Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge has described the effects of climate change as having devastated Namibia's ecosystems.

He urged the youth to be the defenders of the planet through scientific innovations and ambassadors of sustainable living. 

The governor addressed the National Youth Climate Change Summit, held under the banner of SOS Children's Village's Eco Champions at Ondangwa, attended by representatives from all the regions. 

Iipinge said the two-day summit is key to contextualising climate change and providing participants with a platform to discuss targeted solutions to mitigate threats in their areas. 

"When our ecosystems collapse, everything collapses: our food systems, our worker supply, our wildlife and the livelihoods that sustain rural communities. The loss of one species, the drying of one river or the failure of one rainy season has far-reaching consequences that ripple across our society and economy."

He stated that climate change is a human development challenge that fuels poverty, upsets families, and widens social inequalities. 

Iipinge cited the NDP6's nationally determined contributions, the National Youth Policy and the National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan as some of the programmes combating the effects of climate change. 

SOS Children's Village's National Programs Director, Iyaloo Ngodji, would like to see the full participation of youth in rural areas in matters concerning sustainable change in their regions. 

"At the end of these two-day deliberations, we really want the young to take ownership of climate in terms of influencing policies and lobbying for change in those policies that they think are critical to sustainable development, especially when it comes to climate action."

The summit was held under the theme 'Our climate, our responsibility: Namibian youth in action', which is a national call for duty.