In 2022, Youth4Climate Justice (Y4CJ) proudly joined civil society partners in a powerful public demonstration the Climate Justice Walk organized by organizations including the Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN), ActionAid Zambia, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and other key environmental stakeholders. The walk was held in response to the escalating climate challenges Zambia was facing, including prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and increased environmental degradation.
The Climate Justice Walk served as both a symbolic and practical call to action, bringing together citizens, activists, students, and development partners to raise national awareness on the urgent climate crisis. It also highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized groups, including youth, women, and rural communities whose livelihoods are closely tied to natural resources.
For Y4CJ, participating in the walk was not only about visibility—it was about advocacy. The movement used the platform to push for the long-awaited enactment of the Climate Change Bill, which at the time had remained stalled despite years of consultation and drafting. Youth advocates emphasized the need for a strong legal and institutional framework to guide Zambia’s climate response, enforce environmental regulations, and unlock climate finance.
The walk also spotlighted broader legislative gaps in the environmental sector and called for reforms that reflect the lived realities of Zambians on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Placards, chants, and speeches during the event carried urgent messages on climate justice, environmental rights, and the need for intergenerational equity in policymaking. By taking part in this collective action, Youth4Climate Justice reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots mobilization, inter-organizational solidarity,
and rights-based advocacy. The movement continues to engage in national dialogues and campaigns that aim to hold leaders accountable and ensure that climate policy is inclusive, just, and responsive to the voices of young people.
