Ghana’s Youth Are Shaping the Climate Adaptation Agenda
Building on the momentum from the first Forum in Uganda, Ghanaian youth are shaping a resilient future through local action, innovation, and leadership.
The Global Center on Adaptation’s (GCA) African Youth Adaptation Forums spotlight bold, youth-led adaptation solutions across the continent, building a powerful network of young changemakers driving climate resilience. Following the success of the Uganda Forum, Ghana carried the momentum forward with the same determination and drive, marking the second of eight Youth Adaptation Forums shaping Africa’s adaptation future this year.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and sea level rise are intensifying climate threats across Ghana, disrupting lives and livelihoods. In response, the Ghana Youth Adaptation Forum plays a vital role in empowering young leaders to drive the urgent solutions their communities need. The Forum, organised by the GCA, the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) and the University of Ghana, showcased how youth across the country are leading locally rooted initiatives, driving policy change, and redefining resilience at the community level. Good practices were shared by Ghanaian changemakers—ranging from water management and agroecology to climate education—highlighting the depth and diversity of youth-led adaptation work. It created a crucial space for amplifying youth voices, exchanging strategies, and building momentum for a more resilient future.
Young people came together and collaborated to draft the Ghana Youth Adaptation Forum Communiqué, outlining key lessons and priorities from the Forum. It underscores the critical role of youth in advancing resilience and calls for targeted support through financing, technical assistance, and mentorship. It calls for stronger intergenerational collaboration to align policy with youth-driven ideas and reinforces that adaptation must be inclusive, equitable, and locally led. The Forum concluded with a unified demand for increased adaptation finance, particularly for youth-led solutions, alongside expanded climate education, green jobs, innovation, and meaningful youth participation in decision-making. Read the full communiqué here:
To explore the impact of the Forum and Ghana’s broader youth-led adaptation movement, Blaise Bethel and Glory Emmanuella Appiah of GYEM, co-organisers of the event, shared their insights on mobilising young people, building resilience, and driving change at the community level.
The core mission of GYEM is to bring young people together and empower them with the tools and knowledge needed to address the climate crisis and other environmental challenges they face. Glory Emmanuella described GYEM’s vision of a just and sustainable world, one with clean air, clean water, protected land and oceans, and access to food and energy where every community is supported. She also spoke of how GYEM encourages young people to be original in their advocacy and the importance of drawing from African traditional knowledge and Nature Based Solutions to shape a contextually relevant response to climate change.
This vision came to life in 2023, when disaster struck in 2023 with the Akosombo Dam spillage, GYEM’s youth-led model proved its power in action. Having empowered over 10,000 young people across Ghana, including those in rural and peri-urban areas, GYEM showed how young leaders can step up in times of crisis. In Mepe, members of GYEM mobilized quickly, not only providing immediate relief but also organizing disaster risk reduction training to equip local youth with early warning tools and emergency preparedness strategies. Appiah emphasised, “We believe in supporting young people not just with aid, but with the knowledge and confidence to lead their own responses.”
Despite funding constraints, a challenge familiar to many youth organisations, GYEM turned adversity into opportunity by transforming their flagship agroforestry project into an innovative social enterprise. The demonstration farm produces vegetables and other crops, with proceeds reinvested into the farm and channelled into GYEM’s core work. This model not only supports local communities and the environment but also embodies GYEM’s commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable impact.
Speaking about the Youth Adaptation Forum, Appiah explained that it offers young people, many from communities without electricity or clean water, a chance to help shape the global conversation on climate adaptation. “It helps restore their belief that they can fight for a better environment, a better climate, and a better future,” she shared. The Forum gives Ghanaian youth a real sense of purpose and a tangible role in the adaptation movement. “Throughout the planning process, our youth were given a real voice. They didn’t just show up, they helped shape the agenda. They were exposed to global leaders and new opportunities.” What stood out most to her most was how young people were not just recognised as participants, but as decision-makers. “This kind of engagement makes it clear: youth don’t just deserve a seat at the table; they belong at the centre of the conversation.”
In closing, Blaise and Glory expressed their hope for the future. “We’re not giving up,” Blaise emphasized. “Adaptation is not surrender; it’s a strategy. One that must go hand-in-hand with justice and accountability.” He affirmed that Africa’s greatest strength lies in its youth: “This is the most youthful continent on Earth. That alone is a source of hope. When we have platforms like this where we can learn, connect, and organize, we’re not just preparing for our future. We’re shaping it.”
Following the success of the Youth Adaptation Forum in Ghana, the journey continues with exciting opportunities ahead. Insights from the Forum will feed directly into key climate policy platforms like UNFCCC SB62 where the next Youth Adaptation Forum will take place on 24th June, ensuring that youth-led solutions remain at the forefront of climate discussions.
The Youth Adaptation Network Open Call also presents a vital opportunity for youth organizations in Africa to contribute their innovative ideas and shape the global adaptation agenda. Find out more about how to apply below:
Individuals can also join the largest Youth Adaptation Network in Africa by signing up here:
The path forward is clear, youth will lead the way in driving lasting change, and GCA is committed to supporting and amplifying their voices on the global stage.
The ideas presented in this article aim to inspire adaptation action – they are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Global Center on Adaptation.
