Here is the place of youth in the climate change agenda
Sharon Onyango, 28, is an urban climate scientist. Sharon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Landscape Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and a Master’s in Landscape Planning and Conservation from the same university. She is currently a graduate fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) – Africa Centre, Nairobi, where she is sharpening her research skills on environmental and urban climate change. You are an urban climate scientist. What does this field entail? It involves coming up with practical interventions. The scientist collaborates with other professionals such as government agencies, universities, research organisations, and private companies. To enter this field you need to be good in mathematics, English and kiswahili, geography, biology, chemistry and physics. Why did you choose a career in urban climate? How is urban climate science relevant today? How can the national and county governments benefit from the skills of a climate change scientist? With a climate change scientist on board, governments will be able to plan better on how to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, beautify urban areas sustainably, protect biodiversity and cultural heritage, and plan for natural disasters such as floods and fires. Which climate-related threats face the world’s urbanites today? What is Urban Microclimate Modeling and why should counties apply it as a climate change control measure? You participated in the Kenya Climate Atlas Project. What was it all about? What do the research findings mean for Kenyans? What do you think our leaders should do about all this? Similarly, microclimate modeling should be used to identify areas of the city that could benefit from additional green infrastructure and other cooling measures. Different tree species have already been identified as suitable in improving the micro-climate in Nairobi. To collectively reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases globally, everyone must participate in this battle by planting trees, avoiding all forms of pollution, and protecting the remaining biodiversity (both urban and rural). We should also be keen about punishing those who do not adhere to environmental conservation plans. If you were to address the UN Summit on climate change, what would be your key statement? How do you spend your free time?