African children demand climate action after heat forces school closures
By Yahaya Idris
Youth from East Africa, where climate-related school closures have become increasingly prevalent, are calling on global leaders to safeguard their right to education and secure their future at the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.
In South Sudan, Siama, 17, lost two weeks of education in April as temperatures climbed to 45 degrees Celsius or 113 degrees Fahrenheit, illustrating the difficulties faced by developing countries in providing climate-resilient educational facilities and air conditioning,” she said.
Over 40 million children globally, spanning Asia to Africa, were forced to remain out of school this year due to severe heatwaves, which researchers attribute to the intensifying and increasingly frequent impacts of climate change.
Naomi, a 14-year-old student, struggled with the consequences of school closures in South Sudan. “This year’s closures particularly affected me, as I am scheduled to take my national exams,” she noted.
Nafiso, a 16-year-old Somali, often lies awake at night worrying about the implications of climate change on her future. She explains, ‘As a farmer, my father faces significant challenges due to temperature fluctuations, with droughts following intense heat and floods complicating food distribution.’
