Collective Action Towards a Climate-Smart Future
Collective action towards a climate-smart future requires all human being to believe in the adverse effect of climate change and create actions to curb it.
Revamp Rave Network held her virtual valedictory event for the first Virtual Cohort Programme on Climate Change on the 11th of July, 2020. It was a valedictory event to champion more climate action and amplify voices for nature, themed COLLECTIVE ACTION TOWARDS A CLIMATE-SMART FUTURE.
The event had participants across the world, featuring:
· Guest of Honour: Dr Paul Abolo (President, Ecologistics Integrated Services) from Nigeria
· Special Guests: Pavithra Mohanraj (Circular Economy Specialist) from India
· Lars Olesen (Senior Sustainability Specialist), Johannah Maher (CEO ImpactR) from
· Thomas Bisballe (Co-founder ImpactR) from
· Discussants: Fatou Jeng (Founder — Clean Energy Gambia) from The Gambia
· Nadine Khaouli (Youth Delegate, UNDP Lebanon) from Lebanon.
· The tutors and participants of the programme, from across Africa and the world
· Other guests.
The founder of Revamp Rave Network, Abimbola Abikoye, expressed her gratitude to everyone who made it to the event, taking time to celebrate with the valedictorians and the organization. She stated that the idea of the Virtual Cohort Programme on Climate Change came during the first lockdown in Nigeria in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
The inspiration to push further to bring to life the idea was forced by the zeal to continue the climate change momentum, leveraging the “stay at home” period to create more awareness about Climate Change to bring youth participation for climate action. Abimbola said “there are lots of Climate problems out there to solve and it is within our capacity to solve it. All we need is to take responsibility through collective action.
Mohammed Mahmood Maishanu, the moderator for the event, mentioned that design thinking and strategy would help us define whatever role we want to solve. We need to get something of value to present using appreciative intelligence to engage in Climate Advocacy.
Dr Paul Abolo (President, Ecologistics Integrated Services), was highly impressed with the way young people are working hard, bringing about Climate Justice. He hopes his generation and the younger generation will continue to involve themselves in Climate Action. He said, sustaining our survival on planet Earth is in our hands. He concluded saying “wherever people expressed themselves what is seen is innovation/ creativity”.
Lars Olesen (Senior Sustainability Specialist), was delighted to be part of the event. He encouraged everyone to challenge the power structure and underline systems that created climate crises, creating the kind of world we want. He said for us to attain the kind of world we want, we need to collaborate, have a clear vision of where we are going keeping in mind the kind of future we want.
Pavithra Mohanraj (Founder of Infinitive), was impressed with the excellent work the organization is doing, and she explicitly spoke about the circular economy. Pavithra encouraged everyone to be involved in the circular economy. She said ‘our world is a world of opportunity and there are lots of it out there, full of questions with a room for lots of disruptions.” She advised everyone to capitalize on opportunities bringing about changes in the world.
Johannah Maher (CEO ImpactR), Congratulated founder of Revamp Rave Network and the programme’s curator. She went further to congratulate all the valedictorians for pushing to learn about Climate Change, encouraging people to drive change in the world and the environment. Her clear message was that we all are to be optimistic because change is possible, and all our actions count towards it, even the small ones. She told everyone to have some fun while they changed the world.
Nadine Khaouli (Youth Delegate, UNDP Lebanon) one of the discussants congratulated the valedictorian. She said, “it’s not too late to talk about Climate Change, learn something new and take action”. We are responsible for mother nature. Therefore, we should take responsibilities, leverage on innovation and the importance of expressing resilience and solidarity in the on-going pandemic.
Some of the virtual programme tutors present at the ceremony expressed their gratitude and emphasized the urgency to be serious about climate change, how to take an active part in climate action, collaboration among climate actors, and to bring about climate resilience.
Elizabeth Gulugulu, (Project Coordinator, AYICC) mentioned that Covid-19 would not stop us from advocating for climate justice or environmental justice. It is up to us to study more and continue to engage with other people in the space (climate change cycle). She mentioned that the space is too ample and can accommodate all of us, and there are lots of components in the climate cycle that one can venture.
She encouraged everyone to understand their determined contributions as individuals and how best they can participate in policy issues. She concluded by saying “policies shape us, and it is important to start talking about climate policies”.
Ifeoma Okonkwo The importance to educate others about climate change is vital. She stated that “ignorance and denial can be a barrier to action, when neighbours are not acting their inaction also play a role in contributing to climate change, the sooner we act, the better the future”.
Albert Kure advised the participants to contextualize their solutions and perspective to suit realities bringing about effective and efficient impact.
Deborah Anumenechi stated that Climate Change is broad and a cross-sectional issue; therefore, it is wise to pick a path and stick to it — picking a path will help focus more and get more impact.
Moreover, Azeez Salawu, Azeezat Yishawa and Javier Morandeira gave their advice to the participants, encouraging them to become changemakers and not relent in bringing about Climate Action.
Through a short video collage, the valedictorians shared their experiences gained from the virtual programme, appreciating the organization for initiating such action.
Temiloluwa Vaughan gave the closing remark by appreciating everyone. He said “it been a fantastic time well spent with the Network. We all need to start doing something, educating people, and I hope together we can raise our voices for more climate action.
