Luyando is determined to make a positive contribution to addressing the effects of climate change in Zambia because he is passionate about conserving the environment.
Being one of the four climate change ambassadors in Zambia, Luyando always finds time to talk to groups of fellow pupils at his local school (Chimwemwe Basic School in Lusaka) about the importance of conserving nature.
His wish is that more children could become effective ambassadors on climate change in particular, which is threatening to wreak havoc on poor countries. He is part of the team which facilitated a national conference for children in Lusaka.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, he uses part of his afternoon break to discuss climate change and the environment with his peers as part of efforts to increase awareness on the subject.
“My exposure at the youth international conference in Denmark last year has given me the confidence to share information and remind ourselves of our role in addressing climate change,” he said.
Luyando describes the time he spends with his friends as exciting. He has learnt basic science, although he acknowledges that some scientific terms on climate change are still difficult to translate into local languages.
At Chimwemwe Basic School, Luyando is well-known as an environmental activist who talks to just about any youngster he comes across, on the environment and climate.
Luyando says more people need to share what they know about the climate and learn whatever they can to help them contribute to saving their planet.
“No man is an island, we are all connected to each other and to animals. The time I spend with my friends is helping us to understand science more and develop ideas on how we can contribute to saving the earth,” he said.
The international conference in Denmark was about empowering young people from across the globe with information which could help to intensify efforts to address climate change.
Luyando said in an effort to make the world a better place to live in, inhabitants should go the extra mile to make their own contribution as individuals and as communities.
“Changing the world does not require us to do huge tasks. We can even do simple work, individually, like telling our friends about climate change or picking up garbage in our neighbourhoods. Adverse climatic changes also affect our lives, so it is up to us to make a difference,” he said.
His aim is to get the message of climate change to everyone, especially to the grassroots, to help them understand their environment and become part of the solution.
There is no doubt that children are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as all sorts of disasters threaten their life span. The more endangered the world is, the more the future of children is threatened.
It was against this backdrop that UNICEF, partnering with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources organised the national children’s climate change conference.
The three-day conference was aimed at educating the children on climate change and environmental sustainability to inspire them to become environmental activists.
The conference was held as part of the resolutions of the youth international climate change conference in Denmark in December 2009 where children agreed to be agents of change in their respective nations, by making a contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.
Zambian children participated actively in organising the conference which scores of children from across the globe attended. UNICEF Zambia sponsored four children to represent Zambia.
It was at this conference that Luyando and three others participated in several activities to help them become environmental ambassadors.
The four children won a UNICEF competition which guaranteed their participation in the international youth conference. Luyando said it was important for children to be involved in addressing the effects of climate change so that they can grow up with a better understanding of prudent environmental management.
He said the only way to make the climate everyone’s business is to engage children at a very early age and talk about it more on radio, TV and other mediums of communication.
Sixteen-year-old Kasaka Katengo is another child ambassador who is eager to add her voice to saving the environment.
Kasaka said it is high time people realised that the existence of mankind on earth is becoming increasingly threatened. Everyone must be sensitised on curtailing activities which increase carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere like burning bushes, improper gas disposal, non-recycling of waste and deforestation among others.
“Climate change has become a new reality with deadly effects. The ecosystem, agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected,” Kasaka said.
Climate change has a cumulative effect on natural resources and the balance of nature. It is clear that Zambian children like Luyando and Kasaka are aware that Zambia, like many other developing nations has contributed very little to the emission of carbon gases into the atmosphere which cause negative climate changes.
They also know that African countries and other developing nations are more affected by climatic changes because they do not have the means to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Catherine Namugala said at the conference that children are the future of any society and are entitled to participate in decisions affecting them, be it negotiations on climate change or adaptation and mitigation measures.
Ms Namugala said young people are naturally innovative, vibrant and determined and they would be a critical voice on climate change both within Zambia and at international level.
She said children are affected by the effects of climate change—prolonged droughts or floods which hamper food production, resulting in increased nutritional insecurity and deficiency.
“Children in rural areas help parents to undertake chores like fetching water and firewood but with climate changes having a direct impact on these resources and making them scarce, the time spent on these tasks will be longer and school time will be affected,” she said.
Ms Namugala said women and girls are often the ones who fetch water and are forced to walk the extra distance when wells run dry. For children, this is done at the expense of schoolwork and play, both of which are critical for their development.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) report released in 2009 says climate change could leave an extra 25 million children malnourished by 2050, unless there is heavy investment in adaptive measures.
The report predicts that climate change will eliminate much of the gains achieved in the nutrition of children.
UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO) regional director Elhadj Amadou Gueye said combating climate change must be a concern for children everywhere.
Mr Gueye said children in Zambia have the potential to become agents of real change on various issues affecting them.
“It is important that children are able to discuss and suggest measures to help their country adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact,” he said.
Mr Gueye said children can take a major role in reminding their own families and communities of the importance of these measures.
Chief Macha of the Tonga people of Choma, who is an ardent climate change activist, said there can be no better time to hold the children’s conference than now when Zambia has already started experiencing floods and droughts.
He said climate change is real. Scientists have proved that the earth is warming up and climate change can have devastating consequences on human life, flora and fauna.
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