GABORONE, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ambassador of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, Jan Sadek, on Wednesday urged the youth to become their nation's Greta Thunberg.
The clock is ticking, Sadek said when speaking at the opening ceremony of the Youth Climate Change Festival themed "Integrating Youth into Climate Change Agenda," an event that attracted hundreds of young people from across the country.
The Youth Climate Change Festival is part of the Climate diplomacy week activities supported by the EU.
Sadek said this after the youth were reminded of Botswana's ongoing battle with droughts that have led to the death of about 600 cattle in the Ngami district alone, and the death of hippos.
The idea of a Youth Climate Change Festival, Sadek said, is a good one as it promotes youth active and constructive engagement in climate action.
He said nobody has done more to remind individuals of their responsibilities than young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who keeps pushing world leaders to take more urgent action in order not to fail young people.
Sadek wants young Batswana to spearhead the climate movement in the country. Hence he asked the youth to explore how the current lifestyle has an impact on climate change, and how they can foster positive changes in their communities and the broader society.
Sadek's warning comes at a time when the Botswana government is conducting a tipping point study that will make citizens aware of the projected impacts of climate change, especially as to when it will be no longer viable for human being to continue surviving in Botswana.
Speaking at the event, Oduetse Koboto, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, reiterated that Botswana continues to experience changes in rainfall patterns resulting in destructive wind, hail storms and floods.
Excessive heat, Koboto said, has resulted in deaths and outbreaks of crop diseases that negate the government's effort to revamp the agricultural sector and fight poverty.
