The Role of the Ghana National Youth Policy in Promoting Youth Climate Justice amidst Systematic Challenges

Lord Offei-Darko¹

1. Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.11 , Issue.1 , pp.29-35, Jan-2025

Online published on Jan 31, 2025

Copyright © Lord Offei-Darko . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

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Abstract :
Climate justice is a complex concept encompassing ethical, legal, and political dimensions, emphasizing the need to rectify environmental and social disparities exacerbated by climate change. The Ghana National Youth Policy (GNYP) serves as a foundational policy guide for governmental and non-governmental organizations working on youth-related climate change issues crucial to Ghana`s development. The study utilized a descriptive review, drawing on secondary data sources such as books, articles, and journals to explore knowledge gaps regarding the recognition of climate justice within the GNYP. The findings reveal that the GNYP`s methodologies inadequately address youth climate justice, focusing primarily on youth adaptation to climate change and coping strategies for climatic injustices, diverging from climate justice principles. While the core principles of the GNYP align with Ghana`s development agenda and existing national policies and legislative frameworks, the paper underscores the necessity for reforms or adjustments to comprehensively address youth-related climate change issues within the policy. By evaluating the GNYP`s role on promoting youth climate justice in Ghana, the study offers valuable insights to enhance policies and approaches aimed at promoting climate justice among the country`s young population amidst challenges.

Key-Words / Index Term :
Environmental governance, Youth policy, Climate Justice, Systemic exclusion, Intergenerational equity, Climate vulnerability, Youth empowerment

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