Guest Post by: Issa Ludunge Jospin, Researcher Assistant at the Geothermal Research Center/DR Congo
The global climate situation is today a problem that concerns humanity as a whole, it is a topical subject where every thinker, scientist and activist tries to contribute in one way or another in order to find lasting solutions to this worrying problem.
The nations of the world agree, each as far as it is concerned, to work to bring this war to a conclusion against a formidable enemy, the climate. Actions at each level; local, national and international; are observed. At this stage, every positive action counts. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal agenda with the ambition to build a fairer and more sustainable world for all. Objective number 13 aims to combat climate change.
Green Congo Initiative is a platform bringing together different layers of Congolese and foreign youth with the common goal of an efficient and effective fight against global warming. And this in a direct and indirect way (https://greencongo-initiative.org/). Created in 2019 in the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this non-profit platform proceeds in a methodical way to make the fight against global warming a problem for everyone. For this, awareness and information campaigns are organized by this youth with the aim of making the different layers of the population understand the climate issues and the roles and responsibilities of everyone in this fight.
This platform has placed this purely pedagogical methodology in the forefront following the context of its intervention environment (Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo), where most people consider the climate problem as being for others; and even after investigation, it has been observed that even most people are unaware of the existence of the climate crisis that threatens planet Earth. Hence the need to make them understand the usefulness of adopting responsible behavior towards the environment.
Pleadings are currently being conducted at the local level by Green Congo Initiative with the Congolese authorities, in order to integrate ecological courses in schools, to allow students in the country to grow while developing in them the awareness and will to protect their environment.
It is not limited to this. The Green Congo Initiative platform intervenes directly through reforestation activities. Such activities which have an important place in the fight against global warming, especially in the context of Central Africa which still has one of the most important forests on the planet, considered the lungs of humanity, the forest equatorial, which today is subject, like all the other green spaces in the region, to intense deforestation for domestic and energy needs. This region needs such activities to limit the damage to this natural environment. It also needs the protection of these green spaces, which play the role of storing considerable volumes of carbon and thus help to mitigate the effects of global warming, in particular by producing the humidity essential to the ecosystems they shelter.
Composed of young researchers and scientists, Green Congo Initiative organizes internal discussion sessions on the climate problem in particular and those of the environment in general, in order to seek solutions to the misdeeds of climate change and their impacts on Congolese society in particular. and Central Africa in general. The objective is to find the right way forward to have a Congolese society resilient to climate problems. At the same time, the platform encourages its members to be able to participate in symposiums and scientific meetings at the national and international level dealing with climate issues and environmental protection to better equip themselves with the global climate situation and learn from the experiences of other climate actors.
The platform is interested in green energies and their promotion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also in the responsible exploitation of mineral resources, thus being able to respect environmental standards, which are important conditions for climate stabilization. The world being in a crisis not only climatic but also due to the instabilities of wars, there is an urgent need to promote renewable energies to the detriment of non-renewable energies which pollute the atmosphere. The Democratic Republic of Congo being a country with a mining vocation and extremely rich in minerals for green energies, Green Congo Initiative is advocating for an energy transition in this country. The research and extraction of minerals important for the energy transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo do not sometimes respect the required environmental standards, the platform of young climate activists, Green Congo Initiative, denounces these irresponsibility and advice if necessary.
Global warming is a major issue in the 21st century, fighting it is a civic obligation and that by adopting an eco-responsible behavior. Climate change is making itself felt on the planet in an increased way and could be the basis of a delay in sustainable development. The Paris Agreement, a hope for a sustainable future, calls for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, thus requiring greenhouse gas emissions to fall by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and continue to decline sharply to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Green Congo Initiative is totally involved in the subject to impact and even change the model of Congolese society to move towards more sobriety and more responsibility. For this, this platform encourages Congolese citizens and politicians to develop an alternative model of society, compatible with a way of life that respects the climate imperative.
The collective awareness of African youth in general and Congolese in particular in the fight against global warming is observed from day to day, man having a considerable share of responsibility in this crisis, scientists around the world are unanimous on the subject and believe that humanity will emerge victorious only by the contribution of everyone. This is how the organization Green Congo Initiative invites even more young people to join them and thus get involved in this fight against climate change so that the latter is conclusive and effective. This platform takes the opportunity to thank its present and future partners for their contributions to climate action and environmental protection and education in Africa in general and in the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular.
Read Issa’s other posts:
Global Climate Crisis: The Democratic Republic of Congo Offers a Solution
Geothermal Energy: The Democratic Republic of Congo Towards an Energy Transition?
Lithium From the D.R. Congo, A Considerable Contribution to the Energy Transition
Trop interessant comme article et belle initiative de GCI.
Ce qui est de mieux, les acteurs de ladite initiative doivent faire appel à tout autre acteur contribuant soit d’une manière individuel ou collective à un monde meilleur et durable dans l’aspect environnemental, d’integré la plateforme.
Nous esperons tous à un environement durable dans le future, d’ici 2030
Nous sommes d’accord, avec plus de programmes comme celui-ci, nos objectifs climatiques mondiaux pour 2030 seront atteints.
Grant
Très cher Crispin
Atteindre la plus grande partie de la jeunesse congolaise et la voir simplement dans la lutte contre le réchauffement est l’une des combat de Green Congo Initiative, ainsi donc les portes sont grandement ouvertes à tous.
Très bonne initiative pour faire avancer la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique. Par la même occasion je tiens à féliciter Green Congo Initiative pour avoir été sélectionné par YOUNGO pour organiser la conférence locale des jeunes sur le climat en RDCongo (LCOY2023).
Nous serons heureux d’y prendre part.