2 weeks Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/pacja-moves-climate-justice-summer-school-to-ethiopia-for-youth-inclusion/The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has announced the fifth edition of its Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice will be hosted at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, marking a shift from its previous location in Kenya.
Launched on April 6 in Kampala, Uganda, the program aims to deepen youth engagement in climate discourse, aligning with the upcoming Africa Climate Summit.Dr. Mithika Mwenda, PACJA’s Executive Director, emphasized the need to amplify voices often excluded from policy debates.
“Climate justice discussions remain elitist, sidelining frontline communities farmers, women, youth, and marginalized groups who bear the brunt of the crisis,” he said. The initiative seeks to empower these groups as solution providers rather than passive victims, fostering grassroots participation in national and global dialogues.The summer school, despite its name, is not confined to Nairobi.
Previous cohorts, including the 2024 session at Kenya’s Chuka University, focused on bridging gaps between academic theory and community-driven climate action. This year’s relocation to Ethiopia underscores a strategic effort to broaden regional participation and integrate youth perspectives into continental climate strategies.Dr.
Mwenda highlighted climate change’s multidimensional impact, extending beyond environmental concerns to economic stability. “Floods in Kampala or droughts in Karamoja divert government funds from development projects to emergency responses, disrupting national planning,” he explained. By framing climate issues as economic, agricultural, and gender challenges, PACJA aims to reframe youth understanding and mobilize them as advocates.
Applications for the two-week program are open until May 5, 2025, targeting students and young professionals across Africa. Successful candidates will be notified by June 7, with details available on PACJA’s official portal.The shift to Ethiopia reflects a growing recognition of youth as pivotal to sustainable climate solutions.
As Africa’s demographic majority, their inclusion aligns with broader efforts to democratize climate governance. Initiatives like the Nairobi Summer School illustrate how educational partnerships can transform passive awareness into active advocacy, equipping younger generations to address interconnected crises from resource scarcity to economic inequity shaping a more resilient future. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.
com.gh/pacja-moves-climate-justice-summer-school-to-ethiopia-for-youth-inclusion/.
