Regenerative Sustainability, Environmental Education and African Youth Futures

Climate change presents many challenges for African societies, not least how to co-create regenerative futures with young people who are often excluded from mainstream sustainability policies and practices. This session brings together youth organisations in a number of different African countries, working in cross section of the Future Earth AFrican Hub’s Leadership Centre Science Clusters and networks. The focus is on deliberating and sharing action oriented, co-generative research contributions to framing regenerative futures for Africa. The session includes a focus on youth led innovation, inter-generational dialogue, as well as innovative learning and sustainability practices. It shows how environmental education can support youth to co-learn their way into regenerative futures that they co-construct.   The session invites interaction and contributions from diverse groups and partners to catalyze cross programme research and reflexivity focussing on ongoing youth-led sustainability work focusing on four networks: A Youth Policy Network focusing on climate action and policy for Africa’s Food Sovereignty (AFSA) - one of the largest food sovereignty networks across Africa; A  leading environmental education research centre innovating learning pathways and courses for youth, and a community-led  environmental champions network amongst others.   By sharing experiences, learning resources and lessons learned through youth-led networks, we will introduce participants to how our research is critically reflexive, but also action oriented and co-generative.  We will share how we are translating research insights and lessons into impact; and in the process how we are unlocking opportunities and innovations that contribute to policy instruments, learning programmes and materials, as a way of actively generating alternative sustainability practices that are regenerative of African Futures.   The session opens space for an intergenerational dialogue for sense and meaning making of sustainability as is currently defined. It also shares environmental education learning materials being developed by youth groups for Regenerative African Futures.