In the first episode of the Hali Hewa podcast, Abigael Kima talks to two special guests.
Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti is a passionate environmentalist and climate activist from Kenya. She is the founder of Green Generation Initiative (GGI) and the Head of Campaigns and Coordinator of Daima Coalition for the Protection of Urban Green Spaces at the Wangari Maathai Foundation. She served as Global South Youth Co-chair for the COP26 Civil Society and Youth Advisory Council and addressed world leaders at the World Leaders’ Summit opening ceremony at COP26 in Glasgow.
Wanjira Maathai is the vice president and regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. She previously served as senior partnership advisor, strategy and advocacy at wPOWER – Partnership on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Renewables and WRI’s senior advisor to the Global Restoration Initiative. She is chairperson of the Wangari Maathai Foundation and former chairperson of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya.
Wanjira and Elizabeth share their thoughts with us about the role and participation of youth and women in the climate and environmental justice space, and explain how the inspirational leadership of the late professor Wangari Maathai has impacted their own lives and continues to shape their work.
Elizabeth also shares what it was like attending last month’s World Economic Forum in Davos as a young African climate activist.
Wanjira and Elizabeth sign off by sharing their calls to action ahead of this year’s Cop27.
Enjoy the show!
Find all episodes of the Hali Hewa podcast here.