South African Youth are taking a stand and asking the minister of Environmental Affairs, Minister Barbara Creecy, to stand with them for South Africa.
South Africa (07 April 2022) – South African youth are uniting to save South Africa and encourage others to help them make it happen. They hope to raise awareness about 30×30, a global commitment to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030.
However, as global leaders convened in Geneva in March for the Convention of Biological Diversity Negotiations, where the Draft Global Biodiversity Framework and its 21 action targets were discussed, South Africa failed to commit to the 30×30 target.
“We watched with pride as South Africa participated in the negotiations – our hopes high that our leaders would stand up and safeguard our future, but we have been left disappointed – South Africa remains uncommitted to the global 30×30 target.
While our leaders have acknowledged the importance of 30×30, they have not pledged their support for the initiative.”
The youth advocating for this cause refuse to let South African leaders remain quiet on this topic and are urging the critical roleplayers in the Department of Environmental Affairs to act now.
“As Youth, we do not believe that all is lost and our call to Minister Barbara Creecy remains strong. South Africa still has a chance to stand up and lead us into a better future. The next negotiations will take place in Nairobi this June. Our hope is that by then, South Africa will lead the way for the protection of her people and country.”
They wrote a well-worded letter to the minister to outline the importance of the cause for the South African population. Take a look at their letter to Minister Creecy below.
Dear Honourable Minister Creecy,
Over a month ago, we the youth of South Africa reached out to you regarding South Africa’s stance on the global target of achieving 30% protection of land and sea by 2030.
As your delegation headed into the Convention of Biological Diversity Negotiations in Geneva, we raised our voices and campaigned in the hope that South Africa will become a leader for Africa and support the global 30×30 target.
With the culmination of the CBD negotiations and the outcomes, we as the youth are both proud and disappointed.
Our pride for South Africa stems from watching our country participate in the negotiations, and to see our delegation’s acknowledgement of the importance of the global 30×30 target, but our disappointment is pegged on South Africa’s ultimate lack of support on the global stage. As youth, we understand the tall task the target asks for, but as South Africa has already demonstrated, we can do it. And as the custodians of tomorrow, we ask for greater efforts in safeguarding a sustainable future for our planet and our people.
At the ninth People and Parks Conference, you highlighted the importance of working with local and indigenous communities to protect biodiversity and engage these individuals in the wildlife economy. We commend your stance and the acknowledgement that the protection of nature and human development go hand-in-hand.
You also spoke about the damaging impact that the climate crisis poses on the future of agriculture and food security in our country.
However, we ask this of you – then why does South Africa continue to remain reluctant in support of the global 30×30 target?
It is well recognised that protected areas (on land and sea) are a powerful tool that will help combat the climate crisis and alarming loss of biodiversity. Our country has made great strides with protected areas, and with capacitating local communities to become custodians of these sanctuaries. This means that South Africa has long begun contributing its share to the global 30×30 goals, and even more reason why we should have stood up in support of the 30×30 goal in Geneva.
Then why is it that as a country we still refrain from supporting the global efforts of increased protection?
The purpose of this letter is to highlight to you, that the youth of our country strongly believe in the global 30×30 target and the positive impacts it will have on the future of our planet and people. While we understand that achieving this target will not be an easy feat, we also believe that it is vital that South Africa does its part and support the initiative.
As youth, we commend you for all that you continue to do to ensure that South Africa does better in the environmental space. We hope to see these efforts grow. We ask you not to falter, to continue to fight and ensure that South Africa’s natural treasures continue to thrive. The only way for this to happen is for us to SUPPORT the global 30×30 target.
The efforts of South Africa in combination with global efforts under the 30×30 target will ensure that we leave behind a better planet for all…
Please may we request a meeting with you? We would like to share our thoughts and to better understand the reason for South Africa not yet supporting the 30×30 target.
Sincerely,
Kajal Lechman and The Youth of South Africa
by 