The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adaptation Land Use (WASCAL), a large-scale research-focused Climate Service has urged the Government to include the youth in climate change issues to unearth their innovative solutions towards environmental challenges. One surest way for their inclusion was to take steps to continue to embed climate literacy in the tertiary and graduate curriculum to ensure that the future leaders had knowledge, skills and were adequately prepared to take over.
Professor Benjamin Kofi Nyarko, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Geography and Regional Planning Department suggested at the launch of Climate Change Action Now (CCAN), a climate advocacy initiative of West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adaptation Land Use (WASCAL).
The event which was part of this year's World Environment Day celebrations was on the theme, "Youth Powering Ghana's Climate Resilience." Ghana faces increasing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, ranging from erratic rainfall, prolonged drought to severe flooding and rising temperatures.
These challenges did not only impact livelihood but affected security, public health with young people, and rural communities bearing the brunt. The CCAN Initiative would therefore spotlight youth-led climate solutions, foster dialogue among stakeholders, embark on a national tree-planting drive, advocacy march, and signing pledges towards safeguarding the environment. Prof Nyarko said there were several youth-led innovations such as clean energy, recycling and manufacturing of various products to enhance livelihoods. and urged stakeholders to support such youth-led initiatives.
