Empowering youth for climate action: Reflections from RCOY Zambia
Empowering youth for climate action: Reflections from RCOY Zambia
On Children and Youth day at COP29, CDKN’s Youth Co-Lead, Zizipho Royi, reflects on her experience at the Regional Conference of Youth in Zambia earlier this year.
Attending the Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) on Climate Change in Lusaka was inspiring! Around 400 young leaders, advocates, government reps, and NGOs from across Southern Africa came together with a shared mission: empowering youth voices in national, regional and international climate discussions. This three-day event aligned with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP, creating a space for young people to have a real impact on climate policies.
RCOY is youth-driven, backed by YOUNGO, the UNFCCC's official children and youth constituency, which gives us a chance to bring our ideas into major climate processes. This year, RCOY Southern Africa gave us more than a platform; we gained practical tools to make our voices heard and shape climate policies that will define our region’s future.
As Esnart Ndlovu, RCOY vice-chairperson from Zambia, put it: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face today, hitting our region hard. We, the youth, must be at the forefront, pushing for sustainable solutions. This conference is a space for us to share ideas and influence global climate action.”
Our region feels climate impacts every day, from droughts and food insecurity to health challenges—affecting millions, especially youth and vulnerable communities. For instance, recent El Niño patterns have led to drought emergencies in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, leaving millions in need of food and nutritional support. Climate hazards also limit access to healthcare, clean water, and education, especially for the most vulnerable.
Yet despite these disproportionate effects, young voices are often sidelined in climate policy. Less than half of Southern African Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are youth-inclusive. This is where the RCOY plays a crucial role: amplifying our voices and pushing for policies that consider youth needs, from health and education to clean water and food security. A few of the participants shared their key takeaways with local media. As James Wakiaga from the UNDP shared, "The upcoming NDCs give us a unique chance to be ambitious and act now. Protecting children and youth requires bold steps in reducing emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and investing in essential services like healthcare and education.”
This year’s RCOY in Zambia covered themes like climate justice, sustainable development, and Indigenous knowledge - tools we need for a resilient future. The event wasn’t just about talking; we attended workshops, created partnerships, and drafted a call-to-action for COP29. Bunda Kasanda, from Zambia's Ministry of Green Economy, highlighted how climate change affects every aspect of our lives, especially for young people, and stressed the need for youth to lead in regional collaborations for stronger climate action.
RCOY is more than an event; it’s a platform for real change. We engaged in dialogues with leaders, shared our ideas, and set clear goals for climate adaptation and mitigation. And the work won’t end here. The RCOY team has set up a system to track our progress and ensure that the commitments made are kept - holding everyone accountable to their climate pledges.
For the CDKN youth team, RCOY Zambia offered a valuable opportunity to connect with youth leaders who are driving climate action at the local level. Through collaborative discussions and sessions at RCOY, we gained deeper insights into the regional priorities and pressing challenges faced by young people - especially those impacted by severe climate hazards like drought and limited access to essential services. This was particularly relevant as Zambia is currently experiencing one of its most severe droughts in recent history. These insights enable us to tailor our youth-focused work and partnerships to address these unique challenges, empowering young voices in climate action and policy-making processes.
As young people, we left RCOY feeling more equipped and united in our mission for a sustainable future. This conference is a huge step in ensuring that youth voices lead the climate conversation in Southern Africa and beyond!
