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Nkosilathi Nyathi

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Nkosilathi Nyathi
Born2003 (age 21–22)
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
NationalityZimbabwean
Years active2014–present
Known forClimate advocacy
Awards
  • UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe in 2015
  • Officially appointed UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe for 2020 & Beyond.Named Zimbabwe's finest Citizen in 2022 by President Emmason Munangagwa.

Nkosilathi Nyathi (born 2003) is a Zimbabwean climate activist and UNICEF Climate Advocate. He has been involved in promoting Zimbabwe's climate and environmental agenda from an early age. Through his work, he has sought to inspire young Zimbabweans to take active roles in mitigating the impacts of climate change within their communities.

Nyathi began his activism by using visual media to document the effects of environmental challenges such as drought, flooding, and soil erosion in his hometown of Victoria Falls. His documentary work has highlighted the socio-economic damage caused by climate change and brought attention to the lived experiences of affected communities.

In addition to receiving several awards for his activism, Nyathi is known for his public speaking abilities and youth engagement. As a representative of UNICEF Zimbabwe, he has advocated for climate action at international platforms including the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid and the African Regional Summit on Sustainable Development. He co-leads a school green club and regularly participates in global virtual discussions aimed at empowering youth on climate issues.

Nyathi has travelled extensively to countries including France, Spain, Germany, the United States, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire in connection with his advocacy work.

He is considered one of the youngest Zimbabweans to achieve international recognition in climate activism. Outside of activism, Nyathi is also a voice-over artist, poet, and public speaker. He enjoys playing golf and cricket, although he is not an avid sports fan. He maintains a relatively low public profile, with his management noting that this allows him to live more freely and unrecognised in daily life.

Nyathi is a practicing Christian and has credited his faith as a motivating force behind his achievements. He is also described as a development strategist, with several projects reportedly in progress. His TED Talk gained significant attention online, becoming one of the most viewed TED Talks by a Zimbabwean activist.[1]

He began his activism journey at the age of 10 and continues to advocate for youth inclusion in decision-making processes related to climate policy.[2][3] He has argued that meaningful youth participation in climate justice is not possible without representation at decision-making levels.[4] Nkosilathi was at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid campaigning for more climate actions and youth inclusion from world leaders.[3][5]

Environmental activism

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Nkosilathi Nyathi was raised in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He traces the beginning of his environmental activism to a moment of personal reflection at a local garbage dumping site, where he became more conscious of environmental issues in his community.[6] At the age of 11, while in Grade 5 at Chamabondo Primary School, he began to observe the effects of climate change in his surroundings.[6][7]

In 2019, Victoria Falls experienced its worst drought in a century.[3][8][9] Across Zimbabwe, approximately 7.7 million people were reported to be food insecure, with 45 million people across southern Africa at risk of hunger.[10][11][12] In addition, eight districts in Zimbabwe recorded acute malnutrition rates of over five percent.[11] These environmental and humanitarian challenges prompted Nyathi to begin educating his community about climate change and advocating for the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions. He has stated his commitment to continue campaigning until policymakers take significant climate action.[8][13]

As a student, Nyathi was a leader of the Ozone Defenders Club, a climate-focused initiative at his primary school.[9] In 2016, he led the establishment of the first biogas plant in Victoria Falls, aimed at converting organic waste into sustainable energy.[14] The plant is currently used to prepare food for students.[9][13]

Although not active in sports, Nyathi is recognised for his strong oratory skills, which he has used to advocate for environmental policy reform.[6][15] His efforts earned him recognition from UNICEF, which supported his participation at the 2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25) in Madrid. There, he shared a panel with international leaders, including John Kerry, the first United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.[6]

In 2020, he delivered a speech at the Group of Friends of Children and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, held in Victoria Falls.[4][14] He also participated in the Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition event in Milan, Italy, and attended Expo 2020 in Dubai. Nyathi has also featured in a TED Talk and continues to gain international recognition for his advocacy.

In 2021, he participated in World Children's Day events alongside regional leaders such as Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Namibia's President Hage Geingob, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. He has also met former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, former Norwegian Minister of International Development Dag Inge Ulstein, and former Irish President Mary Robinson.[16]

As a member of his school's press club, Nyathi writes educational articles focused on climate change and environmental issues.[16]

Awards and recognition

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Nyathi was appointed as the UNICEF Youth Climate Ambassador for Zimbabwe in 2015.[16][17] He has also served as a Youth Ambassador for Greenline Africa, an environmental organisation, since 2014.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Nadine Kilala. "Spotlight on 6 Young African Environmental and Climate Activists". Blog / Viatu Travel. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. ^ David McKenzie and Brent Swails (15 December 2019). "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". Gaudium. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "A vision for my generation". Voices of Youth. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Action for Climate Empowerment Finds Strong Support at COP25". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Nkosi climate change journey to COP25 | The Standard". Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Nkosi climate change journey to COP25". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Gen Z Climate Activists You Should Know Who Aren't Greta Thunberg". Vice.com. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Victoria Falls back to life after drought that triggered climate change fears | Science-Environment". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Southern Africa in throes of climate emergency with 45 million people facing hunger across the region | World Food Programme". www.wfp.org. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Zimbabwe 'facing worst hunger crisis in a decade'". UN News. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Record 45 million people in southern Africa facing food crisis: U.N. agencies". Reuters. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Rains Bring Relief as Water Again Flows Through Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls". Voice of America. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b "4 youth activists who bravely demand gov't action on climate change besides Greta Thunberg". NOLISOLI. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  15. ^ David McKenzie and Brent Swails (15 December 2019). "'If the climate stays like this, we won't make it' say those on the frontline of Africa's drought". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d "Climate change is real, it affects my life everyday". Children's Environmental Rights Initiative. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Teacher Workshop Details". ASA Outreach Council. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
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