How are African and Ghana youth impacted by
climate change? Does climate change exacerbate gender inequalities?
African Youth
are impacted by climate change in diverse ways and this has indirectly resulted
in increased illegal migration among the youth and increasing school dropout
especially among the girls. Farming is known to employ over 60% of the African
population with the youth forming an appreciable portion of this percentage.
Increasing temperatures has impacted negatively on both crop and animal
production. The youth in arid and semi arid areas in Africa have to walk long
distance with the cattle in search of grass and water. Unpredictable rainfalls
in recent days have caused many youth to give up farming as a source their
livelihood. Many youth who engaged in farming as a viable carrier option in the
northern part of Africa have now migrated to the south in search of inexistence
greener pastures. Unlike the male, the
traditional role of the African woman which includes walking long distance to
fetch water for domestic use and staying at home to take care of the old age
and younger siblings make them more venerable to the impact of Climate change. In
many traditional homes in Africa, the little resources available would be spent in the education of the male
child as it is believed that the male is more intelligent and is expected to
take care of the family in the future. This in a way exacerbates the gender
inequality.
Africa has been identified as one of
the continents or regions to be affected adversely by climate change and if
youth represent the future generation, then they are more prone to the
consequences of the climate change effect. Most African youth especially in the
sub-Sahara region are engaged in agriculture practices as a source of
livelihood. With climate change affect food production due to adverse or severe
weather conditions, youth in agriculture are sooner than later likely to be
victimized and may end up been unemployed.
One of the key effects of climate
change is the occurrence acute drought. Women are noted for providing for water
and food at home. There are situations where women have to travel long
distances in search of safe drinking water. As drought increases, it will
placed women at a
more disadvantaged position thus exacerbating the already existing inequalities.
By Kenneth Nana Amoateng,
more disadvantaged position thus exacerbating the already existing inequalities.
By Kenneth Nana Amoateng,
Chief Executive Officer
Abibimman Foundation
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