Climate Conversations 101: Understanding the science of climate change 

We hosted our inaugural event as part of the #Mogadishu ClimateConversations series on August 3, 2023. This online webinar, titled “Understanding the Science of Climate Change,” was led by the distinguished guest speaker, Reakelitsoe Molapo. The session aimed to educate and empower young individuals passionate about climate change and environmental sustainability in Somalia. Through this event, we aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the scientific aspects of climate change and inspire meaningful action. Participants were invited to join via provided Zoom link, welcoming both local and virtual attendees to learn, unlearn, and lead climate action within Somalia and beyond. The event’s moderator, Mohamed Okash, director of the ICE Institute, guided the conversation, ensuring a fruitful and enlightening experience for all. 

Please note: The first 10 minutes of the session were captured in the recording due to technicalities, but the subsequent conversation with Rex is preserved, providing crucial context and insights.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Southern Africa is on the front lines of the real impacts of climate change. We’ve been seeing the floods happening. We’ve been seeing the El Nino drought.

Now we also have another That’s been forecasted for our region. And then we’ve just seen it all. We’ve seen pretty much everything from extreme weather events. To like sudden changes happening. So, yeah, if people were where they used to be, and then when you have intergenerational dialogues with the elders, they will tell you that things are different from when they were growing up. So, yeah.

Mohamed Okash:

Yeah, I agree with you. The fact that things are changing, that this natural ecosystem is declining. The amount of rainfall has decreased. The amount of food production has decreased. So, I think if you ask anyone who have lived more than 30 years when you ask to compare the life they had in the past and the life they had now is different.

In line with only the natural ecosystem. You mentioned the IPCC. So I want to clarify for our audience. IPCC is an intergovernmental panel on climate change. It’s a UN body that would compromise many global top leading scientists on climate issues. They produce assessment annual assessments.

They recently produced their sixth assessment, which you confirm. There is a summary on our website on ICE Institute. So, thank you, Rex.

Rex, this also brings me to my next question. Whenever there’s a conversation on climate change or climate crisis the most common, the most integrated question becomes who’s responsible for climate change?

Is it mankind? Is it a natural phenomenon, or is it caused by the global south or developed economies?

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

This one is tricky because there’s a lot of finger-pointing and blame that is happening out there in the international community. And in some instances, rightfully so, to say, yes, if my home country, for instance (I’m sorry, I’ll keep referring to Lesotho because that’s where I come from, and this is where I live and see everything). If my home country is said not to be one of the biggest emitters. or contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. And then another country somewhere across the globe is doing way much more. Of course, I should be pointing a finger at them to say, you are messing up our house. You are messing up our house and you should do something about it.

But. I never want, to take that directionally and say, okay, it’s whomever who’s doing whatever. I feel like that conversation is not necessarily going to take us forward. We know the changes are here. We’re already experiencing that. How can we collectively try and mitigate the problem or try and come up with solutions?

So. Yes, we know the biggest emitters. Thiously being one of the big ones. I don’t want to name countries, but, what I want us to n is the fact that the change is happening and it’s happening at an accelerated rate as opposed to the past and coming to a point you mentioned about, some people would say it’s a natural phenomena and whatever.

Yes, the climate has been changing forever. However, what now is alarming is the rate at which it is heading. It’s the e at which extreme weather events are happening. So, and then when the scientists are trying to assess, when they assess, they realize that we as human beings through our industrial activities, and we’re contributing to the change that we’re seeing.

So, that’s how I’d best respond to that. To say, we know who the big emitters are, yes. And they are held indeed, countable and take responsibility in terms of assisting. That’s where the loss and damage conversations come in now why it’s big on our agenda for all the international meetings and conferences that are happening now and the activists also pushing for that.

People are doing right. However, I think we all have to collectively try and find a solution because this house is messed up for all of us, so there won’t be time to be pointing fingers and saying, Oh, this one is not doing whatever, whatever, but wherever we can be able to contribute in terms of mitigating or if we have to adapt, then we should be doing that.

Mohamed Okash:

Yeah. Thank you very much for mentioning that. But it is both a natural phenomenon and a man-made crisis, but the scale of climate change has gone very fast due to human activities. And it’s also true that world polluters are majorly responsible for polluting the world, which is caused by global warming.

Indeed, we will not mention names or finger-pointing, but, probably they could be the G20s. Or G seven or most of the developed countries., you also talked about it’s more important to find a common ground to find a solution together. So which is international cooperation. And so what do you think?

What are the best possible ways or approaches we can solve the climate crisis? Whether we are individuals or institutions or a nation. What do you think? Okay. Well, I think there are many things we can do. Like you said, at individual institutional and national, and international levels.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

So. Personally, I think, as young people, we can do grassroots activations and activities like planting trees, we know how Africa’s forests, and even conserving the other still present forests, because we know how they are the major role that they play in carbon sequestration and, and trying to then reforest where they have been cut down for whatever reasons.

That’s part of individual acts that people can take. And then also, of course, the known things like trying to reduce our carbon emissions, our carbon footprint, and all of that. However, I feel like there’s another important side that we as young people also have to look at, which is the advocacy side and also the policy influencing area, I believe that’s part of what we can also do in our home countries and also at national and even at international level to try and influence at a policy level, that’s where the big decisions are being made on how we’re going to move sustainably manner. So by young people being part of such conversations,  I believe it is very, very important because it will give a youth perspective, but also allow us to influence some of the big decisions that are being made on issues that are going to affect us. So, my recommendation is for us to continue doing the grassroots activities, the little that we can do. I believe that the small acts when done by lots and lots of people, end up and become big. And have a bigger impact. So it’s, it’s not okay for people to say, Oh, this is too big for us. We cannot necessarily be able to combat it. However, if we view it from the lens of the little eggs adding up and they can add up to have a bigger impact at the end of the day that will help us.

So it’s important for us to do this at an individual level, but also influence even at the higher levels of the decision-making processes. And yeah, push for change, as we’ve seen some other young people do globally. And even here on the continent. So yeah.

Mohamed Okash:

it’s very true. I must be moved by words mentioning how the small actors, add up together and make a bigger impact.

So thank you for inspiring fellow young people, the fellow Africans. You mentioned. Being part of the conversation, one of the biggest conversations is COP. Now we are anticipating COP28, in UAE. What do you think, could be? The major issues or concerns could be discussed there.

What do you think we can share with the world leaders to discuss the various issues affecting our communities at the grassroots level? And how, and how, and how young people can be part of those conversations.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Okay, I’ll start with this one about how we can be part of the conversations.

It’s quite tricky. Because there’s a bit of, like a bit of resistance sometimes in terms of our national governments and the authorities or the decision makers to want to include young people at the decision-making table. However, I think we likely continue to, press and, and push and start to organize ourselves as young people, such that we’re able to have a unified voice.

That can have a bigger impact as we’re advocating for these issues. So one big thing I’d say for us is to mobilize ourselves and then to organize ourselves and coordinate and then build that united youth voice on such issues so that we can be heard as opposed to people going as individuals.

And then secondly, to push to be in these decision-making processes. If in your home country. There’s like a negotiating team that goes to negotiate. You should push for youth to be part of the delegation that’s doing that. Push for young people to be capacitated in such areas because of anyways.

The bait is going to be passed on to us. And tomorrow we are leaders today. Yes, of course, but we’re also going to be leaders tomorrow when the older people are long gone, and we have to have an idea of what it is that we’re dealing with and how to address these issues. So I think. That’s, that’s how we can push to be part of these conversations, by infiltrating the spaces where the decisions are made.

If, if they don’t give you an opportunity, you should knock on their doors and be nonsense to them, which is what I’m pretty much doing here at home. I’m pushing for such. We’re also trying to organize ourselves to create a youth network that never existed before on climate issues. There’s a, there’s a committee that I sit on a national climate committee that I sit on now and for us to get into it was challenging because, for the many years that that committee existed, it never had youth representation.

And so what we’ve been doing is to mobilize ourselves and to press on and to say, we want to be in those rooms and eventually they will open the door. So I think that’s part of what young people can do to try and push for such and, Iur own chair if they don’t give you one, that’s part of what it’s really about, and then now writing position papers and also influencing and saying we need youth representation in all of these, and then to say, what are the key issues that I feel like young people.

Especially from sub-Saharan Africa would want the decision-makers to pay attention to it. COP 28, they’re quite a number, but I think the reality is the loss and damage for me as a person, mainly because like we already discussed the impacts We’re already feeling right now today and the most vulnerable countries like our own that are at least developed or like, yes, they’re not.

At a level where they can be able to adjust to these rapid and massive changes that are happening that are impacting our economies and affecting us in so many other different ways, we see all of these negative externalities. So, I think that surreally a big one, and for us to continue advocating for that to say.

We need a budget. We need clear numbers that are being committed or upon say this is how much we’re going to give so that then climate issues are being addressed. So yeah, climate finance more than anything to be funneled into our And then where we can mitigate be able to mitigate.

So for me, that’s one of the big ones. And then, of course, because I’m also in the climate education space, that’s another huge one that I feel like we need to invest more in. And that’s what we should be talking about. How do we ensure that we leave no one behind in terms of sensitization and being educated?

Because then when people are educated and informed. They’ll make better decisions for the planet itself. And then also they will be able to, to adjust in a better way. So yeah, that’s, that’s a big one for me. The people are most affected. They need to be in the norm.

Mohamed Okash:

Yeah, definitely. Very true. I couldn’t agree with you more.

Q&A Session

Mohamed Okash:

Thank you very much, Rex. we have reached, the last few minutes for conversation. I would love to ask the audience. Both those who are joining us physically and those online, if you have any comments or questions raise their hands, and for those who are joining physically, please. Keep showing your hands so we could give you the floor to ask questions.

Ali: a participant:

Thank you. And thanks, Rex, for the remarkable session, especially for giving some insights on climate effects. Sort of climate agenda to the youth.

I’m interested in understanding how we can engage the private sector in addressing the climate crisis, especially to youth groups. Are there any strategies or lessons learned that we can replicate? While I’m aware of global policies and agendas on climate change, I’m particularly curious about local approaches and connections that can involve the private sector in mitigating climate impacts. If you have any stories or examples from your country that could provide valuable insights, I would greatly appreciate it.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Thank you so much, Ali, for that question. From my perspective, I see the private sector participating more from a climate finance angle. Because, they Act as profit entities, and then they have the financial muscle.

They should be investing more in climate solutions 

We’re working with one private sector company here in Lesotho that is looking to take climate action and improve its sustainability agenda here in the country. And that, We saw ways in which we could mutually benefit from our collaboration. And so we went and pitched a project to them.

We had a concept note we created to say, this is how we feel you can become part of what we’re doing, and you can assist us to scale our impact and to reach more people in the country. And that’s pretty much how we’ve been doing it ourselves on our end and by engaging with the private sector.

So, for now, most of it, I see them as coming in from an angle of really just like financing some of our projects and the initiatives in this space and creating the creation of green jobs and supporting such initiatives. So, I don’t know if that answers your question, Ali. So, what I can say is that, with the private sector, I’ve seen that the conversation becomes worthwhile when you also present them with the benefits. Instead of just pointing fingers and blaming them for whatever contributions they’ve done or what they’re not doing, going to them from a perspective of this is how we can mutually benefit from this.

Yes, you can do it as a CSR project, CSR project. We can also build a business case for it to say, this is how your company can also actually make money out of this. I’ve seen that receptive to such an approach and then they are more willing to engage. So, yeah, I’d say that’s how I would advise that you approach them. And ensure that we incorporate them in such important conversations because anyways, there’s no business when, when the environment is degraded and we’re having floods and we’re having challenges and problems because, at the end of the day, society depends on the environment, for economic activities.

So it’s that cycle of interdependence and showing people that and, and, and helping to build a business case around that. Helps them to see things differently. So, yeah, 

Ali: a participant:

That was useful, Thank you, Rex.

mukhtar adan, a participant:

I’m delighted and honored to participate, and I have a question regarding the connection between music and climate change. You mentioned earlier that music plays a significant role in understanding climate change, and I found that point quite astonishing. Could you please elaborate on the key issues that link music and climate change? Specifically, what are the important aspects that connect these two domains?

Mohamed Okash:

Maybe we could take a couple of questions. Then then I’ll give you the floor. Rex. Is there any other question?

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

 Okay.

Abdikafi participant:

Thank you, Mohammed and Rex, for the insightful and cool presentation. The way you encouraged youth to take action against climate change in their respective countries was truly impressive. Many of the students and young people here aspire to be climate advocates at the national or international level, just like you are now, as you serve as an inspiration to many. Your recommendations have been outstanding.

Now, there are two questions from the participants. 

The first question is: What recommendations would you give to young people who want to become climate advocates on a national or international stage? 

And the second question pertains to the fact that a significant portion of the population in Africa, particularly in Eastern Africa, resides in rural areas. Unfortunately, these individuals, who are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, have limited knowledge about it. So, what role do you think the youth should play in advocating for and educating people in rural areas about climate change? 

Additionally, what recommendations do you have for reaching out to rural communities? 

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Okay, I’m going to start with Abdikafi’s questions and then I’ll move on to the next between music and climate. 

So, one how to reach people in the rural areas. Or the people who are least informed most times about these issues, which,  but bear them the most prominent brand of like, the crisis we’re facing, which is the climate crisis.

I think the best way really to do it is through activism. And, and just. And grassroots action, as I said earlier, I’ll just refer to how we started. We identified the problem in the communities that we were working with, or we were engaging with, and then we went out there. We kind of did a baseline study some sort of like a survey, to try and understand what the challenges or where the gaps are.

And then we came back with our interventions, trying to solve those gaps that we had identified through our baseline study. So that’s, those are some of the ways that you could pretty much do it. Going out there and taking action and being on the ground, identifying what the. Challenges are hearing from the people, and doing consultations.

And not just assuming, yes, of course, by being there or living there or understanding the culture in your country, you might have an idea, but it’s also important to engage with the people you’re trying to assist or with the people who are most directly affected by the problem you’re trying to solve for.

So for me, what are the pieces of advice for you to just go out there, take action? Consult with the people, and engage with the people so that you can be able to come up with the best solutions that are relevant and place-based. And then to how people can start doing the work that I’m doing. I don’t even think I’m one big activist.

Yeah, but I’ve been doing it for a few years now and how I pretty much started was literally what I said once again, starting where I was. taking action, saying, okay, there’s a problem. And as cliche as it is for people to say, be the change that you want to see. That’s pretty much how I started. I was like, oh, there are problems here.

There are problems there. Oh, oh. And then I started trying to plug those. Loopholes that I was identifying in my community and the other different parts of my home country. As I said, I work exclusively mostly with youth and children from rural and peri-urban areas. And it requires us to go out there into those communities because they are more in remote areas.

So, that’s how you do it. You just start doing the work, you start mobilizing, you start taking action. And sometimes people will start recognizing you and saying, Oh, oh my gosh, this is what you do. Oh, speak to Rex. Oh, we have whatever, something like this. We want to engage young people. Can you speak to Rex about this and that?

And so you will be recognized for the work that you’re already doing in the action that you’re already taking. And that’s where pretty much all of us start. I, I think to be before as young people. Some start, yes, in the policy arena, but most of us, start at the grassroots level. And then once you build a bit of traction in that area, you start moving to say, ah, I can start in the advocacy space.

I can start influencing policies. So yeah, that’s the answer. I hope I answered your question well. And then, little thing. What I think is, that, the vision should not necessarily be, how do I become the biggest activist that ever existed? I think the biggest vision that one should have is to say, how, what are the problems?

And once you start solving the problems, then you’ll start getting the recognition and you will start being invited to participate in certain spaces because that’s pretty much what you’ve been advocating and working for, The music, climate, and access. 

We could just look at climate anxiety and mental health issues that are centered around the climate crisis.  music can play a pivotal role in there to be a source of comfort and solace for people and to help them try and deal better with the anxiety that comes with the climate anxiety that we know does exist and then, of course. The fact that it’s able to demystify like I said earlier, complex topics and also break them down.

I see how it connects to climate and cultural representation. People can relate to people to take action that become to take action. And of course, social justice movements from the past music. And we’ve seen it even with this current crisis that we’re facing in today’s world, which is the climate crisis, music can play A very pivotal role in ensuring that we educate, we sensitize, and we also inspire people to take action because it also can appeal to people’s emotions, which is important in this conversation.

Also. So, yeah, I don’t know if I addressed it. Yeah, 

Mohamed Okash:

I’m sure you did well. Okay. It’s been more than almost an hour. If you don’t mind, we could borrow more than just 10 minutes to conclude the conversation. Is it okay with you, Rex? 

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Yes, I’m happy with that. Thank you very much. So let me take the last question from Abdulkadir.

Abdulkadir a participant:

Hello, my name is Abdulkadir, and I’m actively involved in the private sector, specifically in the energy sector. I would like to raise a question regarding the numerous global meetings that have been taking place recently, such as the Paris Agreement and other general meetings. My question pertains to the responsibility for implementing the policies and decisions that arise from these international gatherings. I’m curious to know who is accountable for executing these policies on the ground. In other words, I’m seeking clarification on the practical implementation of the policies derived from these meetings. Thank you.

Mohamed Okash:

Yeah. Thank you. If I rephrase your question. I think it is because there are many global conversations. There’s a party, there’s COP 27, and so on those resolutions that are responsible to translate into action in the local community, the local grounds.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

So. It’s challenging to say because I think as somebody who’s also participated, I want to say this before I answer the question real quick. As somebody who’s been participating in quite many conferences also, I’ve kind of gotten to a point of conference fatigue, because I feel like most of them are talk shops that don’t have a real impact on the ground, and we go and attend all of these.

We tick the box off, oh, we attended this, we did that. And then there’s not much on the ground that’s, that’s being done. However, at the same time I’m like, okay, it’s still relevant for us to continue meeting. It’s just that we need to scale up. The action part of things we need to take action on and need to implement and whose responsibility is that?

I believe  It’s everybody’s responsibility. However, at a higher level our governments being the member states and being co-signees and the ratifiers of some of these agreements, need to ensure Some form of localization of, whatever agreements are being done in those spaces.

And then we will also come in as like civil society and private sector, of course, which was mentioned earlier and in different parts of society coming into to support and implement, but I feel like governments are the ones that are supposed to create an enabling environment to start with to say, okay, you know, We have these.

I’ll make a quick example. We attended the LDC5 conference with Mohammed here in March, and there’s a document there that goes together with that called the DPOA, which is called the Doha Program of Action. It’s more of a document that’s going to guide. The list of developed countries on how they are going to implement to achieve their developmental goals.

And in our case, when we got here at home as young people who are participating in that conference, we were knocking at our government’s door to say, Hey, what is it that you’re doing? What action are you taking to ensure the successful implementation of the DPOA? And then how are you involving young people?

Thank you. So somehow also holding like these powers that be accountable and being a nuisance, like for real being a nuisance and saying we want to know what you’re doing, how we can plug in, how you’re going to involve us and how we can help in coming up with solutions to countries. That’s the best way I see it.

And that’s why I say maybe it’s everybody’s responsibility. It’s not just for the government. It’s not just for civil society or the private sector, but it’s all of us joined together, working together to ensure that We, we reach whatever goals we’ve set for ourselves regarding those, but, you know, even if the government doesn’t do much as young people were already doing the work on the ground, trying to localize the SDGs while working together with other international development partners who are serious about making an impact.

So it’s everybody’s responsibility to ensure that all of these are ratified and it’s within your right as a young person in your home country, whichever agreements that your country has ratified and you’re not seeing progress in that. To identify that and press them to say, we want to know what you’re doing in this direction.

You signed up or whatever in whatever. Yeah. What’s the progress maybe that element of ability can also help to accelerate things in that area. So, yeah.

Conclusion remarks 

Mohamed Okash:

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you very much. That is so you, you nailed answered the questions, and thank you very much. we conclude our program.

It’s been a true and pure pleasure, to have a conversation with you, and I’m sure you inspired many people. You awakened many souls this afternoon, and this conversation is being recorded. We will share. Across our social media platforms. So, so many young people could learn from, your conversation.

So, thank you, Rex. Before we conclude, what is your final thought? Would you, your final remarks?

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Okay, I talk a lot. So, I would say a lot and then we’d go for another hour, but, just to wrap up, I want to say thank you so much for inviting me to have such a platform. And I’m glad that we’re having these necessary conversations around climate. But I think as somebody who’s working in the artistic space, I want to say it’s important for us to incorporate creative and innovative approaches in the solutions that we’re trying to come up with to solve any challenges that we’re facing today, as the world, and of course, for our home countries. So I want to urge you and challenge you to think outside the box and to do things that don’t seem conventional. Yeah, so for us, we’re using music.

Whatever it is you can identify in your area of influence, use that to drive change and to have an impact. It’s important for us as young people to be innovative. 

Mohamed Okash:

yeah, thank you. Use whatever you can use to drive change in our local communities. So that is the major takeaway. And that also aligns with our motto at the Institute, Driving Climate Action.

So thank you very much. We are in the same fight, we are in the same cause, and we will meet again to empower more young people and align our actions for a wider impact. So thank you very much, Rex. To meet again.

Reekelitsoe Molapo:

Thank you so, so much. I hope I can participate in the other ones that you will have with other speakers.

We will email you. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you so much to everyone.

Mohamed Okash:

Bye bye. Thank you.

If you want to watch the recording, please click this link! or if you want to download the presentation, click here!