With the attempt to amplify the voices of the African youth in climate action and policymaking in 2024, there have been significant strides in Sierra Leone and Nigeria as these countries have embraced the meaningful inclusion of youth in climate discourses through the establishment of the Youth Climate Councils (YCC). These initiatives are transformative platforms that have given the Sierra Leonean and Nigerian youth a critical voice in shaping their nations’ sustainable futures.

Sierra Leone: Building a Comprehensive Climate Movement

Sierra Leone, within the first half of the year, launched the Youth Climate Council after continuous conversations with all relevant government and non-governmental stakeholders on how to collectively reach every youth in the country.  This launch powerfully revolutionized climate engagement and gained the partnership of the Freetown City Council and the Mayor’s office in creating a YCC Freetown chapter to create localized opportunities for youth in the capital city to engage in climate action and participation in municipal climate decision-making processes.

In just the first year, the Youth Climate Council in Freetown has yielded remarkable achievements. This included the co-hosting of Sierra Leone’s first-ever Local Conference of Youth which convened over 200 youth individuals and organizations to discuss climate concerns in the country. Additionally, there was a Nationwide Regional Youth Consultation on the State of the Youth Climate Movement that engaged the youth in the country on a regional basis in assessing the youth climate movement’s challenges, opportunities, and priorities.

Furthermore, the YCC has been part of the policy process of two key national climate policies where substantial contributions have been made to the Sierra Leone Energy Transition Masterplan and the National Plastics and Plastic Waste Management Policy. There was also a good representation of the Sierra Leone youth in discourses at the Conference of Parties (COP 29) as four members were sponsored by UNICEF to be part of the process.

In bridging the capacity needs of the youth in the country, there has been a capacity building of over 50 young people on climate advocacy and sustainable practices, empowering them to lead initiatives in their communities. All these initiatives have been successful with the collaboration of key stakeholders like the  Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, UNICEF, C40 Cities, Freetown City Council, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Nigeria’s Pivotal Moment: Launching Inclusive Climate Action

In the latter part of the year, Nigeria also took the initiative to launch the Youth Climate Council after engagement with key stakeholders from the government and other development partners. This launch was a testament to the power of collaborative climate action as the convening affirmed the need for several immediate climate projects, including a local plastic recycling program and ambitious tree-planting campaigns designed to combat deforestation. 

Another stride that followed the launch of the YCC was the hosting of the Nigeria Climate and Security Conference which sought to create awareness and discuss the impacts of climate change and its linkage with peace and security in Nigeria. The conference also engaged stakeholders present in an analysis and foresight assessments of policies centered on the subject matter to allow a holistic and inclusive peace-building and stabilization action amongst all relevant stakeholders. 

Shared Challenges, Unified Determination

Despite the enthusiasm and achievements of these African countries, the youth climate councils saw some obstacles including the limited representation of youth in decision-making processes, gaps in climate knowledge, funding constraints, and bureaucratic barriers. These challenges, however, have not deterred the countries from advancing in climate action and policy influence, instead, they have become the fuel for innovation and resilience. Through training the youth in climate advocacy, establishing local chapters, and creating platforms for meaningful engagement, these councils are gradually eradicating the barriers to youth participation.

A New Age of Climate Leadership

What makes the Youth Climate Councils truly profound is the approach- they are not just waiting for change, they are creating it. Nigeria and Sierra Leone are truly displaying an inclusive and dynamic model of climate action and policy influence. 

As discussions continue how to address the global threats from climate change, African youth keep affirming that the most meaningful solutions are often from those most deeply invested in the future—the youth, who see climate action as not a choice, but a necessity.

The journey to inclusive climate action has just begun for Nigeria and Sierra Leone, but the vision is clear: the youth are driven to change the narrative of the one-sided climate discourse, and they are ready to take their place on the decision-making table.