In March 2019 40 young African change makers from 11 countries across the continent came together in South Africa with their counterparts from the United Kingdom. The aim was to provide a platform for the emerging generation of leaders to discuss how individuals, societies, and governments can become more resilient in their responses to climate change.
Calling themselves the #Resilient40, this next generation of leaders created a network to build momentum to face this threat and to improve climate resilience across Africa, a momentum fuelled by strong cross-continent connections representing a renewed and modern UK-African partnership. They discussed how the climate crisis is already affecting them and their societies, and developed ideas for solutions to increase resilience to face the threats ahead, sharing expertise across the continent. Each individual committed to taking their own actions to build resilience to climate change, equipped by the conference with knowledge, insights, and tools to allow them to mobilise their communities to increase resilience to climate change.
This second meeting of the #Resilient40 will enable the expanded #Resilient40 to develop their platform to influence African and international negotiations responding to climatic change in Africa, including contributing to the UK preparations for COP 26. Discussions will allow the group to formulate key next steps and a framework for continuing and strengthening the network’s impact, as well as providing space for the emerging young leaders to share expertise and ideas from across the continent and with those from the UK. It will build on the regional and cross-continent relationships sparked in March 2019 and strengthen new connections.
