A knowledge assessment conducted by the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) has revealed a troubling gap: Africa’s youth, including young professionals and climate advocates, are largely uninformed about key climate intervention strategies like Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM).
As the global climate crisis intensifies, this lack of knowledge presents a major challenge to Africa’s capacity to effectively dialogue and lead global conversation around climate interventions. GAYO has responded with a groundbreaking initiative - the continent’s first comprehensive short course on CDR and SRM.
Targeted at undergraduate and graduate students with a physical or social science background, this course is designed to fill critical knowledge gaps and ensure that African perspectives are central in the global dialogue on climate interventions.
"In a world grappling with the escalating climate crisis, this knowledge deficit among Africa's youth, who are the continent's future leaders and change-makers, presents both a challenge and an opportunity" Ernest Ofori, Project Coordinator at GAYO.
"Our program aims to democratise knowledge on climate interventions and bridge the gap between the Global North and South, ensuring that African perspectives are not just included, but central to the global climate dialogue."
CDR aims to remove greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, from the atmosphere. While strategies like afforestation and direct air capture (DAC) have potential, more research is needed to make them scalable and sustainable.
On the other hand, SRM focuses on reflecting sunlight back into space or altering Earth's heat emissions. However, SRM raises ethical and geopolitical concerns due to its potential unintended consequences.
"These technologies come with great promise, but also significant risks. That's why it's essential to equip African youth with the knowledge to critically assess these solutions, to ensure they are both effective and just," Ofori added.
The short course explores the current state of CDR and SRM technologies, their development, and its potential risks and benefits.
Strategic partnerships with institutions such as the University of Ghana, Durban University of Technology in South Africa, and Africa Nazarene University in Kenya have boosted the credibility of the course.
More than 255 young people in Ghana and Kenya have already completed it, gaining essential knowledge on climate interventions. The program has also sparked a surge in youth-led research and publications, adding African perspectives to the global body of knowledge on climate solutions.
These young climate leaders are challenging conventional narratives and ensuring that Africa's voice is heard in international climate policy discussions.
"By empowering young Africans with the tools to engage with these complex issues, we are not just preparing them for the challenges ahead. We are positioning Africa as a leader in the global climate discourse," Ofori concluded.
IOL Environment