Nkosilathi Nyathi

Nkosilathi Nyathi (born 2003) is a Zimbabwe UNICEF Climate Advocate. Nyathi has been a fierce advocate of advancing Zimbabwe’s climate and environmental agenda from an early age. The teenage activist has demonstrated to young Zimbabweans that they can take powerful steps in mitigating climate impacts within their communities. Nyathi started his activism journey by using the power of visual media to document first-hand experiences of the devastating effects of drought, flooding, and soil erosion within his home community in Victoria Falls. Nyathi’s vivid video documentary has shed light on the raw experiences of the socio-economic damage climate impacts have to the fabric of his home community. Despite Nyathi’s numerous award-winning accolades, the Zimbabwean activist is no stranger to putting effort into doing the real work. With a knack for public speaking, Nyathi has been a leading voice for the youth. As the UNICEF Zimbabwe representative, Nyathi is a fervent advocate who has delivered compelling appeals to world leaders for climate action in various conferences such as COP25 and the African Regional Summit on Sustainable Development to address climate change urgently Not only is Nyathi committed to holding leaders accountable, but he also co-heads the green club and hosts global virtual talks to numerous youth groups on climate action.[1] He started campaigning at the age of 10 and advocates for youth inclusion in decision making roles.[2][3] He is of the opinion youths’ efforts towards climate justice can not materialize if they can’t make calls at decision making platforms.[4] Nkosilathi was at 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid campaigning for more climate actions and youth inclusion from world leaders.[3][5]

Nkosilathi Nyathi
Born2003 (age 19–20)
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
NationalityZimbabwean
Years active2014–present
Known forClimate advocacy
Awards
  • UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe in 2015
  • Officially appointed UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe for 2020 & Beyond

Environmental activism

Nkosilathi Nyathi was raised in Victoria Falls. He traced back his environmental activism journey to the day he stood up with consciousness at a garbage dumping site at Victoria Falls and becoming more aware of the environment issues in his immediate community.[6] He started noticing the effects of climate change in his environment at the age of 11 in Grade 5 at Chamabondo Primary School in Zimbabwe.[6][7] Victoria Fall witnessed the worst drought in a century in 2019.[3][8][9] 7.7 million Zimbabwean people are food insecure and 45 million people of southern Africans at risk of hunger.[10][11][12] There is also an unprecedented acute malnutrition rates of over five per cent in eight of the Zimbabwean’s districts.[11] All these issues manifesting in his community triggered him to start teaching his community about climate change and to continuously call for reduction the global emissions and he has pledge ever to relent until decision makers start taking considerable climate actions.[8][13]

He was a leader in his primary school climate club, Ozone Defenders Club.[9] He led the creation of the first bio gas plant in the city of Victoria Falls to transform growing waste to produce sustainable energy in 2016.[14] The biogas station is now used for preparation of student’s food.[9][13] Nkosinathi is not good in sports but he has good oratory skills.[6][15] His continuous usage of his oratory skill to call on the government to address environmental issues and pay more attention to climate change earns him recognition by UNICEF to attend the 2019 edition of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) that took place in Madrid, where he shared a panel with some of the world's influential leaders like John Kerry the first United States special presidential envoy for climate.[6] He also delivered a speech at the Group of Friends of Children and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) meetings at the 2020 Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development which was held at  Victoria Falls.[4][14] At the meeting, he advocated for youth inclusion from world leaders, he also participated in Youth For Climate Driving Ambition Event in Milan Italy and had the pleasure of being at the Dubai Expo 2020. He has also featured on Ted Talk. His awareness continues to grow and has led to him sharing big stages with some members of the SADC community including the World Children's Day 2021 with Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa, President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of Namibia Hage Gottfried Geingob, and the President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema. He has also met with the former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos and the former Minister of International Development in Norway Dag Inge Ulstein amongst some of these influential people he has also met the former President of Ireland Mary Therese Winifred Robinson.[16] As a member of press club in his school, he writes educational articles about the environment and climate.[16]

Awards and recognition
  • UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe in 2015.[16][17]
  • Youth Ambassador for Greenline Africa since 2014.[16]

References
  1. Nadine Kilala. "Spotlight on 6 Young African Environmental and Climate Activists". Blog / Viatu Travel. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. David McKenzie and Brent Swails (15 December 2019). "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". Gaudium. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  4. "A vision for my generation". Voices of Youth. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  5. "Action for Climate Empowerment Finds Strong Support at COP25". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. "Nkosi climate change journey to COP25 | The Standard". Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  7. "Nkosi climate change journey to COP25". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. "Gen Z Climate Activists You Should Know Who Aren't Greta Thunberg". www.vice.com. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. "Victoria Falls back to life after drought that triggered climate change fears | Science-Environment". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. "Southern Africa in throes of climate emergency with 45 million people facing hunger across the region | World Food Programme". www.wfp.org. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. "Zimbabwe 'facing worst hunger crisis in a decade'". UN News. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. "Record 45 million people in southern Africa facing food crisis: U.N. agencies". Reuters. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  13. "Rains Bring Relief as Water Again Flows Through Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. "4 youth activists who bravely demand gov't action on climate change besides Greta Thunberg". NOLISOLI. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  15. David McKenzie and Brent Swails (15 December 2019). "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  16. "Climate change is real, it affects my life everyday". Children's Environmental Rights Initiative. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  17. "Teacher Workshop Details". ASA Outreach Council. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
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