South African Youth Researching Their Water Futures

South African high school students take research into their own hands to offer suggestions to Minister Xingwana on tackling water issues.

South African high school students have voiced their thoughts on climate change to Lulu Xingwana, the South African Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities in Durban.

Youth asserted to Minister Xingwana that their voices need to be heard as they handed her the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) Youth Declaration. The Declaration is based on the outcomes from a youth-led research based project of the SAIIA.

One group of students studied the effects of climate change on fresh water, and showcased the affects of water on children. “Every 20 seconds a child dies from water-related disease,” a learner said. “We eat, drink and use water, and we are water. Water is life, and unfortunately it’s decreasing.”

Overpopulation limits access to fresh water. “The more people on the planet, the more demand for goods and services, leading to more greenhouse gas emissions.”

Changing weather patterns cause more frequent storms and disasters in a shorter period of time,. “For every one degree Celsius temperature increase there will be 31% increase of frequency of level one storms,” a student said. Additionally droughts affect agriculture and food security, on which 75% of Africans depend upon.

Both adaptation and mitigation measures are needed. Students suggested the global implementation of advanced weather prediction technologies and the installation of water-usage and indicators in households. “If households want more water, they should be charged with a fine.”

Pollution from sewage, agricultural activities and toxic and chemical waste dumped into rivers make it dangerous for youth to use water in rural areas. This also has health implications with “1.4 million children dying from diarrhoea each year.”

“There is simply no alternative water, we need to take action to preserve water today for tomorrow. We need water to survive. How do we implement these solutions?”

“It’s time our leaders became hands-on and came down to the grassroots level,” students said. “Listen up and take us seriously. We will inherit the earth. Come up with viable solutions at this year’s COP.”

“For those of us that are 50 plus, it’s over, we’ve made our mess.  We must bow out, the children must be involved in policy-making,” Xingwana responded.

“In 50 years when climate change effects are felt, they are the ones that will have to make important decisions on adaptation. It is important that we stop and listen to the children and begin to implement the solutions they have come up with.”