The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), as part of its broader strategy to promote inclusive youth participation in climate action, has engaged students from the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Departments of the Accra Technical University (ATU) to sensitize them on Phase II of the Youth Climate Action Fund.

The outreach, which formed part of the activities to promote the second phase, was conducted in the students’ respective lecture halls and focused on encouraging engineering students to leverage their technical knowledge and skills to develop innovative solutions to the climate crisis.

Addressing the students, Mr. Ben Smith Afful, Acting Coordinator of the Youth Climate Action Project, noted that the Youth Climate Action Fund was a global initiative launched by AMA in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and other international organizations.

He said Phase II of the initiative, officially launched on March 19, 2025, at the Accra City Hall, aims to support youth-led climate solutions by providing funding of between $1,000 and $5,000 to individuals and groups aged 15 to 24.

“Engineering students are uniquely equipped to tackle climate-related challenges,” Mr. Afful said, adding that “whether it’s in renewable energy, water management, or waste-to-energy technologies, your skills can help build resilient communities.”

He emphasised the urgency of the climate crisis, warning that the world had less than three decades to reverse the damage.

“At 21 degrees Celsius, we already feel the impact. Scientists project that if no action is taken, we could be dealing with temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius by 2050,” he said.

Highlighting the achievements of Phase I of the initiative, Mr. Afful cited a successful collaboration with students from St. Mary’s Senior High School that resulted in the creation of a biogas plant converting organic waste into clean cooking gas.

He encouraged the engineering students to think creatively and develop sustainable solutions in areas such as clean energy, recycling, and environmental advocacy.

Mr. Afful also pointed out that an ideation workshop was held at the AMA City Hall on Wednesday, April 3, 2025, to guide interested applicants in refining their project proposals ahead of the submission deadline on April 14, 2025.

He assured the students that AMA remained committed to fostering youth-led innovation and building a climate-conscious generation through practical, community-based interventions.

Other committee members, notably Mr. Gilbert Nii Ankrah, Head of Public Affairs, and Mr. Franklin Addo, an Assistant Director, accompanied Mr. Afful.