Reflections from the Climate Conversations Workshop
BY MVIRINGO AFRICA & THE AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH ADVISORY
OCTOBER 12TH 2024
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Climate Conversations is an educational workshop series led by Mviringo Africa to empower young people to participate actively in addressing the climate crisis. Recognizing that climate change disproportionately affects youth, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap. Often, youth want to engage in climate conversations but are unsure how to participate, or when they do, their involvement may not be as impactful as they intended. Climate Conversations aims to create an open, judgment-free space where young people can discuss, share knowledge, and act on climate change, building a supportive community for action.
The first session brought together 30 young Fellows, the Mviringo team, and the African Environmental Youth Advisory at the Ubunifu Hub, a space hosted by Planet One - a Greenpeace initiative dedicated to supporting the global youth climate movement. The event marked a decisive step forward in driving youth-led climate action.
“Information about climate change is often marred with technical and scientific language that may not be easily comprehensible to the ordinary person and especially in this case to young people. Climate Conversations aims to simplify climate change information, making it easy to understand and engaging to learn, with the ultimate goal of turning knowledge into action. Taking the form of conversations, we hope to create a non-judgmental space to allow for learning and unlearning”
-Natalie Bullut, Co-founder of Mviringo Africa
Guest speaker Nyasaina Kwamboka led the session, delivering a compelling presentation on climate change and environmental justice, with discussions on fundamental issues like the causes and impacts of climate change, climate finance, and transnational issues. We also examined the global waste trade and the lack of sufficient disaster response systems in the Global South. And the need for more inclusive global environmental education.
“This was an incredible opportunity to connect with fellow environmental enthusiasts. “ said Nyasaina. “The audience was eager to engage in fruitful discussions, and everyone in the room used their voice to share their thoughts ranging from economic constraints that limit environmental progress to the consequences of climate change in Africa.” She emphasized the value of drawing from Leah Thomas's thought-provoking book, The Intersectional Environmentalist, which explores how to dismantle oppression for both people and the planet. "It provides us with a framework to focus on intentional solutions for the challenges intersectional communities face."
There were two main deliberations that arose
Why has there been no action to protect women from gender disparity? Grace Kiarie , a member of UNESCO and founder of Eco-vibes Revolution, explained that in September, she spent three days in Laikipia County with women and experienced the intensity they endure daily. She recalled, “We had to walk for many kilometers in the hot sun. Once we got to the water source, the women had to ensure that the wild animals had drank water before they did. And even after the long walk, the water they were fetching was not clean! It's 2024, why are we normalizing people drinking the same water as wild animals in rural areas? It is so disheartening, and it makes me angry.”
Will small actions be enough to save us from climate change? There was some healthy discourse on whether big actions, such as government responsibility, will drive the fight against climate change or whether small actions by individuals are enough to accumulate over time and create meaningful change. We recognize the weight of these decisions, and neither will stand alone in the fight against the climate crisis. There must be both grassroot effort and systematic changes to create meaningful momentum.
Here are some individual takeaways from the workshop
"I was struck by how government actions can cause marginalized communities to face a disproportionate share of climate impacts. What really stood out to me was the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge into modern climate solutions, as it provides a valuable approach to tackling these challenges."
– Chebet Ropkoy, Climate Dialogue specialist at Refugees for Future
“My biggest takeaway was understanding the global waste trade and how 90% of waste set for recycling from nations is often sent to the Global South, leading to significant negative environmental consequences. This raises important questions about how these countries, often lacking the necessary resources, are disproportionately affected by a problem they didn’t create. It has sparked my interest, and I’m now researching more about the policies and systems that enable this practice and how we can push for more equitable and accountable global waste management solutions.”
- Tamika Mugenya, University of Nairobi-trained lawyer with a specialization in energy and climate
“I enjoyed talking to like-minded people about climate-related issues and how we found ourselves at this point. The need to establish climate change as a modern-day catastrophe cannot be overstated. My key takeaway was the lack of inclusion of Global South countries when making policies concerning climate change mitigation, particularly around the global waste trade; Global South countries stand as the losers without even seeing it. Seeing young people as the driving force behind this should cause a chain reaction, leading to drastic policy change. I'm looking forward to more platforms like this in the future.”
- Phillip Mboya, Student at Strathmore Law School, and a Red Cross volunteer
“Participating in the climate conversations was insightful, informative, and fun. It made me alive to climatic changes and their effects both on a global scale and personal level. The presentation was made in a relatable manner that made it easy to understand and by Nyasaina, who is very passionate about climate and environmental justice, which helped drive the point home. By the time I was leaving the forum, not only had I made a resolution to champion environmental justice to mitigate climate change, but I had found a community that shared the same vision.”
-Ivy Mideva: 3rd year Law student and Mviringo Fellow
“I’ve come to realize just how much we still have to learn about the climate crisis and the pressing need for honest, open conversations to bridge this knowledge gap. The discussions about the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South resonate deeply with me, highlighting the urgency of addressing these injustices. The calls for reparations from Global North countries are becoming increasingly clear, as they represent a crucial step toward rectifying the historical and ongoing imbalances in climate responsibility and vulnerability. "
- Maxwell Omondi, Communications & Partnerships strategist at Green Motion Africa
"This conversation truly opened my mind to the rich potential of indigenous African solutions to climate action, with insights from theorists like Okoth Ogendo providing valuable perspective. It was an inspiring start, and I’m eager for the upcoming workshops and continued learning!"
-Florence Waluse, International Studies Graduate and SDG Champion
"Being amongst the younger and upcoming environmentalists in the room, I’m glad to say that I didn't feel out of place whatsoever since the presentation covered all the basics that I had assumed would be brushed off. It allowed me to learn from others and see how I can take steps to be more environmentally conscious. Hearing about all the organizations spearheaded by everyone gave me a practical step into doing so!"
- Hidaya Obwa Oduor, a recent graduate of Nairobi International School.
"When discussing future possibilities, I emphasized that the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Nairobi Railway City Projects hold significant potential to combat climate change by enhancing public transport options, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and promoting integrated urban planning. These initiatives support sustainable mobility solutions that align with global climate action efforts while simultaneously driving economic growth and advancing social justice in Nairobi. This is a sustainable future that the public will certainly benefit from."
-Olivanta Mwenda, Urban Designer and intern at the Architectural Association of Kenya
"International cooperation is needed in climate change. Let us embrace personal and collective responsibility across the globe!"
-Faith Boiyo, Lawyer and Conference Director Kenya Model United Nations
“Change starts with us, and we can use our privileges to start making change.”
- Ivans Mwongera, Communications Director Kenya Model United Nations
Climate Conversations is Mviringo Africa's newest project. Currently, their focus is getting the first cohort of 30 Fellows well-equipped with the knowledge to inspire action. The long-term goal is to introduce a new cohort each year, empowering young people—particularly students and young people—with a deep understanding of climate change and its impacts. This project aims to cultivate a generation of informed and engaged climate leaders. Stay on the lookout on their socials for more opportunities to engage and become part of the conversation!
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