Enviro News Asia, Addis Ababa – More than 200 young volunteers gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in a large-scale tree planting initiative during the Africa Climate Summit. The activity resulted in the planting of 300 fruit tree saplings on the campus of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU).
The reforestation effort was organized by the COP30 Youth Task Force in collaboration with UNICEF and COP30 Youth Champion Marcele Oliveira. COP29 Youth Champion Leyla Hassanova also joined the campaign, highlighting continuity in youth leadership for climate action.
Participants represented diverse backgrounds and regions, demonstrating how collective action by young people can drive tangible progress on climate justice. The initiative, known in Portuguese as Mutirão, reflects the priorities of the upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025.
Organizers emphasized that the task force seeks to promote social participation, intergenerational equity, and practical solutions to address the climate crisis. The project also underscores the role of youth in expanding green spaces, influencing policy, and mobilizing global cooperation.
The COP30 Youth Task Force functions as a trilingual platform—English, Portuguese, and Spanish—that connects local and global youth-led initiatives. Its central message urges decision-makers to recognize that children and young people are leading efforts on the frontlines of the climate crisis. (*)
