SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION 2022

The SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2022 outlines youth-led demands for climate justice and sustainable development, specifically targeting South Africa's energy transition and the Global South's vulnerabilities. It calls for the urgent implementation of the Just Transition Framework, the removal of the 100MW limit for renewable energy supply from Independent Power Producers, and the integration of youth and marginalized genders into policy writing. Beyond climate, the declaration advocates for the decolonization of African educational curricula, the protection of informal workers, and the eradication of the 'pink tax'. It concludes with pledges from both youth and educators to foster leadership and civic engagement to achieve a more equitable society.

• The youth express concern over South Africa's high per capita emissions, ranking 38th globally at 8.2 tonnes of CO2, and identify power retainment infrastructure and energy storage as primary obstacles to achieving renewable energy goals.
• The declaration demands the immediate implementation of the Just Transition Framework and calls for the Department of Mineral Resources to eliminate the 100MW limit on renewable energy supply for Independent Power Producers.
• There is a call for the international community to adopt restorative justice strategies to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South and a demand for the private sector to decarbonize.
• The document advocates for a gender-inclusive approach to the just transition, noting that marginalized genders are unfairly affected by climate change.
• At a regional level, the declaration calls for the decolonization of African educational curricula through the diversification of coursework, materials, and teachers, and the acknowledgment of cultural history.
• The youth urge the removal of administrative, legal, and fiscal obstacles for the informal sector in Africa, calling for the extension of social security and protection to informal workers and their families.
• The declaration criticizes Europe's return to coal, stating it derails progress toward the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, and demands an immediate halt to new fossil fuel investments in Europe.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2022). SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-2022-1.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION 2022. 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-2022-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION 2022 |date=14 July 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-2022-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2022saiia, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION 2022}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-2022-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }