Agency Reports
A climate change youth advocate Azeez Abubakar attended the Youth4Climate in the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
More specifically, the Youth4Climate: Powering Action summit, Intergenerational Equity and Climate Justice: Reimagining Commonwealth Youth Participation in Climate Action event during the New York City Climate Week, African Union COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Event, I Am The Earth, Stories from the Southern Edge of the World event organised the Government of Chile, and the Global Citizen Festival New York City.
At the Powering Action summit, Azeez dialogued with the UNDP global directors and venture capitalists who are looking to support youth-led climate startups. He also interacted with H.E. Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, H.E. Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Omnia El Omrani, 27th United Nations Climate Change (COP27) Presidency Youth Envoy, Shamma Bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State, Youth Affairs, UAE Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, UNDP Head of Team, Natural Capital Environment, Climate and Energy, Alessandro Modiano, Italian Special Envoy for Climate Change, Roberto Cingolani, Minister of Ecological Transition, Italy and Former G20 President, and Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Youth Envoy among others.
As Partnerships and Engagement Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network, Azeez co-hosted a New York City Climate Week side event where he shared an empowerment initiative for Commonwealth youth through a £3,000 grant challenge.
The African Union Youth Envoy shared upcoming youth opportunities such as the African Climate Mobility Initiative (ACMI) Youth Forum Delegate for COP27 and the AU COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa / Champion program in partnership with Africa CDC which will build the capacity of 1,000 African youth to break Vaccination Misinformation and reduce vaccine hesitancy in Africa.
Speaking at the I Am The Earth Documentary Premiere, the Vice President of Global Citizen, Nikola Ivezaj stressed that we can end extreme poverty without tackling the climate crisis which is why Global Citizen is mobilising people, big corporations and world leaders to take climate action now. At the premiere, Azeez met the Global Citizen Vice President where he shared the work he is leading in Nigeria as a Global Shaper.
At the Global Citizen Festival New York City on 24th September, Azeez had exclusive access to artists and world leaders who made books commitments to defend the rights of girls and take climate action now. For example: he witnessed the numerous financial commitments pledged by the President of the European Commission, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mayor of New York City and many other world leaders and Big Corporations such as Cisco, Procter and Gamble, Verizon and Delta.
Climate change is happening right now and the least contributors are the most affected. In sub-Saharan Africa, over 200 million people are at risk of climate impacts. Extreme weather events, flooding, extreme heat and droughts are a few challenges faced in Nigeria today. Nigeria’s population is made of more than 50 percent of young people which is why the voices of young Nigerians are key in this important forum such as the United Nations General Assembly. Azeez Brought as many Nigerian youth voices as possible to the events he attended.
MEET AZEEZ TOBI ABUBAKAR
Azeez Abubakar is a project manager, sustainability expert and consultant who is passionate about sustainable development, innovation, and technology. He is a 2021/22 Global Citizen Fellow, COP26 and Youth4Climate Delegate, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Winner of the 2022 World Bank Group Youth Summit Case Challenge.
He is also the Partnerships & Engagement Committee Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN), a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a Top Innovator on UpLink and a LEED Green Associate. He is particularly driven to help the most affected communities facing the impact of climate change and extreme poverty.
