BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has invited youths to help crafting solutions to the city’s climate change challenges.
The successful youths are set to receive grants ranging between US$1 000 and US$5 000.
Mayor David Coltart expressed excitement on the project, stating that he was pleased to see young people expressing interest in partaking in the fight against climate change.
“The applications are open up to July 1 after which the project would be implemented in the city in the next six months with funding and technical assistance from the Bloomberg Philanthropies. This Youth Climate Action Fund presents a unique opportunity to Bulawayo youth in creating climate change solutions and ensuring that you are involved in inter-generational planning and decision making for climate solutions,” he said.
“BCC invites you to think of solutions for the challenges we face on a daily basis. We are all aware that the city is located in a drought-prone region and its water shortages are perennial with weather patterns characterised by low rainfall compounded by seasonal annual droughts.”
Coltart also encouraged applicants to think of projects on water conservation.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube said the project came at the right time.
“It is significant for the City of Bulawayo to be launching this project at a time when the Government is also working on the Climate Change Act and is expected to help the country access global funding for climate change activities,” she said.
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Ncube added that developing nations were most susceptible to global warming and expressed the need to reach net zero targets through policies that guide the country towards those targets.
“This Youth Climate Action Fund Project seeks to assist in ensuring that we are able to achieve the mandate we have set as a nation. As the 21st generation, young people have access to tools, education and the Fourth Industrial Revolution to champion the climate change agenda,” she said.
“Despite these opportunities, one of the concerns raised was that only half of young people are able to identify the correct definition of climate change.”
BCC received US$50 000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies to distribute as micro-grants.
Climate priorities listed in the application forms include increasing renewable energy production, reducing greenhouse emissions, adaptation to climate change and building resilience, promoting green mobility, inclusive citizen participatory approach and accessing climate finance, among others.
