Italy set to Champion and Empower Youths for Climate Action in Nigeria

The Italian Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of Solution17 for Climate Action, will host The Nigeria-Italy Youth4Climate Conference on September 15, 2023, at the Lagos Continental Hotel. It aims to drive climate action, Invest in Climate Solutions and collaborate on youth-focused initiatives across different regions in Nigeria.

The conference precedes the 2023 global flagship Youth4Climate event, which will take place in Rome, Italy, in October, where high-level international authorities will listen to the voices of 150 young people on solutions to tackle the climate emergency.

Youth4Climate is a youth-led global initiative, and events aim to raise awareness about climate change and advocate for meaningful action to address environmental issues.

Youth4Climate is co-led by Italy and the UNDP. It amplifies the work of young climate leaders and celebrates the power of the young generation to drive ambitious climate action. These initiatives are driven by young people concerned about climate change’s impacts on their future and the planet’s well-being.

The first global event dedicated to young people, “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition”, was held in Milan on the margins of PreC0P26. The second global event, themed “Youth4Climate: Powering Action”, was convened in New York on September 20 2022, during the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Italian Consul General, Mr Ugo Boni, stated that Nigeria-Italy Youth4Climate will offer young climate activists, entrepreneurs, technologists and innovators the opportunity to share insights, knowledge and innovative climate solutions to solve climate crisis within their local community and beyond. “The Italian Government is at the forefront in the search for solutions to face the epochal challenge posed by climate change and places environmental sustainability at the centre of all its initiatives as evidenced by Rome’s candidacy to host Expo 2030.”

The event theme, “Advocate, Innovate, Act: Investing in Youth Climate Solutions, ” will provide a platform to inspire and empower young minds to advocate for climate justice, harness their innovative potential, and take concrete steps towards a greener future by 2030

The conference, which aimed at fostering discussion and dialogue on climate change and the goals of the Paris Agreement, will bring together a diverse group of young attendees, youth groups, educational institutions, the private sector, non-government organisations, government, and experts to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative efforts towards climate action.