THEMATIC AREAS

INTRODUCTION

This year AYICC-KENYA will be involved in various thematic groups to enhance our advocacy work for climate change. In addition to delving our effort towards grassroots development we shall engage in different sections related to climate change.

These are:

• Climate change Education
• Climate change Adaptation
• Climate change Mitigation
• Climate Finance
• Technology in Climate change
• Climate change Policy
• Loss and damage
• Climate change Communication
• Gender and climate change
• Indigenous communities and climate change

1. CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION

Education is an essential element of the global response to climate change. We align our activities with the framework of the Global Action Programmes on Education for sustainable development. The main goal is to help young people understand and address the impact of global warming, encourage changes in their attitudes and behavior and help them adapt to climate change- related trends.

AYICC- Kenya has various programmes to increase “climate literacy” among young people:

University dialogues where we hold climate change workshops in different University campuses in Kenya. We have had dialogues in University of Eldoret, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University where we engage with young people and create awareness on climate change.

In partnership with governmental and other non-governmental organizations, we have held workshops on climate change where we involve community members and sensitize on how to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The objectives:

• To facilitate ongoing outreach programmes and brainstorm on ways of making them more impactful
• Creating new and adding value to current partnerships by implementing educational strategie
• Developing educational strategies suitable for different audiences
• Mobilizing young people to engage in the arranged workshops

2. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Climate change adaptation involves taking practical actions to manage risks from climate impacts, protecting communities and strengthen the resilience of the economy.It is a shared responsibility: governments, businesses, households, youth and women. We shall focus on youth projects in Kenya that are geared towards climate change adaptation.

Objectives

• Organizing and participating in tree planting activities 
•  Finding and supporting practical youth projects on climate change adaptation
• Engaging in research on adaptation strategies in Kenya

3. CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

The world is moving towards a low- carbon society and certain strategies can be adopted to achieve this. Mitigation involves dealing with the causes of climate change by reducing emissions. It can be as simple as improvements to a cook stove design- strategies that improve the energy efficiency of current equipment.

Objectives

• Conducting research on mitigation technologies and tailoring them for our local market.
• Attending workshops and conferences that advocate for mitigation measures
•  Identifying viable projects and brainstorming on implementing strategies

4. CLIMATE FINANCE

There is global trend towards investment in renewable energy. Climate finance is meant for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects and programs. They include climate specific support mechanisms and financial aid for mitigation and adaptation activities to spur and enable the transition towards low- carbon, climate resilient growth and development. Our goal is to make climate financing accessible by young people in Kenya.

Objectives

• Preparing proposals for climate change mitigation and adaptation project.
• Drawing up budget documents for projects that the organization is supporting
• Networking and negotiating on behalf of the organization to get funding for projects
• Preparing concise reports on usage of funds and making recommendations.

5. TECHNOLOGY IN CLIMATE CHANGE

To successfully combat climate change, people have to switch from getting most of their energy from a wide variety of clean energy sources. Many technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency or by capturing these gases before they can enter the atmosphere. We are committed to supporting such technology for climate change mitigation.

Objectives

•  Carry out research on climate technologies and update members
• Attend climate technology- related events
• Educate members and the public at large relevant and upcoming climate technologies

6. CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY

Since its formation, AYICC has been in the front line in policy negotiations on matters climate change in the UNFCCC COPs. We are represented annually in these global negotiations by members who are experts in climate change issues. Before going to such conferences, we have a position by which guides to negotiate for the things we need as youth in climate change negotiations.

Objectives

•  Review agreements, resolutions and decisions reached in previous COPs and develop an official position for AYICC in upcoming conference
• Review current national policy guidelines and act as legal consultants for the organization
• Leverage AYICCs activities in the developing of policies for youth projects benefit
• Produce reports on AYICC- Kenya position on legal framework relating to climate change

7. CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION

Involves communicating while developing and applying social science insights to help society make informed decisions that will help combat the effects of climate change. It is all in the messaging when it comes to how receptive people will be to the information.

Objectives

• Contribute to the AYICC blog on climate change issues.
• Come up with effective methods to communicate the climate change message to different audiences
• Develop strategies to Mobilize and sensitize youth on climate change issues
• Communicate impacts of AYICC’s advocacy work as well as conservation programmes
• Develop strategies for brand building and fundraising related duties

 8. GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change has a greater impact on those sections of the population that are most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards. Women face higher risks and greater burdens yet face unequalled participation in decision making processes.

Human dignity is closely related to climate change adaptability- that is in the maintenance of livelihoods. AYICC-Kenya recognizes the need for equality in gender rights- Women being more vulnerable. And so we seek to empower women and men equally to combat climate change.

9. INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Indigenous people tend to live close to the land. They are subsistence farmers, herders, fishers and hunters. This closeness to the land makes them more vulnerable and suffer more from the effects of climate change. They have dealt with climate change for years and their indigenous culture is characterised by the adaptability and resourceful nature.

AYICC- Kenya invests in indigenous knowledge by advocating for grassroots action and development. This thematic area insists on recognising indigenous knowledge in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies which is why AYICC- Mashinani “AYICC in the grassroots” is important- in collection data and people’s views, and involving them in the implementation of the projects and in the decision making process.

10. LOSS AND DAMAGE

These are impacts of climate change vulnerable communities face despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Vulnerable groups includes: developing countries. Covered here are: loss in biodiversity, loss of livelihoods resulting from onset effects such as cyclones and floods.