AYICC KENYA

AFRICAN RIO+20 YOUTH CONFERENCE OPINION PIECE Nairobi 12 th and 13 th JUNE, 2012 Preamble We, the youth delegates to the Pan African Youth Conference, Africa +20, at Nairobi, Kenya: Acknowledging the urgent need to start a transition towards green, fair and people-centered agriculture, that promotes a sustainable food system through the production of sufficient, healthy and balanced food for all humanity while maintaining or enhancing ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources; C ommitting to the promotion of innovations that will lead to and sustain a green economy; Taking note that the sanctity of life of future generations depends solely on our actions and commitment towards sustainable development; Recognizing that our governments have a moral and political responsibility to steer our collective national policies and legislation along the sustainable development path; Commit to: Adopting Sustainable livelihood patterns that will promote savin

The wraths of Climate change affect both those who well understand what this phenomenon is and those who do not.  During the Millennium summit when 189 countries signed the Millennium development goals (MDG) in Newyork, 2000, there was a growing understanding that poverty, development and climate change are intertwined. Efforts for economic and social development have been largely successful but have been countered by natural disasters such as famine, hurricanes and tsunamis all related to climate change. There was a resolve to increase understanding of these problems, their causes and also to improve chances of innovation for adaptation. The second of the seven MDG’s is to achieve universal primary school education by 2015. That is a short three years from now and it would be inaccurate to report this as having been achieved in many parts of the world. The adage that innocence dwells from wisdom and never with ignorance, or ignorance is bliss might as well have been demolished w