Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World
Each passing day witnesses the dynamic evolution of our familiar world — from its inhabitants to the structures that provide them shelter. Beyond the strides in technology, another transformative force shaping our existence is the progression of climate change.
The impacts of industrialization grow more evident, underscoring the urgency of our responsibility to safeguard the Earth. In response, the imperative to explore avenues that ensure the well-being of our planet has become more paramount than ever. Guided by the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 13, there arises a pressing need to embark on endeavors that harmonize environmental sustainability and climate-conscious initiatives.
To this effect, this year’s international youth day, an observance designated by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate the importance of young people and their role in society, focuses on “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.
Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.” These include technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in occupational settings and skills that draw on a range of knowledge, values, and attitudes to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in work and life.
One way to ensure that youths are groomed with Green skills is to sensitize them through programs that focus on the importance of eco-friendly activities. Some eco-friendly activities are:
1. Recycling: Recycling is the collecting, sorting, and processing of used materials or waste products and transforming them into valuable products. The goal of recycling is to conserve energy and reduce the consumption of new resources, reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact associated with producing goods from scratch.
2. Energy conservation: Energy conservation refers to using energy resources more efficiently and responsibly to reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. Some practical ways to conserve energy are to Turn off lights when not in use, unplug electronics, and use energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy consumption.
3. Support Renewable Energy Policies: Supporting renewable energy policies is crucial for addressing climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable energy future. You can support renewable energy by raising public awareness and promoting the economic benefits of renewable energy policies.
4. Plant Trees or Practice Sustainable Gardening: Planting trees is one of the oldest eco-friendly activities. People plant trees because trees absorb carbon dioxide and help offset carbon emissions. An alternative to tree planting is to practice sustainable gardening. You can use native plants and compost and avoid chemical fertilizers to create an eco-friendly garden.
5. Engage in Local Environmental Initiatives: Participate in local clean-up events, restoration projects, and environmental education programs. While at it, you can also volunteer for or support organizations that advocate for strong climate policies and educate others on Climate change.
Another way to ensure the grooming of youth with Green skills is to ensure that youths are equipped with Green Skills to promote a sustainable world by providing them with digital skills to build eco-friendly products that help make recycling and other environmentally friendly activities more effortless, which is what we do at Tech4Dev.
Over the years, beneficiaries of our programs have gone ahead to build some of these products. For instance, in the Women Techsters Fellowship Class of 2023, during their capstone projects, two groups worked on two Green-Tech solutions.
One group worked on Eco-Elites, a Greentech solution for poor waste management aimed at bridging the gap between waste depositors and recyclers, helping recycling organizations reduce overhead and operation costs while also making it easier for individuals and organizations to dispose of their plastic waste properly and contribute to the global effort to reduce plastic waste pollution.
While the other group worked on Ecoverse, a one-stop digital community platform for recycling stakeholders and enthusiasts. This platform was designed to connect all the players involved in the recycling value chain, such as individuals, organizations, and businesses focused on sustainability.
Equipping young people with the right skills gives them the knowledge and skills to proffer solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. As we mark this year’s International Youth Day, we are excited about the impact the sensitisation of this year’s theme will create and the ripple effect in years to come.
