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Musipa Samuel-Youth Interactive Correspondent
The Climate Change and Climate Justice seminar organised by Advocates4Earth in conjunction with Midlands State University Environmental Society (MSUES) last Friday at the campus was successful as it was highly attended.
The seminar was hosted with the aim of how to combat climate change as well as encouraging young people to participate in climate change issues.
The event saw different clubs such as Peer Education Network, Red Cross, Enactus, Lions Club and MSU Environmental Society among others taking part.
Speaking at the event, Student Development Office official Mr Mwanza said that the nucleus of the workshop is to engage in environmental dialogue with the youth and identify measures to mitigate climate change.
The facilitator of the seminar Christabel C Mhiribidi, who is a climate change activist, opened the session by a quote from Mary Annaise Heglar that says, “Climate change is not a great equalizer but rather a great multiplier, takes already existing problems we have and multiplies them”.
She then went on to say that climate change is a topical issue that is wreaking havoc on our mother earth hence it is important for young people to understand it so they can be a part of the solution.
“We the global northerners did not contribute to climate change significantly but we bear the brunt of its effects and such are climate injustices that we experience in different constituencies. Human beings are the main cause of the climate change hence the solution as well,” she said.
Advocate4Earth Climate Organization, press and communication officer Ndatenda Njanike highlighted that his organisation is raring to cultivate a culture of climate justice through education.
“It is our role as youths to be active, to take action and to bring climate change solutions to the table as well as to spread the gospel of environmental rights to every corner of the society,” said Njanike.
Dr Mbiriri from MSU Geography and Environmental Studies Department articulated the interconnectedness of climate justice to social justice and the role of young people in the wave.
She said that climate is related to all the other facets as she shared principles of climate justice.
“We urge young people to take up their rightful place in the green space as she said that the future is now not tomorrow, therefore we need to fight either through research, blogging, using our creative energy to build a chain of knowledge.
“As the present generators of knowledge, our flexible mindsets must come up with innovative ideas to make the world a better place for us and for the future generations,” explained Dr Mbiriri.
She encouraged young people to be environmental stewards.
“We are destroying our own ecosystems so we should again be the solution, iwe neni tine basa.”
“There is no need to wait for the next person to come and fix what we are causing because responsible behaviour is the panacea and after all everything else will fall in place. Our environment is our responsibility, so we are the ones who will rescue ourselves and it’s doable,” she said.
During the question and answer session, young people were asked questions on the mitigation measures and they showed their knowledge.
They expressed concern for climate issues as the sustainable development goal #13 to be broadcast on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation as it would be a tool in raising awareness on climate change.
Online Reporter