By Antynet Ford
The inclusion of the voices of the Indigenous people, women, and youths ahead of updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is a major priority for the Young Women’s Christian Organization under the Voice for Just Climate Action initiative.
Their voices are vital to ensuring that the country’s climate policies are inclusive, equitable, and reflective of the communities most impacted by climate change.
According to Vincent Ondiek, a senior regional program officer at ACT Alliance putting justice at the heart of NDCs which ensures an ambitious and just NDC is what is required most even as the country continues reflecting its commitment to combat climate change and contribute to a sustainable future.
“Our ambitions and plans need to change for us to combat climate change. The youth, women, and Indigenous people need to consolidate what they would wish for in the NDCs and have a document that is owned by all of us.” He said.
Ondiek who was speaking during a meeting organized by YWCA In partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Hivos added that submissions to the government on what should be included in the next NDC should be a true reflection of what’s on the ground and benefit the local communities and special groups.
“We should have adaptation action plans that will help us address issues of climate change because what we have been having before has been injustice issues where private sectors and capitalist movements take advantage; an example of Lake Turkana Windpower plants where communities that live there do not benefit but multi-national companies are making billions out of their land. The plans we have are a true reflection of what happens on the ground.”
The protracted impacts of climate change on Youths, women, and Indigenous people include displacement, food insecurity, health impacts, and economic marginalization among others.
YWCA together with other partners continues to have meetings with the Youth, Women, and Indigenous communities to form part and parcel of the NDC to enlist what should be prioritized and effected ahead of the Brazil COP30 which is anticipated to be a pure NDCs COP.
NDCs help contribute to achieving the country’s long-term climate and development priorities as they support the implementation of the adaptation plans.