Alakoka Kailahi: ‘African countries are more connected with their resource than many of the developed countries’

'Alakoka Kailahi, the Communication Committee Lead, Newsletter Editor and Media Designer of Climate Reality Project is one of the distinguished youth environmental activists in the United States in general and the Bay Area Chapter specifically.

 

 

 

On the role of social media to eliminate climate change illiteracy `Alakoka said to Egypt Today that there is another side to social media where individuals can highlight things that they care about most.

 

 

“A lot of people understand that their actions can affect their current environment, so although not everyone knowsmuch about climate change and ecological systems, they do know if their friend is being affected by the climate crisis.”

 

`Alakoka shared social media  provides the  a visual aspect  showing on how things are really happening and what they look like today.

 

“We use social media to promote what we can do to save the planet,” `Alakoka said.

 

 further added that our `Alakoka community that is addicted to overabundance and the absorption use of fossil fuels, and because we just love our current way of life.

 

 

“ If we think more about the future, the nation's economic systems could have been be shifted, which will would help us to fight climate change."

 

 

Alakoka said that when she was a young teenager she knew about climate change, but she didn't think it was a big deal that required fast action.

 

Pertaining to the recent changes `Alakoka has witnessed in the environmental sector in the recent years, she said that the pandemic actually catalyzed the effects of climate change.

 

The pandemic negatively affected many of the developing countries compared to those that were already developedmore established nations.

 

“I think it's important to note that you don't have to be an environmentalist or a climate activist to make a change, you just need to encourage people to make a change or adjust themselves slightly,. I think that is part of one of the greatest changes I've seen,”  `Alakoka said.

 

`Alakoka added that through social media we are more able to see the destructive effects of climate change.

 

`Alakoka added agrees that youth are a key factor in the solution of theclimate change crisis. “When I think about youth, I think about kids, teens, young adults, and [how] they actually have unique views on climate change issues” compared to many adults today. 

 

 `Alakoka added that youth are the future so they deserve to have a powerful voice "because honestly, youth make up 25% of the entire population, but they're 100% able to make a solution."

 

 “So I really encourage youth to step up and be in the center stage. I think another important aspect I want to talk about is that It's really important to have future entrepreneurs, future politicians, and future diplomats because these people are going to make the new foundation of climate change that we don't have yet today.”

 

`Alakoka added that the developed countries nations that contributed the most to carbon emissions should financially support developing countries who are  have been severely affected by the consequences of climate change, and yet contribute the least to amount of carbon emissions.

 

`Alakoka said that Egypt is the first developing nation in Africa to host aCOP 27.

 

“So I think that speaks volumes because Egypt is a country located in Africa, the one [continent] that's most affected by climate change.”

 

 `Alakoka added that Egypt is a developing country trying to make a difference that has the tools to make a change in their existing systems, so it is important to recognize that.

 

“But another cool thing is that African countries are more connected with their resources than many of the developing countries today.”