Tag Archives: Climate Justice

AMA, Environment

African Countries Urged to Seize Economic Opportunities Through New Climate Plans

MaraviPost

UN Climate Chief highlights potential for millions of new jobs, secure energy, rising living standards

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 15 September 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/UN News- African governments are being encouraged to present their new national climate plans as opportunities to supercharge economies and boost living standards across the continent, as deadlines approach for all countries in the Paris Agreement to submit these plans.

“Strong new national climate plans are blueprints for stronger economies, more jobs and rising living standards, across all African nations. Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.

“Africa is not just on the frontlines of climate impacts; it is also at the forefront of solutions. Right across the continent, we are already seeing massive potential and innovations which cut planet-heating pollution and build more climate-resilient economies. Strong new national climate plans are the key to converting that potential into real-economy outcomes at scale, including the millions of new jobs they create,” Stiell added.

The United Nations is calling on all countries to submit their new plans, formally called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, as soon as possible ahead of key milestones, including the UN Secretary General’s September Climate Summit and November COP30 in Brazil. September will be an important milestone, but submissions will continue in the run-up to COP30, with each plan helping to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius and protect all peoples, while also unlocking jobs, growth, and economic benefits at home.

While particular responsibility rests with the largest economies, whose choices determine the global trajectory of emissions, it is essential that every nation puts forward its most ambitious plan, both to strengthen humanity’s collective response and to drive each nation’s own prosperity and security.

Examples from Across Africa

  • In South Africa, the NDC process is framed around a just transition that protects workers and communities while scaling renewables to strengthen energy security. International partnerships are signalling momentum, bringing together governments, public financiers, and private investors to support South Africa’s shift from coal to clean energy – growing from USD 8.5 to 11.6 billion.
  • Nigeria is advancing a whole-of-government and society approach, linking climate action to job creation, poverty reduction, and improved energy access. Over 85 million people still lack electricity, making decentralised renewables critical. Large-scale solar is expected to generate 33,905 direct green jobs by 2030, the micro-solar sector is already employing youth as “energy officers,” the Great Green Wall has restored more than 5 million hectares, and the country’s extensive mangroves provide carbon storage and flood protection. With a population projected to surpass 400 million by 2050 and GDP already over USD 470 billion, Nigeria has unparalleled potential to be a powerful leader in Africa’s green transition. Its upcoming climate plan is being designed as a national investment strategy to generate millions of green jobs by 2035 and secure a strong share of the USD 2.2 trillion global clean energy market. The transformation is already underway: over 170 solar mini-grids are already operational, bringing reliable electricity to nearly 6 million people, while young entrepreneurs are driving innovation in recycling, clean transport, and sustainable agriculture.
  • Morocco has emerged as a regional leader in renewable energy, with the Ouarzazate solar complex among the largest in the world. It stands as a positive example of how national ambition can deliver clean power at scale.
  • Recent milestone UN climate events, including Climate Week in Ethiopia and the Adaptation Expo in Zambia, have showcased innovative and practical new climate solutions emerging right across African nations, helping them to be scaled up and replicated across the continent and globally.

Africa Leading the Way

Momentum for strong climate action by and for African nations is building following the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa last week, where leaders called for climate action to be treated as a driver of development and investment; and the Nairobi Declaration agreed by African leaders at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in September 2023, which highlighted the continent’s role as a driver of global solutions. Countries are being urged to turn political signals into concrete plans that deliver for people and economies, echoing Simon Stiell’s message that delivery is the essential driver of climate justice and economic opportunity.

Through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area, African nations can build resilient regional supply chains, export green goods and services, and foster shared prosperity across borders.

Climate finance remains central and a vital enabler of stronger climate actions by vulnerable and developing countries. Climate finance is not charity but an investment in shared prosperity, essential to convert climate ambitions into real-economy outcomes, strengthen global supply chains which all economies rely on, and ensure the vast benefits are spread much more widely across all nations in Africa and the developing world.

The COP29 UN Climate Conference in Azerbaijan last year reached a new global agreement to triple climate finance to USD 300 billion per year. This must be delivered in full, and a new Finance Roadmap expected at COP30 in Brazil this November will be key to scaling climate finance to USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN Climate Change.

Follow UN Climate Change social media accounts for the latest climate news and stories:

About Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

NDCs are the central mechanism under the Paris Agreement through which countries outline plans to reduce emissions and build resilience. Done well, NDCs serve as investment roadmaps that attract capital, create jobs, lower health costs, and deliver affordable, secure clean energy. Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit new NDCs every five years. The third round of NDCs are due in 2025 and will detail countries’ intended climate actions through 2035.

Media enquiries: press@unfccc.int

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AMA

New Podcast ‘Future of Africa’ Amplifies the Voices of African Youth Re-shaping Our World

MaraviPost

Launched by the African Union Youth Envoy, the United Nations Foundation, and The Elders in collaboration with The Global Dispatches Podcast. 

NEW YORK, USA 12 August 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The United Nations Foundation today announced the launch of Future of Africa, a new podcast series that amplifies young African voices in global policy conversations. Future of Africa is co-hosted by the African Union Youth Envoy, the UN Foundation and The Elders, in collaboration with the Global Dispatches Podcast.

This limited-series podcast, presented by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango alongside Mark Leon Goldberg, brings together young changemakers and global leaders, exploring the global challenges and opportunities shaping the world today — and Africa tomorrow.

Through a mix of personal storytelling and policy dialogue, the podcast tackles issues ranging from climate justice and financing for development to trust in democratic institutions and the future of education. As multilateralism faces a crisis of trust and relevance, Future of Africa offers a fresh model. By platforming conversations between global leaders and young African changemakers, the series explores how human stories can disrupt conventional thinking, build empathy across borders, and forge shared purpose around urgent global challenges.

“As the world’s youngest continent, Africa holds the key to shaping the global future,” said Harshani Dharmadasa, Senior Director at the UN Foundation. “The Future of Africa podcast elevates the bold ideas, lived experiences, and leadership of young Africans already driving change from the grassroots to global platforms.”

The podcast is a signature output of the Panel of the Future, an initiative of the African Union Youth Envoy that convenes young leaders advocating for inclusive, youth-centered policymaking. Each episode pairs these emerging voices with statespeople and global policy experts in unscripted, intergenerational conversations designed to share innovative ideas and practical solutions with listeners.

“I’ve seen powerful ideas buried in reports that many people will never read. This podcast is about amplifying the voices of young Africans who are building a new future for our continent and the world,” said Chido Mpemba, Advisor to the African Union Commission Chairperson. “This series is a reminder that stories, especially when led by young people, can humanize global challenges, challenge outdated assumptions, and help reimagine how international cooperation works for the next generation.”

This podcast brings young people’s energy into direct dialogue with the institutions shaping our continent and our world. Guests include:

  • Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
  • Chido Mpemba, formerly the African Union’s Special Youth Envoy and currently the Advisor to the African Union Commission Chairperson focused on Women, Gender and Youth
  • Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Minister of Education of Senegal 
  • Ms. Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform at Mastercard Foundation’s Education, Learning & Youth Livelihood Team 
  • Ms. Graça Machel, First Education Minister of Mozambique, Co-founder of the Elders

For the full episode lineup, visit unfoundation.org/FutureOfAfrica

Season 1: Spotlight on Africa’s Global Voice

Launching on International Youth Day, August 12, 2025, the first season of Future of Africa features seven episodes:

1. Africa’s Role on the Global Stage (Aug 12)

A high-level conversation on Africa’s growing diplomatic power, inclusive governance, and how a new generation is shaping international relations.

2. Climate, Peace and Security Nexus (Aug 19)

Exploring how climate stress fuels insecurity — and how Indigenous knowledge, diplomacy, and gender equity can drive peace.

3. Global Partnerships and Delivering on Finance (Aug 26)

What does meaningful financing for Africa look like after the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development? These guests unpack real commitments, youth agency, and equitable global finance.

4. The Trust Deficit (Sep 2)

Addressing the erosion of trust in governance, this episode highlights how inclusive leadership, electoral integrity, and youth-led civic renewal are essential to rebuilding trust.

5. Educating the Next Generation (Sep 9)

From school systems to startups, this episode examines how Africa can equip young people with the skills needed to shape the future economy.

6. Women on the Rise (Sep 16)

In honor of Beijing+30, this episode celebrates women and girls leading change, and explores policy and investment as tools to unlock their full potential.

7. Vaccines, Progress, Potential (Sep 18)

This episode highlights how vaccines have transformed public health in Africa and what’s next for regional manufacturing, equity, and youth leadership in immunization.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of United Nations Foundation.

About the Podcast

Co-created by the African Union Youth Envoy and the United Nations Foundation, and produced in collaboration with The Elders and Global Dispatches, Future of Africa is a new model for intergenerational, intercontinental dialogue. It translates complex policy issues into accessible, story-driven formats that resonate with youth audiences while informing global decision-makers.

The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. 

About the Partners

The African Union Office of the Youth Envoy (AU-OYE) works to promote, empower, and engage youth in the continent’s development through leadership, policy, and advocacy. The Panel of the Future is one of its flagship initiatives to embed youth voices in Africa’s multilateral future.

The United Nations Foundation has built novel innovations and partnerships to support the United Nations and help solve global problems at scale for over 25 years. As an independent charitable organization, the Foundation was created to work closely with the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges and drive global progress. 

The Elders is an independent international non‑governmental organisation founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. Comprising former heads of state, Nobel laureates, and human rights champions, they use their collective integrity, global standing, and moral courage to address the planet’s most urgent crises, free from national or political constraints

Global Dispatches Podcast is a long-running, award-winning international affairs show hosted by journalist Mark Leon Goldberg. With a global audience of diplomats, policymakers, and engaged citizens, it explores trends and ideas shaping the world.

Media Contact:

Amy Minnie

African Media Agency (AMA)

Amy@africanmediaagency.com

The post New Podcast ‘Future of Africa’ Amplifies the Voices of African Youth Re-shaping Our World appeared first on African Media Agency.

Environment, Malawi

NYNCC satisfied with youth, children cycling’s caravan for Climate Justice ahead of COP27

Lloyd M’bwana
Nyasulu welcoming cycling caravan for climate justice

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) is satisfied with the three days youth and children cycling’s caravan for Climate Justice saying voices have been heard.

The cycling caravan that started from Balaka, ended up in Lilongwe on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 aimed at raising awareness on how climate change impacts on children towards Conference Of Parties 27 (COP27) in Egypt.

The three-day 27 member caravan youth and children cycling for climate Justice exercise passed through Ntcheu, Dedza to Lilongwe.

NYNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu told The Maravi Post after welcoming the caravan that youth and children voices have been recorded that will be presented during COPs 27.

Nyasulu also disclosed that children voices will be shared during the National Children’s Summit on Climate Justice slayed for Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Bingu International Convention Center (BICC) in the capital Lilongwe.

President Lazarus Chakwera is expected to grace the children summit.

“We used cycling to interact with youth and children on how have been affected with effects of climate and how best can they been taken on board for practical adaptation strategies.

“We are therefore satisfied with the input collected where youth and children have shared their experiences on how climate change has affected their well-being. This was insightful and exciting venture on engaging youth and children,” excited Nyasulu.

One of the cyclists Maria Moffat from Lilongwe Cycling Club expressed happiness on how the exercise was interactive with young people on climate change issues.

“Climate change presents the single biggest threat to current and future generations and sustainable development everywhere and its widespread and unprecedented impacts disproportionately burden the poorest and most vulnerable.

“It was daring and exciting venture cycling a long distance which we managed to get our fellow young people voices on effects of climate change,” she said.

NYNCC in collaboration with Save the Children, Initiative for Climate Action and Development (ICAD) and other key stakeholders seek to hold the first-ever National children’s summit on climate justice.

The children summit aims at sending messages to government, development partners, United Nations and key stakeholders on the need to build a stronger and responsive child-friendly climate response in Malawi which is vital in protecting children from the impacts of climate change.

Children’s Summit on Climate Justice is under the theme; “Children’s Voice Matters in Climate Change Decision-making Processes”.

Malawi is one of the top 40 countries where climate change is having a significant impact on children as evidenced by 2022 tropical storms Ana and Gombe which wreaked havoc in the southern region, causing severe damage to key infrastructures including roads, schools, and health facilities.

The storms damaged crops and affected over 995000 people 130000 of whom were children under the age of five and kept over 100000 more out of school.