How concerned are African teenagers about climate change? Can they play any role in ensuring climate change does not severely impact the continent? GirlZOffMute teen reporter Chelsea Boakye spoke with Ghanaian climate activist Nakeeyat. She became a sensation at the COP27 summit in Egypt. Nakeeyat has also influenced other kids to push for change because they are all worried about their future.
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00:00We all love beautiful environments, to be surrounded by plants and have cleaner air
00:09to breathe.
00:10But, sooner, there wouldn't be much of that because of climate change.
00:15Our human activities are destroying the environment.
00:18Do kids like me have any role to play to reverse the trend?
00:22Well, you will soon find out.
00:25I'm Chelsea, in Accra, and I'll be talking to a young girl who is leading a climate change
00:30campaign in Ghana.
00:31What does it take to be a climate change activist?
00:33It takes a lot of hard work and determination because it's not everyone that will get a
00:39listening ear to hear you out and what you have for the world.
00:44And it takes a lot of determination.
00:46You have to roll with all kinds of people to achieve your goal.
00:50You have to strive hard and make everyone understand.
00:54Why are you preaching about the environment and climate change?
00:58The environment helps us and I think we should protect and preserve it.
01:04Because without the environment, who can live?
01:06No one.
01:07Without the water and the trees providing shade and giving us all kinds of fruits and
01:13food and all the vegetation helping us in our life.
01:17That's why I'm preaching about the environment.
01:20You are at COP27.
01:23How does it feel like meeting all those world leaders in Egypt and would you say that is
01:27your highlight so far?
01:29I think it was and is because I know there are better things to come in the nearby future.
01:37I feel very blessed meeting all these people and they being appreciative of my work.
01:44So when would you say your project or agenda for climate action would finally be achieved?
01:51When we become more conscious because Africa is a continent blessed with beautiful bounties.
01:59So when something is even happening, we don't feel it because we have it in abundance.
02:05When we start taking serious action, yes, that's when I think this suffering will be
02:13ended.
02:14Nakiat is an inspiration, but she's not the only one trying to make impact.
02:19There are other kids who have formed climate change clubs in their schools to create change
02:24and impact communities.
02:27These kids in northern Ghana meet periodically to discuss issues of climate change and learn
02:34new ways of making an impact.
02:37They are part of what is called the Green School Clubs.
02:41It is an initiative to groom young climate activists.
02:46It is important for me to come to the Green Club because it can help me to know more about
02:52the environment and I can save the environment.
02:56I like going to the Green Club because it helps me learn more about the environment
03:02and what I can do to stop the pollution.
03:06So far I've learnt about recycling and plastics.
03:10It's not good to throw away rubbish.
03:14It's not good to make the place unclean.
03:18It makes the world more polluted every day.
03:20Why are kids important or are kids important to the contribution of climate change agenda?
03:27Anytime you mention climate change, the first thing that comes to mind is kids.
03:31The reason why I say this is because we are already grown-ups.
03:35My grandmother used to say this all the time.
03:38You can always bend a seedling and it will stand back up, but you can never bend a tree.
03:47It will rather break, right?
03:50So if you teach the kids now, they can make things right in the near future.
03:53There you have it.
03:55Our planet is under threat and children like me should be more concerned about the future.
04:00I guess many of us should get involved as quickly as possible, at least we have no planet
04:05to live in the future.
04:07I have been inspired to get active and not passive.
04:10I hope you also did.
04:12My name is Chelsea Inakura.
04:14Thanks for watching.