Environment and Climate Change

Environment and Climate Change

To influence the adoption of sustainable environmental practices, conservation of natural resources, and the preservation of biodiversity in order to minimize environmental impact. OAY strives to promote youth centric environmental sustainable practices among communities in Kenya. We advocate for the use of renewable energy sources, proper waste managements and environmental conservation practices and initiatives.

The Situation and Context

Climate Change is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.. African youth are largely concerned about how current decisions on climate and environment matters are likely to impact them now and in the future.
The mandate of future sustainable development through the SDGs and Agenda 2063 has been handed by the UN and Africa Union to the youth.
Youth involvement in environmental, biodiversity, climate change and risk reduction agenda setting is very low, yet climate change is affecting all sectors of the economy hence challenging their future. Also, the limitations of target, time, resources and technical know-how inhibit their meaningful engagement.
In 2026, OAY’s application was approved and the organization officially a endorsed and mandated by YLCOY Working Group of YOUNGO, the official Children and Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to host a Local Conference of Youth (LCOY). Formally recognized in 2009, YOUNGO serves as the official voice of young people from across the globe in the UN climate negotiations under the UNFCCC.
Since the very beginning, YOUNGO has organized and hosted a Conference of Youth each year immediately prior to the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. This meeting provides a crucial space for youth to gather for networking, topical training, and preparation to effectively engage in the COP and other UN processes relating to climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Our key interventions include;

  • Convening, mobilising, connecting and coordinating youth led environmental and climate action platforms and networks to strengthen capacity, support non tokenistic advocacy, participation and representation in key processes
  • Support and promote social entrepreneurship in climate action to enhance employment and food security through climate smart agriculture, circular economy green and digital economy transition
  • Promoting meaningful gender and social inclusion in climate change discourses
  • Supporting population, health and environment (PHE) agenda while alive to the universality and localization of climate change
  • Supporting effective climate change communications focussing of perceptions shifts and pandemic preparedness especially at grassroot community and school levels.

Current Projects

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OAY Initiatives

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Past Projects

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What is OAY Doing?

Programmatic Goal:

To empower and sensitize young people to take urgent action to combat climate change and its negative impacts towards the community especially among girls and women.

The youth must be at the forefront in combating climate change since they are naturally custodians of future interests and will suffer more from the consequences of the changes.
Equity however demands sharing of benefits and losses including those of climate change; losses currently being transferred to the future generation. Involvement and investment in clean and renewable energy, green and digital transition, ecological agenda offer some best bets for youth to support the mitigation processes. We believe that youth involvement and participation in climate change adaptation can promote empowerment and support conversation efforts.
Further, in agri-business and nutrition, OAY is dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth involved in agribusiness through skills training, coaching and mentorship, promote value addition, and linkage to market opportunities

Key Impacts and Success

  • Successfully designing and rolling out the #NairoGreen Podcast – A Climate Change & Waste Management Communication Initiative with 4 episodes produced so far leading to increased youth literacy on climate and waste management issues
  • Successful establishment of 3 Youth Forum/Platforms to drive the global and national advocacy in climate change and environmental issues through the “Sikiliza Sauti Yetu: Dunia Inaita!” project including Kenya Youth Climate Advisory Council, #Nairo Green Youth Movement and Global South- North Youth Dialogue Platform on Climate Action.
  • Founding Annual Youth Climate Action Innovation Summit that focuses on four core pillars: Employment, Advocacy, Knowledge Exchange, and Exhibition in 2025
  • Co-creation and securing endorsement of over 40+ organizations for the #GreenManifesto -a Youth Manifesto for Participatory Governance in 2026.
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