Young climate justice campaigner calls on leaders to address “survival” for vulnerable states

Chevening scholar, Mandela Washington Fellow alum, and Namibian climate and social justice leader Eunice Shapange has packed a lot into her first three decades. She is currently studying for her second Master’s, in Climate and Energy at Sussex University in the UK. Eunice is also a Commonwealth alum, having undergone the Secretariat’s inaugural Youth Climate Negotiations Training.

Caption: Eunice taking part in the Youth Climate Negotiation Training. Read article

“Coming into contact with climate terminologies, for the first time in my life, they were digestible, understandable, clear. There were simulated, realistic COP [United Nations Climate Change Conference] negotiations. I didn't realise rich countries that caused the problem also have to think about their own people. I could understand both sides.”

Eunice has a message for young climate activists, who will play a key role at the next UN Climate Conference to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan this November:

“As young people, in the Commonwealth, in fact, globally, we should own these leadership positions. Don't wait for that position to come to you; start now. Just do it, be your community's voice.”

While studying, Eunice founded a groundbreaking social initiative in Namibia. Reflecting on her effort, she said:

“I started Tungeni Urban Initiative (TUI), which develops community awareness and education on climate change and community participation in urban development. We held the Indigenous Urban Games, which educated children about preserving culture and growing trees. The idea was to bring forth a transition mindset. We want people to recognise the power within themselves.”

“The Climate Negotiations Training opened my eyes to the possibility of opportunities I can leverage to ensure that TUI impacts the mindset of different communities in Namibia.”

Invoking the resilience theme of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Eunice added:

“Namibia is resilient. We keep getting shocks from climate impacts; if we're not facing drought, we're facing floods. This year, we recorded one of the longest droughts. The Kunene region, where most of our Indigenous Peoples live, they depend on nature for survival. They lose their animals and their source of food. Drought relief is temporary.”

Image caption: Eunice (left) planning the launch of the Tungeni Urban Initiative in Namibia

She concluded;

“How do we ensure climate finance delivers? It needs to be flexible and benefit the people who are affected. International finance has many conditions that end up not serving its purpose. We are so focused on each country's interest that we forget the bigger picture. During CHOGM, we need to start talking about survival.”

Eunice sees more focused yet flexible climate finance as a solution.