https://arab.news/gsw49
For young people across the Arab world, the climate emergency is deeply alarming. In the cradle of civilization, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are at their lowest levels in recorded history. Deserts are spreading; saltwater from rising sea levels is seeping into the Nile and Shatt Al-Arab, threatening farmers and food systems; city-dwellers toil under debilitating heatwaves, the intensity of which is magnified by their concrete surroundings. For those touched by conflict, the prospects are even more terrifying.
And these generations are bulging — over half of those living in the region are under the age of 25. This means a future with more demand on resources, more pressure on ecosystems and more demand for jobs that can withstand a changing climate. That young people are anxious about all of this is not only understandable; it is justified. Young people want — and deserve — a new vision for the future.
Fortunately, young people are determined to be a force for good. During COP27 in Egypt, the first youth envoy was appointed and given a seat at the table. At COP28, the UAE advanced these efforts by institutionalizing the Presidency Youth Climate Champion role, ensuring the voices of children and youth were amplified in high-level climate discussions.
