Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa

Globally, young people are effecting significant changes in the field of climate change through various means, such as advocacy, education and awareness campaigns, litigation, innovative solutions, and volunteering. These youth-led initiatives are essential, considering that they will face the long-...

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Main Authors: Adelaide M Lusambili, Kizito L Muchanga, Laurie Maria Vusolo, Constance S Shumba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000082
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author Adelaide M Lusambili
Kizito L Muchanga
Laurie Maria Vusolo
Constance S Shumba
author_facet Adelaide M Lusambili
Kizito L Muchanga
Laurie Maria Vusolo
Constance S Shumba
author_sort Adelaide M Lusambili
collection DOAJ
description Globally, young people are effecting significant changes in the field of climate change through various means, such as advocacy, education and awareness campaigns, litigation, innovative solutions, and volunteering. These youth-led initiatives are essential, considering that they will face the long-term health effects of climate change. The need to address disparities in climate and health-related research, policy, and program responses in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has never been greater, considering the increasingly pronounced effects of climate change on human health. Within the African continent, where research, policies and programs are predominantly shaped by older people, the inclusion of youth is vital to contribute effectively to the discourse on climate change. In this short communication, we reflect on the limited representation of young people as researchers within the African academy studying the links between climate change and health. We provide a rationale emphasizing the urgent need to build a robust community of researchers that encompasses youth. Our argument advocates for gender-responsive investments in training young researchers in climate change and health to deepen their understanding and address the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. We propose strategies to enhance their meaningful involvement in research and knowledge production in these fields.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2667-2782
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series The Journal of Climate Change and Health
spelling doaj-art-917e6686f06142e4923e44081c8a7a462025-08-20T03:48:50ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822025-03-012210041810.1016/j.joclim.2025.100418Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan AfricaAdelaide M Lusambili0Kizito L Muchanga1Laurie Maria Vusolo2Constance S Shumba3NextGen Climate Labs, Kenya; Corresponding author.NextGen Climate Labs, Kenya; Department of History, Masinde Muliro University, Kakamega, KenyaNextGen Climate Labs, Kenya; Department of Music and Business, University of Westminster, London, United KingdomInstitute for Health and Equity, Division of Epidemiology and Social Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USAGlobally, young people are effecting significant changes in the field of climate change through various means, such as advocacy, education and awareness campaigns, litigation, innovative solutions, and volunteering. These youth-led initiatives are essential, considering that they will face the long-term health effects of climate change. The need to address disparities in climate and health-related research, policy, and program responses in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has never been greater, considering the increasingly pronounced effects of climate change on human health. Within the African continent, where research, policies and programs are predominantly shaped by older people, the inclusion of youth is vital to contribute effectively to the discourse on climate change. In this short communication, we reflect on the limited representation of young people as researchers within the African academy studying the links between climate change and health. We provide a rationale emphasizing the urgent need to build a robust community of researchers that encompasses youth. Our argument advocates for gender-responsive investments in training young researchers in climate change and health to deepen their understanding and address the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. We propose strategies to enhance their meaningful involvement in research and knowledge production in these fields.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000082YouthClimate changeHealthResearchAfrica
spellingShingle Adelaide M Lusambili
Kizito L Muchanga
Laurie Maria Vusolo
Constance S Shumba
Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Youth
Climate change
Health
Research
Africa
title Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
title_full Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
title_fullStr Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
title_short Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa
title_sort towards youth inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub saharan africa
topic Youth
Climate change
Health
Research
Africa
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000082
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AT kizitolmuchanga towardsyouthinclusivestrategiesforresearchonclimatechangeandhealthinsubsaharanafrica
AT lauriemariavusolo towardsyouthinclusivestrategiesforresearchonclimatechangeandhealthinsubsaharanafrica
AT constancesshumba towardsyouthinclusivestrategiesforresearchonclimatechangeandhealthinsubsaharanafrica