Climate Crisis: Africa's Youth Battle for Clean Water 💧🌍
Access to clean water is a daily struggle for millions of African youth, posing a significant threat to their future and the continent's stability. As the world grapples with climate change, Africa's young population faces severe water scarcity issues that demand urgent attention.
According to the African Youth Survey, a staggering 70% of young people in Congo Brazzaville aged 18-24 struggle to secure clean water every day. In the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 50% of youth face similar challenges, even though the DRC is rich in minerals essential for the global green industrial revolution.
It's a profound irony that raw materials extracted from Africa are processed in the northern hemisphere, aiding their rapid industrialization while leaving the continent grappling with disproportionate environmental impacts.
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) highlights the dire situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 398 million people in Africa lack reliable access to drinking water, 900 million youth do not have adequate hygiene, and one-third of young Africans rely on bottled water—a figure that doubles to 60% in Nigeria, one of Africa's largest economies.
These challenges are rooted in centuries of exploitation and the lingering effects of neo-economic colonialism. Despite comprising 17% of the world's population, Africa's emissions account for only 4%, yet the continent remains the most vulnerable to climate change. From flash floods to droughts, erratic weather disrupts food and water security, exacerbating poverty and instability.
The human cost is immense. The medical journal The Lancet recently reported that pollution alone has claimed 1.1 million lives in Africa. Additionally, the WHO recorded that 1.2 million people have been displaced due to extreme weather events.
As COP28 continues, the international community must prioritize addressing the climate-induced challenges faced by Africa's youth. Ensuring access to clean water and mitigating environmental impacts are crucial steps toward a sustainable and equitable future for the continent and the world.
