Youth in action on on climate climate change:

chapter
30 <strong>Youth</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>action</strong> on climate change: <strong>in</strong>spirations from around the world
2 Gear<strong>in</strong>g
up
for the Storm
The <strong>in</strong>ternational scientific community
has established that climate change will
cause negative impacts on natural and
managed ecosystems, the operation of
socio-economic systems as well as human
health and welfare. The <strong>in</strong>itiatives and measures to reduce the
vulnerability of natural and human systems aga<strong>in</strong>st actual or expected climate
change effects are known as adaptation. Without this, the vulnerability to the
negative effects of climate extremes will be substantially <strong>in</strong>creased and will
cause the population to suffer more, particularly those liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> countries that
are most vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change.
The most vulnerable countries are generally those that are the least
developed, and the most vulnerable social groups <strong>in</strong>clude children, women
and the elderly. As adaptation has a local character, the role of children and
youth <strong>in</strong> rais<strong>in</strong>g awareness and implement<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with local
needs and realities is a must for an effective implementation of adaptation.
The world as we have seen today is faced with many problems.
Mostly, we the children are affected, our schools are flooded, roads are
impassable, the food basket is affected which <strong>in</strong> turn br<strong>in</strong>gs about hunger.
Well, <strong>in</strong> order to adapt to the occurrence of these floods, measures have to
be put <strong>in</strong> place. We can help build float<strong>in</strong>g schools, houses and gardens,
improve the dra<strong>in</strong>age system <strong>in</strong> our communities. Well, it’s from these
th<strong>in</strong>gs that change will occur.
Perry from Zambia
Voices of <strong>Youth</strong>, UNICEF