Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – September 7, 2025 — As leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders converge in Ethiopia for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) from September 8–10, youth voices are growing louder. Among them is Jenniffer Wairimu, President of the Kenya Youth Organization and Executive Director of the Waridi Foundation, who is calling for bold investments in youth-driven climate solutions across the continent.
Wairimu applauded Kenyan President William Ruto for spearheading calls to reform international financial institutions to ensure fairer climate financing for Africa. She stressed that African nations do not seek charity but demand justice and equitable investment.
“Africa does not need charity. We need fairness, investment, and partnerships. Inclusion of children, youth, and women at the decision-making table is non-negotiable. Without our voices, we are not partners; we are the menu. For a just transition that reflects the Africa we envision, inclusion is key,” she said.
Her message to African heads of state is clear: fund youth-led eco-projects and sustain investments beyond high-profile summits. She noted that Africa’s youth are brimming with creativity and innovation, but their solutions cannot scale without financial support. “Africa’s youth are innovative and creative. They have the ideas; they just need funding. No one must be left behind—we must all be involved for a climate-just Africa,” she urged.
Through initiatives such as the PadMe Project, Lamu7s, Watamu Beach Rugby, and the Kenya Go Green Project, Wairimu has advanced mangrove restoration, eco-tourism, and plastic pollution reduction along Kenya’s coast and into neighboring Tanzania. She refers to these initiatives as part of her Africa Youth Development Mission, a vision to mobilize young people for climate advocacy and action across the continent.
Her leadership has been amplified during her stay in Ethiopia, where she joined more than 200 youth leaders at Addis Ababa University for the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice, supported by PACJA and FEMNET. The program equipped participants with practical tools to advance climate justice locally and regionally.
“This was not just a class to learn but a process to shape a better, just Africa. I learned, unlearned, and relearned about climate change. Climate justice is not optional—we must transition now,” Wairimu reflected.
Her engagement in Ethiopia builds on her active role in continental dialogues, including an African Union high-level meeting in Egypt in June this year. In Addis Ababa, she has continued to participate in forums, summits, and strategy sessions that are expected to shape Africa’s climate policy direction ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
Africa, which contributes just 4% of global emissions yet suffers disproportionately from climate impacts, requires an estimated $2.5–2.8 trillion by 2030 to meet its climate goals. Wairimu insists that youth, women, and children must be placed at the center of this effort, not as beneficiaries but as equal partners.
As ACS2 begins, her advocacy underscores the urgency of turning commitments into action. For Wairimu, the pathway to a just climate transition is inseparable from amplifying youth-led solutions, securing long-term financing, and ensuring inclusivity at every decision-making table.
