Africa-Press – Gambia. Well-managed youth migration can help Africa adapt to climate change and meet its development goals. By Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo
Africa faces a trio of issues that are accelerating youth migration – the youth ‘population bulge’, high unemployment and mounting climate impacts. The ability of young people to move is an important adaptive response to all three.
Youth migration can help Africa adapt to climate change and meet its development goals, if managed well. But if poorly handled, it poses many threats, including persistent unemployment, civil unrest and instability.
Children born in 2020 will face at least twice as many wildfires, crop failures, droughts, floods and heatwaves as those born in 1960. Approximately one billion – or half – of the world’s children live in countries rated as ‘extremely’ high-risk for climate change impacts. About 820 million are exposed to heatwaves, 920 million to water scarcity, and 870 million to cyclones or flooding.
Africa has the world’s largest share of young migrants: a quarter (25%) of Africa’s migrant population is under 18, and 16% are aged 15-24. Meanwhile, Africa’s child (0-14) and youth (16-29) populations are growing (see graph). Currently, 60% of Africans are under 25 years old.
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