The Children for children Organisation, an action-based organisation that advocates for issues such as: education, social, health, recreational, psychological, environmental, spiritual and economic needs of children, is set to sentise youths and children on climate change issues.

This was contained in a press release, dispatched to various media houses during a press conference held recently at its office in Kanifing. According to the release, the CFCO believes that children are the future leaders   in the making, therefore, they should be educated, empowered and equipped with necesary information and skills in circumventing problems affeting them at all levels.

"The CFCO has been involved strongly in environmental avtivities since its inception. CFCO has been participating in the UNEP TUNZA regional and international children and youth conferences on the environment," the release indicated. The environment, the release went on, is very important to the development of children and human activity, which has caused between 50 and 1000 times more extinctions in the last 100 years than would have happened due to natural processes.

"Climate change refers to the variation in the Earth's global climate or in regional climates over time. It describes changes in the variability or avarage state of the atmosphere over time scales ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by processes internal to the earth, external forces (e.g. variations in sunlight intensity) or, more recently, human activities,"the press release contained. Climate change, the release added, may also offer opportunities for Africa to benefit from technology transfers and the introduction of sustainable energy which is a new business opportunity for Africa on which future private sector-led growth and increased youth employment will depend.

"The CFCO as part of its follow up activities have plans to organise a National Children's Conference on the Environment and Youth Leaders Forum on climate change. The objective of these activities is to give young people the knowledge and ability to respond and take action to the challenges presented by climate change; develop a national network of children focused on environmental and climate change issues. The conference will focus on key environmental issues such as Energy and Climate Chaneg, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Waste Management and Climate Change and will include plenary sessions (with presentations from selected schools and children) workshops and field trips, this conference is planned for November 2009," the press release further revealed.

"The youth leader's forum on climate change is aimed on  sensitising youth leaders on the effects of climate change and to engage their organisations to unite in the fight against climate change. The forum will also discuss the participation of youths in the upcoming Climate change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009," the release concluded.