Generation Earth Africans trained in climate realities

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The South African youth environmental organisation Generation Earth joined forces with former US President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project in an effort to bring climate training and education to Africa.

The training, which will be facilitated by Climate Reality Leadership Corps Africa Training, is to take place in Johannesburg from March 12 to March 14.

According to Generation Earth, this training initiative follows on the heels of similar training projects across the globe with the aim to arm trainees with everything they need to be the best climate messengers in their community.

“Various experts will address best practices in communicating the major impact of climate change specific to Africa, the cost of the impact and the potential for growth in the African market to adopt sustainable initiatives and alternative energy solutions. Climate Reality Leaders are the future of the climate change movement, and this training will equip them to discuss unique challenges of the climate crisis as they pertain to Africa,” said Generation Earth in a statement.

There will be a special focus on issues that make Africa vulnerable to the high cost of carbon pollution. Climate Reality Leaders will explore how climate change affects water availability, agricultural yields, human conflict and displacement, explore alternatives and low-cost energy solutions that are already reducing the continent’s reliance on fossil fuels and increasing resilience to the impact of climate change.

Generation Earth, a youth-focused environmental organisation, which works to create a green network with the youth, for the youth, by the youth, was founded in 2011 by the dynamic duo Ella Bella and Catherine Constantinides.

Their vision was to cultivate green leaders for the next generation by changing the mindset of the youth to create leaders for the future who are eco-conscious and aware of how their consumer habits and lifestyles impact on the environment. Their dedication to climate change, greening issues and the empowerment of the youth within the environmental sector has seen these young entrepreneurs impacting both on the green industry, creating sustainable change and leaving their green footprints across SA, Africa and the globe. Generation Earth is a local partner for the upcoming training this March.

The speakers at the conference include some of Africa’s leading climate change activists, such as Wanjira Maathai, Green Belt Movement activist and project leader at the Wangari Maathai Institute; South African-born Executive Director of Greenpeace International Kumi Naidoo; Johan van den Berg, CEO of the South Africa Wind Energy Association; Ikal Angelei and Jonathan Deal, Goldman Environmental Prize recipients, and Evans Wadongo, Executive Director and Chairman of Sustainable Development for all, based in Kenya. Other international speakers are Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of The Climate Reality Project as well as Climate Reality Project Founder, Nobel Laureate and former US President, Al Gore.

Generation Earth Founders Ella Bella and Catherine Constantinides were selected last year to represent South Africa at the Global Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Istanbul, Turkey. It was at this training session that a commitment was made by both parties to work together to mobilise African environmental activists and bring them together at the Africa-focused climate change training. Generation Earth’s head office has worked closely with their various youth councils in South Africa and across the continent to ensure a competent and dynamic youth contingent that will be among the almost 1 000 trainees in Johannesburg this month.