Youth-Led Climate Action in the UAE

“Resistance becomes easier when it is rooted within the community”. As the 20-year-old climate justice activist Ayshka Najib strives to fight the climate crisis, she is encouraged by the many youth-led climate advocacy initiatives and campaigns that have started to gain momentum. “Collective action is the key to solving our crisis, so I encourage everyone to take a step forward and join this global movement”. This is Hoor Alrais’ call to action for her generation. As a young climate justice advocate, she passionately urges youth to help make a change and to be an inspiration. We are at a defining moment for our planet, as there is no place on the globe that is immune to the impact of climate change. Climate change also has profound impacts on a wide variety of human rights, including the rights to life, self-determination, development, food, health, water and sanitation, and housing. Humanity, however, is not powerless in the face of this global threat.

It is certain there is dire need for change. But not all change has to start off in big manners. Even the smallest of efforts can alter how the future will be. Hoor started off her climate advocacy mission by taking part in a local clean-up within her community, but she felt that she could do more. She was motivated by the unity and drive of her fellow volunteers. The importance of individual and collective action grew clear to her. From then on, she made it her mission to be one with nature and raise awareness on the threats of climate change. Her efforts to protect the environment, led her to being named one of the UAE Nature Ambassadors. She has also represented the UAE in international conferences and conventions advocating for a better future for her generation.

Similarly, Ayshka believes that she, as an individual has a responsibility towards her society. She implements her vision of a better world through her work with the UNICEF Gulf Area Office, in the capacity-building of young people in the UAE and the MENA region on climate change. While further noticing that climate change isn’t gender neutral and disproportionally affects marginalized groups of people, in 2021 she joined the UN Women and the Generation Equality Campaign. Working as the youth lead on the Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition to push for recognizing the intersectionality of gender equality and climate justice in decision making spaces as well as at the grassroots level. From representing the UAE in mock COP (Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC) sessions, to being a delegate for UN Women at the Vienna Café sessions, Ayshka has shown great determination and has become an inspiration for her peers: “With God’s will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us”. She is particularly inspired by UAE’ founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a sustainability pioneer in his own right who tackled environmental issues with admirable foresight.       

With the approach of COP27, hosted by Egypt in 2022, and COP28, hosted by the UAE in 2023, both of these young activists have high hopes and ambitions for the path ahead. Ayshka hopes to advocate on two main fronts as COP27 takes place in Egypt this November. Firstly, mainstreaming a gender perspective when addressing climate change, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. Her second, but not less important priority, is the mainstreaming of youth participation and intergenerational equity in policy development and implementation. On the other hand, Hoor’s aspiration for COP27 is to come out with action-oriented solutions and facilitate it as a place to inspire young people, where they can lead the climate movement.

Every step matters, and every voice counts. Our communities need more young people like Hoor and Ayshka, who are tirelessly advocating to help make our future greener, more equitable, and more prosperous.

The commitment of the UAE in raising voices of the youth and giving everyone equal opportunities in the field is remarkable, as are their ambitions and strategic efforts to tackle the climate crisis. They have notably pledged to become the first MENA country to reach net zero by 2050. The Emirates has also facilitated youth-inclusive spaces across the nation, such as consultations and youth networks. In return, young people have become part of this change.

With the presence of over thirty agencies, funds and programmes, the United Nations in the UAE is continuously striving to involve young people and provide them with the platform to let their voices be heard. “We believe it is always important to engage with all stakeholders and share best practices, lessons learned, and common challenges through different platforms, formats, and channels.”, said Dr Dena Assaf, United Nations Resident Coordinator for the United Arab Emirates, urging people to take action to save humanity; “if we don’t take care of our habitat, we will become extinct”.

Every step matters, and every voice counts. Our communities need more young people like Hoor and Ayshka, who are tirelessly advocating to help make our future greener, more equitable, and more prosperous.