"Parfait Mushanganya: Being Part of Climate Solutions – Championing Action for SDG 13"

Can you give us a brief overview of your project and how it addresses SDG 13?

The Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's great countries, is potentially rich in minerals and biodiversity, essential for combating climate change and fuelling the global energy transition. The ecosystem services that the DRC offers the world must be accompanied by financial and infrastructural compensation to enable the country to emerge from the list of developing countries by creating jobs, electrifying the country and valuing local currencies and knowledge.

One of the reasons why this progress is being held up is the lack of information and awareness of what we are and what we have. As a result, we are inactive and absent from the international scene.

The language barrier means that young Congolese are not fully informed about what is happening in the world in terms of climate change. The lack of information means that everyone has their own perception of the changes and disasters they are experiencing. Sometimes they base their perceptions on customs and cultures, and this leads to conflict within communities.

What inspired you to tackle climate change as part of your project?

Climate change is a phenomenon that currently affects all sectors of life and is among the most devastating, along with armed conflicts.

The Education and Food sectors are among the main victims and are much more affected. In life, no Future Generation is guaranteed without Education, and we can never hope for lasting peace among communities without sufficient agricultural production. Otherwise, we will witness community conflicts such as those currently occurring in the east of DRC my country.

What specific goals did your project aim to achieve in relation to combating climate change?

We purchase some goals such:

1.Raise awareness: train and inform communities for greater climate empowerment;

2.Promote a just transition: empower young people to direct their ambitions and projects toward a sustainable world.

3. Promoting peacebuilding in the Great Lake sub-region by considering the environmental/Climate implications of these processes.

How did your project contribute to raising awareness about climate change or reducing its impacts?

Our project had a significant impact on communities that were aware of climate change because many people were unaware of it and thought that these climate degradation phenomena were caused by natural spirits, by witchcraft, and others thought that it was the anger of God or ancestors that was affecting us. We managed to remove this ambiguity and show the scientific evidence that proves human involvement in environmental degradation.

Some of them no longer use firewood to cook their food and are already switching to eco-friendly briquettes and gas. This has significantly reduced deforestation in the region over the past two years. Plastic pollution has also decreased with the elimination of single-use plastic bottles.

Did your project focus on any particular aspect of climate change (e.g., mitigation, adaptation, education)? If so, could you explain this focus?

Yes, Mitigating climate change is our focus. Promoting Tree Planting, Solar Energy use, and other Green Projects.

What were some of the challenges you faced while implementing your project, particularly in addressing climate change, and how did you overcome them?

The project is not yet finished. We encountered some difficulties in implementing the project, such as the lack of material and financial resources to involve and motivate many more people. Now, we are having difficulty continuing the project because of the armed conflict and the displaced communities. I, as the project manager, left the city for my safety. We plan to consult with the authorities on site and see how to continue with the project. If we have few resources, we work with them.

Can you share any specific outcomes or impacts your project had in relation to SDG 13?

Our Outcomes are :

1. Empowered and informed young people who advocate for a Just Transition,

2. Active participation of young people, communities, girls, and boys in all Climate change Adaptation and Mitigation processes,

3. Increased public awareness and understanding of Just Transition, Climate Action and Peacebuilding.

Did your project involve collaboration with other students, organizations, or community members? If yes, how did this collaboration enhance your project's effectiveness in combating climate change?

This campaign targeted young pupils, students, and teachers. To involve everyone, including those who don't have the opportunity to go to school, we plan to organize cultural activities to reach them. Youth and Climate Activists, indigenous peoples, NGOs and CSOs, academia and the private sector, civil servants, and the media are also involved.

Everyone mentioned above has a job to do in their community because no one can solve climate change alone. Their involvement was very important and continues to be important because some of them are well aware of the initiatives to be implemented but lack the financial means and the country's environmental policy does not allow them to implement them.

What were some key lessons you learned from working on this project related to SDG 13?

One thing is certain, if everyone were aware of the impact of human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions on the climate, this issue would already be resolved and COPs, SBs, Summits,...would have no importance.

Climate Action is the only opportunity we have to get out of the mess we are currently in around the world.

Looking ahead, how do you plan to continue your efforts to combat climate change beyond the scope of your project, and what role do you see yourself playing in future climate action initiatives?

I have witnessed many climate disasters, and I myself am currently one of those displaced by a so-called war for the liberation of the country, but which is in fact a war linked to climate change because they want to illegally plunder our minerals to meet the Energy Transition. I will not give up. Beyond Climate Education, I will be a negotiator for developing countries by promoting local initiatives for an autonomous and climate-resilient DRC and Africa.