Virtual panel: Generation Adaptation: An Intergenerational Dialogue for A Just, Green and Resilient Recovery Post-COVID-19

Date: 11 August 2020 

Time: 14:00-15:30 CEST

Register at: https://bit.ly/TEMA_Youth

Watch the livestream recording here

Event description: 

We invite you to an intergenerational dialogue to explore the links between climate adaptation and the urgency for just, green and resilient recovery Post-COVID-19, particularly paying attention to how can youth be supported to meaningfully engage and participate in adaptation action.

The session will include discussions on 1) What would an intergenerational vision for a just, green and resilient recovery post-COVID-19 look like, particularly in the context of the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change? ; 2)  Which are the challenges and possibilities involved in realising a just, green and resilient recovery post-COVID-19 through an intergenerational approach that incorporates adaptation action?; 3) How can collaborative adaptation action be catalysed in the context of a post-COVID-19 recovery through an intergenerational approach in which youth are supported, including their leadership, expertise and actions on-the-ground?

The panel discussion will be moderated by the Adaptation Working Group from YOUNGO, the Youth and Children Constituency to the UNFCCC. Speakers will include youth representatives working in climate and adaptation, and established adaptation professionals. There will also be opportunities for interaction and Q&As with the audience.

This session will be moderated by  Emily Bohobo N’Dombaxe Dola from the YOUNGO Adaptation Working Group.

Speakers include:

  • Mariam Allam, Adaptation Committee Member
  • Damitha Samarakoon, Senior Programme Manager, SLYCAN Trust
  • Saqib Huq, Programme Coordinator, ICCCAD
  • Brigitte Rudram, Technical Adviser, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre
  • Chibeze S. Ezekiel, Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND)
  • Sani Ayouba, Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE)
  • Zainab Zahid, YOUNGO Adaptation Working Group

 

Agenda:

Approximate time

Agenda item 
14:00-14:10 Introductions to topic of the talk and to the panelists
14:10-14:30 Envisioning Climate Adaptation within a Just, Green and Resilient Recovery post-COVID-19: Intergenerational Perspectives
14:30-14:50 Challenges and Opportunities for Intergenerational Approaches to Climate Adaptation within a Just, Green and Resilient Recovery post-COVID-19
14:50-15:10 Fostering Collaborative Intergenerational Action for Climate Adaptation within a Just, Green and Resilient Recovery post-COVID-19
15:10-15:30 Wrap up and closing remarks

 

Panelist biographies

Sani Ayouba Abdou

Sani Ayouba holds a Master’s degree in Project Management. He has already been active in his community for a number of years. He was a leader in the Nigerien scouting movement from a young age. Since 2009, he has devoted his energy to Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE), an NGO that encourages youth involvement in environmental issues. As Cofounder and Executive Director of JVE since 2011, Sani travels to rural communities in Niger to raise awareness of issues related to the environment and sustainable development. Sani is very engaged in climate change and renewable energy movement, and is strongly involved in the Beyond 2015 agenda (Transition MDGs to SDGs) and the UN Negotiation on Climate Change (CoP). Sani is a 2014 YALI Mandela Washington Fellow and attended a six-week Civic Leadership institute at the University of California at Berkeley. The Mandela fellowship honed Sani’s skills and reaffirmed his advocacy for the promotion of sustainable development by including youth and women. Sani was re-elected as Observer for Africa CSO to the World Bank Climate Investment Fund in Washington DC. Sani was elected as the General Secretary of Niger’s National Platform on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. In March, JVE-Niger hosted the International General Assembly for Young Volunteer for Environment that drew participants from 23 African countries.

 

Emily Bohobo N’Dombaxe Dola

Emily is the current facilitator of YOUNGO’s Adaptation Working Group. A International Development graduate from the University of Sussex, she has a variety of experience in civil society organisations, campaigning and multi-sector projects. Currently completing a master in Social Anthropology, she is particularly interested in political economy, political ecology and knowledge production. Member of various youth-led climate organisations and climate networks, Emily focuses on climate advocacy and policy issues around agriculture and food systems, adaptation and resilience, and intersectionality and just transition.

 

 

 

Chibeze Ezekiel

Chibeze S. Ezekiel is an Environmentalist working primarily in the areas of Climate Change, Biological Diversity, Forestry and Renewable Energy. He is a certified Youth Master Trainer on Climate Change, a National SDGs Champion and a Climate Reality Leadership Corp. In Ghana, he coordinates the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), which is the convener for the Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform. He is actively involved in Ghana’s Climate Change (National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions) processes and very keen in promoting youth inclusion in these processes. He is a Coordinating Group member of ACCESS Coalition and a Board member of 350.org among others.

 

 

Saqib Huq

Saqib Huq is a Programme Coordinator at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) working on International Climate Finance and Policy issues, as well as, a Youth mentor to the ICCCAD Youth Leadership Programme. His work aims to develop the capacities and competencies of Youth to engage in climate change adaptation initiatives and taking climate actions.

 

 

Brigitte Rudram

As a Technical Adviser for the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Brigitte’s work advances the Climate Centre’s strategy for young people. Specializing in youth engagement with climate resilience, she promotes design and evaluation of participatory, gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches. Having coordinated the collaborative design of the Y-Adapt curriculum, she now leads its global roll out working with RCRC and partners to inspire youth-led action on adaptation across the world. 

 

 

 

Damitha Samarakoon 

Damitha Samarakoon is a Senior Programme Manager at SLYCAN Trust. Damitha is a mechanical engineer by profession and specialised in Sustainable Energy and business model development with over 13 years of post-qualification working experience. Specialised in sustainable technology development, waste management systems, and environmental preservation systems, Damitha has worked in the investment analysis of large projects and financing options, has managed an investment portfolio on market development for small industries, renewable energy and related sectors. Damitha has managed project teams establishing new business in agriculture and energy sectors in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and India and engaged with local and international universities in conducting practical research in renewable energy, waste, governance and organic agriculture sectors.

 

 

Zainab Zahid

Zainab Zahid is an Environmental Scientist and an early career researcher currently pursuing Masters in Environmental Sciences. Her research work focuses on finding nature based solutions and integration of biotechnology to adapt the effects of changing environment and stresses on agricultural production. She is a member of different working groups of YOUNGO, Adaptation working group being one of them. Previously, she has served as a President of NUST Environment Club and ran successful tiers of multiple environmental awareness campaigns as well as youth capacity building events. Zainab advocates for the youth mobilization through education and advocacy campaigns and is actively involved in the youth engagement in different capacities.