Youths have called for the recognition of the Lake Chad Basin as a key asset in Africa’s climate agenda.

The youth delegates made the call in a petition submitted by Taiye Ojo, on behalf of the Lake Chad Climate Justice Youth Fellowship Delegation Intercountry Youth Collective for Climate Action, to the Secretariat of the Second African Climate Summit.

The ACS2, which started on September 8 and will end on 10, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is convened under the theme ‘Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development’.

Mr Ojo said that although the ACS2 recognition of the Congo Basin as a global climate asset with emphasis on transparent benefit-sharing, it should also prioritise the Lake Chad Basin as a climate asset, to achieve the target goals in Africa.

He explained that the basin’s realities cannot be overlooked if Africa’s climate justice agenda is to be truly inclusive.

He reiterated his concern that the Lake Chad Basin, which is home to at least 40 million people across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, was not referenced in the ACS2 Youth Declaration.

The delegate warned that without continental recognition and investment, these local actions remain fragmented and under-resourced.

The ACS2 is centred on shaping African decades of investment backed by sound policy and strong partnerships.

The basin covers approximately eight per cent of the African continent, encompassing parts of seven countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. It is an inland basin, meaning its rivers and waters do not flow to the ocean.

The region has a complex climate with four categories, ranging from Saharan (less than 100mm annual rainfall) to Sudano-Guinean (600-1,500mm).

However, in recent times, the basin is currently facing severe ecological and humanitarian challenges, including rapid lake shrinkage, climate change impacts, and insecurity from terrorist groups.  

(NAN)