Jennifer Uchendu | |
---|---|
Born | 10 August 1992 Lagos |
Nationality | Nigeria |
Education | Covenant University Institute of Development Studies |
Occupation(s) | researcher, climate advocate, sustainability expert |
Employer | Utrecht University |
Known for | climate activist |
Jennifer Olachi Uchendu (born 10 August 1992) is a Nigerian climate advocate, sustainability expert, and the creator of SustyVibes, a youth-driven initiative aimed at making sustainability understandable and achievable for Nigerian youth.
Uchendu was born in 1992 in Lagos, Nigeria and she obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Covenant University [1] in Ota, Ogun State, and a Master's degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, which is part of the University of Sussex under the Chevening Scholarship [2] [3] She has been employed by Utrecht University to research eco-anxiety. [4]
Uchendu's interest in the connection between young people, women, and taking action on climate change was sparked during her Master's studies, where she explored climate justice, art, youth, and Eco-anxiety. [5] It was also during this time that she began working with ONCA. [6]
Her research into the mental health impacts of climate change has gained her work attention. [7] [8] Within her country their is anxiety about effects like flooding although Uchendu has noted that several local languages lack words to describe climate change. [9] Her work highlights the importance of climate change and its effects on health, [10] and she one of the small number of African activists who attended COP26 in Scotland in 2021. She complained that few African activists are able to attend COP events. [8]
Uchendu's The Eco-Anxiety Africa project (TEAP), was founded in 2022 to protect Africans from climate anxiety. In 2017, Uchendu co-authored the e-book: A Guide to Business Sustainability in Nigeria. [11]
In 2022, Uchendu was named one of the 'Top 20 Young Women in Sustainable Development' by Young Women in Sustainable Development [12] and she was named as one of the BBC's 100 most influential and inspiring Women in 2023. [10]
Amina Jane Mohammed is a British Nigerian diplomat and politician who is serving as the 5th Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, she was Nigerian Minister of Environment from 2015 to 2016 and was a player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process. She is also Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Adenike Adebukola Akinsemolu is a Nigerian sustainability advocate, educator, author, and a social entrepreneur. She is a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University. She is known as one of the country's leading experts on environmental sustainability.
Eco-anxiety is a challenging emotional response to climate change and other environmental issues. Extensive studies have been done on ecological anxiety since 2007, and various definitions remain in use. The condition is not a medical diagnosis and is regarded as a rational response to the reality of climate change; however, severe instances can have a mental health impact if left without alleviation. There is also evidence that eco-anxiety is caused by the way researchers frame their research and their narratives of the evidence about climate change: if they do not consider the possibility of finding any solution to overcome climate change and for individuals to make a difference, they contribute to this feeling of powerlessness.
Vanessa Nakate is an Ugandan climate justice activist. She gained international recognition for her climate activism in Uganda, where she began a solitary climate strike in January 2019.
Adenike Oladosu is a Nigerian climate activist, and initiator of the school strike for climate in Nigeria. She has showcased her climate action at international conferences including the UN Climate Change Conference, World Economic Forum, and Elevate festival in Graz-Austria.
Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa is a Nigerian environmental activist. She is the founder and Global President of the Women Environment Programme (WEP) that provides women with sustainable solutions to everyday problems. Just before that, she was the executive director of WEP.
Fatou Jeng is a Gambian youth climate activist. She was named among the 30 most influential young Gambians of 2019.
Aliza Ayaz is an international climate activist, business and sustainability consultant and a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. She jointly won the United Kingdom Youth Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability Award at University College London (UCL), and has spoken at United Nations, London International Model United Nations, and UK Parliamentary events. She is a member of the National Youth Council Pakistan. She is known for setting up the Climate Action Society at UCL which helped inspire UK-wide youth action against climate change, leading to the climate emergency declaration at the UK Parliament. In October 2020 she was appointed as the United Nations youth ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG13), the second Pakistani student after Malala Yousafzai to have received this honour.
Nisreen Elsaim is a Sudanese youth climate activist and climate negotiator.
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is a network of more than 1000 organisations from 48 countries in Africa. It is based in Kenya and consists of NGOs, grassroots organisations, trusts, foundations, indigenous communities, farmers, community-based organisations, and religious organisations. It advocates for climate and environmental justice and it is a people-centered consortium. It was co-founded by climate activists Augustine B Njamnshi and Mithika Mwenda.
Ishtar Lakhani is a feminist activist from South Africa, whose work focuses on issues of social justice, in particular the rights of sex workers. In 2020 she was added by the BBC on their 100 Women list.
Kehkashan BasuMSM is a Canadian environmental and human rights activist from the United Arab Emirates. Basu also advocates for peace, children’s rights, education for sustainable development, nuclear disarmament, gender equality and climate justice. She is the Founder-President of Green Hope Foundation, the youngest Councillor of World Future Council, the youngest Trustee of the Parliament of the World's Religions, a KidsRights Youngsters member, and winner of the International Children's Peace Prize 2016.
Dominique Palmer FRSA is a British climate justice activist and student. She spoke at 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, and began her activism as one of the U.K's leading U.K environmentalists and youth activists in the School Strike for Climate Movement.
Olumide Idowu, is a Nigerian youth campaigner and climate change activist. He is the co-founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative, Climate Wednesday and Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition. Olumide was an Atlas Corps fellow, State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni, social media and communications officer for Association for the Development of Education in Africa, Triennale 2017 in Senegal, and the senior communication director for African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC). He was the Organizing Committee Member for 7th Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Mexico, African Youth Champion for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and he received the 2015 Save the Children Award for his Contribution towards Sustainable Development in Nigeria.
Omowumi Ogunrotimi is a Nigerian multidisciplinary legal practitioner, founder and executive director of Gender Mobile Initiative. She has worked in over 50 rural communities advocating for safe spaces for vulnerable populations, particularly girls and women.
Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) is a youth-led advocacy group based in Ghana. It was founded in 2014 by Joshua Amponsem and Desmond Alugnoa. The group focuses on environmental sustainability and community improvement. GAYO aims is to inspire young people to participate in climate activism and foster climate leadership in Ghana. GAYO also provides environmental blogs. GAYO established the first Youth Climate Council in Africa to provide climate skills to young people when it launched the council in 2021 in Ghana.
SustyVibes is a nonprofit organization consisting of youth groups that are focused on environmental and climate action. With the support of volunteers, it carries out campaigns and projects in Nigeria and Ghana.
Ineza Umuhoza Grace is an eco-feminist, climate activist and environmentalist from Kigali, Rwanda. She is the CEO of The Green Protector, co-ordinator of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition and Research Assistant for the CCLAD project. She was a Global Citizen Prize winner in 2023.
Temilade Salami known as Global Temi is a Nigerian Climate Education and communications expert and author. She was born on the 10th of June Temilade Salami serves as the Executive Director of "EcoChampions" an organisation that provides young people in Africa with the tools, and resources needed for climate action. She was named as a 2020 Nigeria's 25 Under 25 Leader on Energy and Sustainability, 2018 LASEPA Ambassador against Noise Pollution, 2018 Idea Hub Africa Talent of the Future and a 2018 US Consulate's Carrington Youth Fellow.
Yewande Akinse is a Nigerian poet, author and entrepreneur who co-founded, Salubata, Pap.earth and Plychain.