GAYO pioneers climate solution with youth-led initiative in Africa. Image: GAYO Botswana
(The Post News)- The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to address the pressing issue of climate change. A recent knowledge assessment revealed a concerning gap: Africa’s youth, including young professionals and climate advocates, lack understanding of key climate intervention strategies such as Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM).
This knowledge gap poses a significant challenge to Africa’s ability to effectively engage in global conversations around climate interventions. In response, GAYO has developed the continent’s first comprehensive short course on CDR and SRM. The course explores the current state of these technologies, their development, potential risks, and benefits.
Targeted at undergraduate and graduate students with physical or social science backgrounds, the initiative aims to fill critical knowledge gaps and ensure African perspectives are central in the global dialogue on climate interventions. According to Project Coordinator Ernest Ofori, GAYO’s program seeks to democratize knowledge on climate interventions and bridge the gap between the Global North and South.
CDR aims to remove greenhouse gases, specifically CO2, from the atmosphere. Strategies like afforestation and direct air capture (DAC) show promise but require further research to become scalable and sustainable. SRM, focused on reflecting sunlight back into space or altering Earth’s emissions, raises ethical and geopolitical concerns due to potential unintended consequences.
Ofori emphasizes that these technologies hold great promise but also significant risks. Therefore, it is crucial to equip African youth with the knowledge to critically assess these solutions, ensuring they are both effective and just.
Strategic partnerships with institutions like the University of Ghana, Durban University of Technology in South Africa, and Africa Nazarene University in Kenya have boosted the course’s credibility. Ofori believes that empowering young Africans with the tools to engage with complex climate issues positions Africa as a leader in the global climate discourse.
By investing in the next generation, GAYO’s initiative prepares Africa for the challenges ahead, fostering a more inclusive and effective global response to climate change.
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