Experts have tasked Nigerian youths with taking immediate and proactive action to combat climate change, which poses significant threats to global health.
The Deputy Managing Director of Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr Jennifer Anyanti, made the call on Wednesday, at the 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference, themed: “Amplifying Youths Voices for Climate Health Action.”
The 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference, which was organised by the Nigeria Health Watch marked a pivotal moment in the global effort to address the intertwined challenges of climate change and health.
The gathering of young leaders, policymakers, and experts served as a powerful platform for amplifying the voices of youth, who are disproportionately affected by the devastating consequences of climate change.
Anyanti who represented the SFH Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, noted that young people are the inheritors of the earth, and it’s imperative that there are ways to amplify their voices to speak to policymakers, communities, and leaders about climate change and health issues adding that the future of the planet depends on their engagement and action.
Anyanti emphasized that youth can address climate issues through community-level activities, technology, and seeking avenues for involvement in discussions.
“Young people must take action, join community health committees, facility health committees, and council laws to address climate change and health.
“Climate change has devastating effects on mental health, leading to non-communicable diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.”
Anyanti also stressed that governments and community leaders must consider the impact of climate change on mental health.
“Young people must make time to speak out extensively about climate change, as the future of the planet depends on it”.
Anyanti said the more the youths engage on this issue, the more resources will flow to address it as she highlighted job opportunities in the climate change and planetary health space, encouraging young people to seek out areas for job creation and innovation.
“We must empower young people to become active changemakers in addressing climate change and health challenges. Their voices, actions, and leadership are crucial in shaping a healthier, more resilient future,” she said.
Similarly, the Executive Director for International Climate Change Development Initiative, Olumide Idowu, while recommending solutions to climate change and health, said, one of the most effective ways for individuals to create change is through local action.
“By focusing on issues in our immediate communities, we can make a tangible impact and become recognised agents of change.”
“Local action also provides opportunities for education and personal growth, enabling us to better understand the issues we’re addressing and avoid misguiding others.”
“To bridge the gap between federal and state governments in addressing climate change, we should adopt a bottom-up approach.
“This involves connecting young people to their local governments, allowing them to tackle issues from the ground up. By doing so, we can create solutions that address national problems.”
Idowu added that young people must recognize that every problem presents an opportunity for solution-finding.
“By tackling issues in our local communities, we can drive change that resonates nationally. It’s essential to understand local policies, such as climate change resilience policies, to effectively address community problems.”
On accessing funds for local climate change initiatives, he maintained that it can be challenging.
He, however, said, that by coming together as a unified voice and leveraging local funding supports, youths can secure resources.
“It’s crucial to find like-minded individuals who share a common interest in creating change. This collective approach enables us to build momentum and secure funding.”
“Ultimately, creating change in our communities requires individual initiative. Rather than relying solely on government intervention, we can start by taking small actions, such as cleaning our local drainage systems or initiating community-driven projects.
“By focusing on our immediate surroundings and collaborating with others, we can drive meaningful change and inspire others to do the same.” He added.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, said that Nigeria’s youthful population, with 42% aged between 0 and 14, underscores the urgency of involving young people in addressing climate change.
He noted that the impacts of climate change, from flooding to deforestation, disproportionately affect this demographic, stressing that integrating their voices and expertise is crucial.
Ihekweazu said, “Historically, climate change was perceived as a Western issue, but Africa, with 70% of the global population, contributes only 4% to greenhouse emissions.
“Nigeria, in particular, faces significant climate change impacts despite minimal contributions. Weak health systems exacerbate vulnerabilities.”
“Climate change affects vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, who face dehydration and heat stress due to rising temperatures.
“Health facilities must be equipped to address these challenges. This includes climate-ready infrastructure, efficient energy sources, and renewable energy,” she added.
The 2024 Health Youth Pre-Conference highlighted the importance of engaging young people in climate change conversations.
Empowering them with education and platforms can drive change. Young people can leverage collective voices, activism, and innovations to inform policy and create sustainable solutions.
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