The UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa and the UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States, have developed the Young Climate Activists Toolkit which aims to equip young people with the knowledge, tools, and resources that enables their participation in regional and global youth climate action, and advocate for change. The toolkit was developed in consultation with young climate activists from around the region to ensure an inclusive and a well-informed framework.

“While children and young people contribute the least to the causes of climate change, they will suffer the most of its impacts,” said Kambou Fofana, UNICEF acting Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Our duty is not only to protect young people now, but it extends in empowering them to lead on the issues that affects them and matters the most to their future,” he added.

The Young Climate Activists Toolkit is tailored to offer clear, concise, and easily understandable information on climate action, and prepare young people for full and informed participation in climate action and debate. It has been contextualized and adapted to help young activists address the challenges they face in the region.

“Youth in the region want to actively engage in climate action but often lack the technical understanding required to take informed action. The toolkit has been developed to fill this gap. With the right knowledge and information, youth can be a part of the solution and prompt decision makers to take meaningful action”, said Khaled Abdel Shafi, Manager of UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States.

The MENA region is warming at twice the global average and is projected that climate change will increase existing vulnerabilities such as water scarcity, decreasing rainfall, and increasing extreme weather events. Climate change impacts impose a major threat to the development of MENA countries, including to children and young people. Climate change can destroy livelihoods, drive migration and conflict, and cripple opportunities for children and young people.

While the toolkit is targeted at young activists, UNICEF and UNDP call on all stakeholders to join efforts in raising young people’s voices and support the call for informed, bold and urgent action to address climate change, for every child and young person to have an equal opportunity to thrive now, and in the future.

The toolkit contains four introductory volumes which are available in Arabic and English:

1. Climate Glossary for Young People: Important concepts and definitions that every climate activist needs to know.

2. Tools for Climate Action: Key tools for making progress towards the global climate action goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, including the Paris Agreement and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

3. What is Climate Governance?: Information about climate governance and the decision-making process at the national and international levels, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change, how it works and the mechanisms for participation.

4. The Paris Agreement for Young People: Details of the agreement, its importance, and all its articles in simple language.

DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT HERE

Note to Editors:

1. The toolkit was originally designed by UNICEF Regional Office in Latin and Central America and was adapted and translated by UNICEF Regional Office in the Middle East and North Africa and UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States to serve the youth of the region in partnership with youth activists.

2. More modules will be added to the toolkit in the future. Work is underway on two new modules, one on climate change and water scarcity and one on climate change and gender.

For more information:

UNICEF Salim Oweis, Communications Officer, UNICEF MENA Regional Office, soweis@unicef.org, +962799365212

Mohammad Hawari, Communications Officer, UNICEF MENA Regional Office, mhawari@unicef.org, +962797564604

UNDP

Nora Isayan, Communication Specialist, SDG-Climate Facility Project, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States, nora.isayan@undp.org, +962795392926

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