation and improving food security
for our people would have been addressed automatically," the minister
opined.
Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE
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