Juniors’ climate change efforts to be maximised ahead of AfDB’s Annual Meeting

Karen Wanjiru Kimani, young African environmentalist, has called for more inclusion of the young in climate change mitigation efforts, this came ahead of the African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB) annual meeting which scheduled to be held from 22 to 26 May.

“As future generations, it is important that we are not overlooked in some of the programmes or activities regarding protecting the planet,” Karen stated, citing AfDB on Thursday.

Karen is a ten-years old environmental activist who was born in Kenya. She received Kenya’s 2022 Green Kid Award and MTM Environmental Excellence Award for her efforts in climate protection.

Known for her planting efforts, Karen has planted more than 10,000 tree seedlings. She was also recognised during COP27 by the AfDB and the Global Center on Adaptation.

The young activist also referred to the peculiarity of the case of Africa when it comes to climate change. “Africa’s contribution to global climate change is very small, but the continent suffers the most,” she said.

The AfDB estimates African losses caused by climate change to reach 12 percent of GDP by 2100. As for the United States and the European Union, losses are less than one percent for each.

Karen expressed her hopes “to hear about more action when they meet” and that the meeting “would yield tangible outcomes.”