fSANA'A* Aug. 12 ? Although Yemen is one of the countries most devastated by global warming* the majority of young people in Yemen are not aware of the meaning of the words ?climate change? or ?global warming*? say experts. Dr. Abdullah Al-Numan* academic researcher and lecturer at the Center of Environment and Water at Sana?a University* said that no studies have been conducted yet to assess Yemeni youths? understanding of the concept of climate change. However* according to his experience with Sana?a university students as well as with young people in general* the concept of climate change is still completely unknown to most Yemeni youths.?Unfortunately* there is no governmental body that carries the responsibility to raise the awareness of climate change and its impacts among young people in Yemen*? said Al-Noman* adding that the spread of awareness among youth is vital* as we are the next generation and we feel that we have the most at stake.He said that even those young Yemenis who show an interest in learning about this global natural phenomenon get their information from limited media resources* while the role of the schools or universities in this regard is practically absent. Yemen under climate change risk Climate change impacts Yemen in a similar way to the Horn of Africa on the other side of the Red Sea. According to experts* drought and desertification punctuated by torrential downpours that are useless unless ?harvested? or channeled in some way characterizes climate change in this area of the world. Research recently released by the World Bank shows that Yemen is among the five most vulnerable countries to climate change worldwide in terms of both affected coastal area and endangered population. The World Bank also estimates that Yemen is one of seven countries in which areas prone to storm surges account for more than 50 percent of the gross domestic product.An International Red Cross journalistic report found out that Sana'a is experiencing hotter temperatures in recent years that exceed 25 degrees centigrade as well as less seasonal rain* confusing farmers. But the most obvious risk is storm surges on Yemen?s coast. In Oct. 2008* severe floods hit roughly a third of the country* seriously damaging central Hadramout governorate on the Arabian Sea. The floods killed about 200 people and left more than 3*000 homeless* triggering a major international response. According to Dr. Yasir Hameed* general practitioner* climate change in Yemen could increase the rates of children with climate sensitive diseases such as diarrhea and malaria* and it could also exacerbate malnutrition. "A recent study has suggested that for every degree of increase in temperature* the rate of the hospitalization of children with diarrhea increased by 8 percent*" he wrote in a recent report.As climate change has severe socioeconomic implications* Yemen* like many other developing countries* signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 to protect the environment and reduce to greenhouse gas emissions which are the main cause of climate change. However* poor countries like Yemen lack the human and financial resources necessary to respond adequately to the negative impacts of climate change* according to the World Bank. Why Young People? Last year the United Nations selected the theme "Youth and Climate Change" to recognize the fact that climate change has already begun to devastate communities* deepening the effects of poverty and hunger. "This situation complicates the challenges that young people face*" said the UN* emphasizing the importance of actively engaging the younger generations in areas of preparedness* risk reduction* adaptation and mitigation. This includes the following:? Preparedness and disaster risk reduction through building individual and community capacities so that the likelihood of climate change induced disasters is reduced and that people are able to respond promptly* expeditiously and effectively. ? Adaptation through actions that decrease the harm of climate change while exploiting its benefits. ? Mitigation through actions that minimize or cushion the adverse impacts of climate change. This year on Aug. 12* International Youth Day was held under the theme "Sustainability: Our Challenges* Our Future*" yet the program made no reference to climate change. Efforts for what? Recently the World Bank Institute in Sana'a organized the Youth Climate Change Champions (YCCC) program. The YCCC program provided young environmental activists from Yemen and other countries with an overview of the latest knowledge on climate change. This included knowledge of the Earth?s climate system* the role of greenhouse gases* the effects of climate change on societies and the environment* projections of future climate change and effects* an overview of responses needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions* and how to adapt to the changed climate. Participants were introduced to responses to climate change related problems on both national policy and personal levels. They were also introduced to international negotiations and the cost of acting and not taking action on climate change. In Yemen* 20 participants* 12 of whom are girls* participated in the program which started on March 11 and ran through June 2009. The program helped the Yemeni participants to share knowledge* ideas and tools with other learners from Moldova* Egypt* Mozambique* Kenya* Tanzania* Uganda and Georgia.After completion of the program* the World Bank launched an open call for project proposals. Participant organizations from each country that completed the climate change program were eligible to submit project proposals. "We specifically addressed young people as we believe that they have creative approaches and ideas which may help to handle the impact of climate change*" said Mujahed Al-Mussaabi* Public Information Assistant at the World Bank. He added that these young participants will become leaders in awareness about climate change in their local communities....

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