Ruth Tanui, a Planeteer, and Co-Founder of Mviringo Africa, attended the 2024 Local Conference of Youth in Berlin, Germany, from October 25th to 27th. This conference aims to gather young climate activists to address pressing environmental issues and develop actionable solutions.
This conference covered a wide range of topics and offered insights into the connections between climate justice, biodiversity, and economic systems. The setting allowed participants to share experiences, learn from expert facilitators, and collaborate on strategies to tackle climate change at both local and global levels. “The importance of climate justice was highlighted,” shares Tanui, “particularly the responsibility of wealthier nations to support vulnerable regions historically affected by climate change.”
Tanui serves as a leader within the Captain Planet Foundation’s Planeteer Alliance. Throughout her time with the organization, she has completed the UNEP Tide Turners Plastic Policy Training, hosted a WIND Summit in July 2023, hosted a FIRE Summit in July 2024, and represented the Planeteer Alliance at the United Nations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
After recently moving from Kenya to Belgium, Tanui attended the Local Conference of Youth to contribute to these valuable conversations surrounding the climate, expand her network, gain professional skills, and bring insights back to Mviringo Africa; an organization she co-founded to tackle environmental issues and promote circularity of resources.
Throughout the conference, Tanui had the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops on systems thinking, which provided new perspectives on climate challenges and the holistic solutions needed to address them.
“This session reinforced my belief in collaborative problem-solving and the power of diverse perspectives in environmental advocacy, highlighting how small-group work can visually map out interactions and identify impactful change opportunities,” says Tanui.
Tanui continues to advocate for ways that young people can make their voices heard within conversations surrounding the climate through participating in conversations in finance, and policy advocacy, and by starting local initiatives. She encourages youth to advocate for climate finance by promoting fair funding at events, schools, and on social media, engaging in youth forums and discussions, and creating local projects that demonstrate the need for climate finance and showcase the positive impacts of funding at the community level.
“The LCOY experience reminded me of the strength in youth collaboration and the essential role young leaders play in shaping climate policy and community resilience,” Tanui shares as she reflects on her experience, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mviringo Africa, Planeteer Alliance, and especially the Captain Planet Foundation for making this opportunity possible and for their unwavering support. Their commitment to empowering young leaders in the fight for climate justice is invaluable, and I look forward to continuing our collective journey toward a more sustainable world.”