Youth Activism, Intentional Integration of Policies to Raise Awareness on Climate Change Action among the Youth

The aim of this study was to examine how youth activism, when intentionally integrated into policy frameworks, can raise awareness and drive meaningful action on climate change among young people in Wa Municipal. It focuses on empowering youth to become active participants in environmental advocacy and informing local policymakers on how to include youth voices in climate planning. The study also aims to support climate education, build youth leadership, and strengthen collaborations between local government, civil society, and youth organizations. The objectives for this study were to influence climate change policy programming and development, promote active youth participation in combating climate change vulnerabilities, and to advocate for a well-defined strategic policy role for youth in addressing climate change problems at the national and local levels. This study geographically focused on Wa Municipality in Northern Ghana, an area vulnerable to climate-related challenges like drought and erratic rainfall. The study explores various forms of youth engagement and assesses the extent to which these efforts are supported or limited by existing policies and institutional structures. An exploratory mixed-method approach was used for field data collection. Both qualitative and quantitative primary data were collected using the simple random sampling technique for youth respondents and the purposive sampling technique for institutional respondents. Fourteen questionnaires were distributed to public institutions, while ninety-four questionnaires were distributed to youth respondents. The data were analyzed using the Data tab Software, Excel, and Bar Graphs to create illustrations. Findings revealed there is considerable knowledge of the existence of climate change but limited representation in formal climate policy-making. Many of them lack access to reliable climate information and platforms for meaningful participation. The study highlights a disconnect between local policies and youth needs, resulting in missed opportunities for innovation and resilience. The study calls for stronger institutional support, and policy integration

Youth activism, Climate change, Climate vulnerabilities

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