THE 2016 SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION

The 2016 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines specific demands from South African youth to integrate global sustainability goals into national governance. It calls for increased accountability, educational reform, improved basic services, and economic opportunities, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and social equity.

• The youth call for municipal governments to prioritize the transition to renewable energy by subsidizing the installation of solar panels in all houses and housing projects, while providing education on infrastructure maintenance to align with SDGs 7 and 9.
• To address climate change at the provincial level, the declaration recommends establishing and strengthening strategic units tasked with researching provincial climate effects, coordinating mitigation and adaptation strategies, and promoting the creation of green belts using carbon-storing plants like Spekboom (Portulacaria afra).
• The document urges municipal governments to improve waste management by formalizing informal recycling, rehabilitating landfill sites—specifically citing the Marian Hill Landfill Site in eThekwini for its methane-to-electricity generation—and combating food waste through biofuel and compost services.
• Regarding water and sanitation, the youth recommend continued investment in natural treatment plants, such as the SANBI "Working for Wetlands" project, the adoption of grey-water systems in housing, and the provincial upscaling of waterless toilets in townships and informal settlements.
• The declaration advocates for sustainable food security through the promotion of inner-city vertical gardens, the adoption of climate-adaptable farming methods by commercial farmers, and the use of sustainable fishing methods compliant with the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI).
• The youth demand systemic educational improvements, including universal internet access at the municipal level, the inclusion of indigenous languages in curricula from primary to tertiary levels, and the implementation of free education across all levels in line with SDG 4.
• Economic recommendations include the implementation of tax-free Specialised Economic Zones in rural and coastal areas to drive inclusive growth and the use of Operation Phakisa to develop the blue economy in coastal municipalities.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2016). THE 2016 SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Young-Leaders-Conference-Delaration-2016.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. THE 2016 SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION. 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Young-Leaders-Conference-Delaration-2016.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=THE 2016 SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION |date=30 June 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Young-Leaders-Conference-Delaration-2016.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs20162016, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{THE 2016 SAIIA YOUNG LEADERS DECLARATION}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Young-Leaders-Conference-Delaration-2016.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }