ESWATINI YOUTH GREEN SUMMIT PUSHES YOUNG PEOPLE FROM CLIMATE AWARENESS TO ACTION

By Tlalane Dlamini

MBABANE – Young people from across the Kingdom gathered at the Kwaluseni Sports Emporium on September 25, 2026 for the Eswatini Youth Green Summit (EYGS 2026), the first summit of its kind in the country, with a strong focus on turning climate change awareness into practical, youth-led action.

Held under the theme “Gucula Isimo: Bridging the Gap from Policy to Action through Youth-Led Innovation,” the one-day summit was organised by the Green Schools Initiative, EYES and BioSoc.

The summit brought together tertiary students, high-school innovators, policymakers, traditional leaders and private-sector representatives for discussions and activities centred on environmental action, innovation and accountability.

Organisers said the summit was conceived in response to the gap between national climate policies and their implementation on the ground.

With more than 70% of Eswatini’s population under the age of 35, organisers highlighted the importance of ensuring that young people are not only recipients of environmental policies but active participants in shaping and implementing solutions.

A key feature of the summit was an exhibition showcasing Technical Intervention Models, with eight institutions, comprising four high schools and four tertiary institutions, competing to present practical responses to environmental challenges.

The models focused on issues including wetland degradation, soil erosion and waste management. They were assessed by experts from the Eswatini Environment Authority and representatives from the private sector, with emphasis placed on evidence-based and practical solutions.

Beyond the exhibition, the programme featured a policy dialogue that brought youth delegates and traditional leaders together to discuss environmental challenges and the role of communities in addressing them.

Delegates also received training on Indicator Tracking Tables, equipping them with tools to monitor and evaluate environmental interventions and track progress towards their intended outcomes.

The summit further provided a platform for young people to contribute to the development of a Youth Green Manifesto, which is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the Eswatini Environment Authority.

Through the summit, organisers sought to strengthen the link between policy, innovation and implementation while positioning young people as active contributors to Eswatini’s environmental future.