This is the second of our POV series with young climate leaders, where we hear participants from the Climate Youth Leadership Programme talk about their stories, their ideas, and the inspiration they took from Earthshot Week 2024. The Programme was delivered in partnership with Common Purpose.
If you missed it, read Obedine Noxolo Tsuses’s POV here.
My name is Dina Kebede, an environmentalist from Ethiopia, currently working as a researcher and consultant in agroforestry, climate change, and public health.
My academic journey took me from a small rural community with deep ties to nature and indigenous wisdom to Addis Ababa University, where I obtained an M.Sc. in Environmental Science.
Growing up in an environment rooted in traditional knowledge gave me an appreciation for nature’s power to address many different challenges. This background now inspires my work to bring scientific solutions to climate challenges.
My research focuses on assessing the carbon sequestration potential of coffee trees and creating awareness among Ethiopian farmers about the importance of shade-grown coffee in combating deforestation. Ethiopia has made strides, planting over 40 million trees and registering in UNESCO for our green efforts.
My goal is to take this further by advancing carbon trading linked to coffee cultivation, adding a new dimension to Ethiopia’s coffee industry on the global stage. Since coffee trees have a high capacity to absorb carbon, I believe Ethiopia can pioneer climate-focused coffee production alongside our international reputation in coffee trade.
The most pressing issue I want to address is global warming, which worsens every day due to fossil fuel usage and environmental degradation. Combating deforestation and investing in nature-based solutions are essential to mitigating these effects. There is much work to be done, and I am dedicated to advancing climate resilience.
Coffee berries growing on a bush. Coffea trees have a high capacity to absorb carbon.
Earthshot Week was a transformational experience. Being part of training sessions and meeting influential leaders and finalists gave me invaluable insights. Receiving advice from Prince William himself, acknowledging our generation as the future and the hope for this world, was unforgettable. This experience has given me newfound confidence and motivation to push forward with my work.
The participants in the Earthshot Youth Programme were inspiring, to say the least. They are the hope of the world, drivers of change, and climate heroes. Many are leaders of organizations working on renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture and more. Meeting these passionate, accomplished young people was a reminder that youth-led solutions hold immense potential for the future.
Dina Kebede during Earthshot Week 2024
Dina Kebede meets National Geographic explorer, Oluwaseyi Jesuton Peace, at Earthshot Week 2024
Dina Kebede at Table Mountain during Earthshot Week 2024
Dina Kebede and other Youth Climate Leaders during Earthshot Week 2024 in Cape Town
Dina Kebede and other Youth Climate Leaders during Earthshot Week 2024 in Cape Town
Dina Kebede and other Youth Climate Leaders during Earthshot Week 2024 in Cape Town
Dina Kebede and other Youth Climate Leaders during Earthshot Week 2024 in Cape Town
Dina Kebede and other Youth Climate Leaders on the Green Carpet for The 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards
The finalists from Green Africa Organisation (GAYO), Desmond Alugnoa, and Keep IT Cool founder Francis Nderitu brought the best vibes to the Green Carpet! Their passion and commitment were both inspiring and energising, especially for young African entrepreneurs.
They showed us that impactful change is possible and that with dedication and hard work, we can each contribute to Africa’s sustainable future. Their optimism and success give me, and many other young Africans, the hope and drive to pursue our own climate goals.
Watching innovators who have developed groundbreaking solutions receive recognition was not only inspiring but empowering. I left that night with a clear vision and a dream to one day be amongst them, representing young people.
Youth-led solutions are brimming with innovation and urgency, and the world needs to pay attention. Today’s youth are equipped with the latest technologies and creative ideas, yet we need support and recognition to bring these ideas to life.
It is time for the world to open its doors, listen, and take our solutions seriously. Youth have the drive and capability to make a lasting impact.
Partners from across the Earthshot network came together to make the inaugural Climate Youth Leadership Programme possible, including DP World, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Temasek Foundation, and Tsao Pao Chee.
