This Friday, February 24, the organization African Rebirth Burundi officially launched its program "At MUN evenings," with the theme together in the fight against climate change. A question to which Henry Bayaga, legal representative of African Rebirth Burundi, calls on everyone's involvement in confirming that it is an immediate threat. He adds that climate change risks producing severe and irreversible negative effects in the long term.

Alerting to future disasters linked to climate change, Henry Bayaga pleads for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. He promises to continue with awareness campaigns, organize meetings modeled on the world conference on climate change (COP). And conduct field discoveries in order to explain to the population and decision-makers the benefits of environmental protection.

"Our health is not negotiable"

Gathered around a table, more than 10 young leaders, assimilated to country ambassadors at MUNs, question the effectiveness of solutions proposed by different delegates at world conferences on climate change (COP). According to them, practical actions are needed.

At the same time, they submit recommendations to decision-makers in order to request their commitment. For these young participants, adopting policies for the reuse and recycling of plastics while avoiding their discharge in public spaces would be a good thing. Furthermore, strengthen the resilience of health systems to climate risks. And prioritize climate change mitigation measures that have the greatest impacts on health, social and economic levels.

For their part, they have committed at their level to organizing each time a plastic collection campaign not only in the municipality of Bujumbura, but also in the provinces.

It was indeed an opportunity for more than 100 young people present in the room during the launch of the "At MUN evenings" program to make this commitment in turn.

It is time to act, according to ambassador Albert Mbonerane, former Burundian minister of the environment, who encourages participants to take more practical action. According to him, there are already too many resolutions sitting in drawers that have no effect on the environment.

Climate change is responsible for at least 150,000 deaths per year, a figure that should double by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (WHO 2022) report on the impact of climate change on health.

Freddy Bin Sengi

Read: Africa: global warming, a nightmare for the continent