Tokenism in the climate space: Are youth voices in Uganda being heard?

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By Karen Helmy Ademun

In the past decade, the role of youth in climate action has gained significant attention across the globe. Uganda is no exception.

From student-led climate marches to grassroots reforestation campaigns, sustainability champions and youth climate [green] ambassadors speaking at global events, young people are being visibly included in climate conversations. But inclusion does not always mean influence. Tokenism occurs when individuals from underrepresented groups, such as youth, women, or minorities, are included superficially in decision-making spaces without being given real influence.

However, increasingly, many young Ugandans are raising a critical concern: their presence in the existing climate spaces often feels more symbolic than meaningful. Are young people truly being listened to, or are they being used as tokens to tick the “youth inclusion” box?

In the climate space, tokenism often manifests in the form of photo ops, short speaking slots at high-level events, or participation without follow-through. In Uganda, youth are increasingly present in climate dialogues. It is not uncommon to see young climate activists invited to speak at conferences hosted by ministries, NGOs, or international development partners. Some are selected to represent the country at UN events like the Conference of Parties, while others sit on “youth advisory councils.” However, behind the scenes, many young participants report that their views are seldom taken seriously, their recommendations are rarely reflected in final policy decisions, and their continued engagement often ends when the cameras are off.

Uganda’s population is predominantly young, with over 75% under the age of 30. This demographic reality alone should make youth central actors in national climate strategies. Furthermore, Uganda’s youth have shown themselves to be proactive, leading initiatives in clean energy, agro-ecology, waste recycling, environmental education, and climate justice. But even with this growing presence, youth influence remains minimal. One young climate advocate based in Kampala, who has attended multiple stakeholder meetings, shared:

"We’re invited to speak, but the real decisions are already made. Sometimes they give us a slot at the end of the event, when most people have left. It feels like they want to be seen with youth, but not to work with us."

This experience is echoed by many youth-led organisations that struggle to access funding, face barriers to registration, and are rarely selected as implementers for major climate adaptation or mitigation projects, despite being embedded in communities and having contextual knowledge.

Tokenism has real consequences. When young people are brought into climate spaces just for the show, which breeds resentment.  It sends a message that while their energy and visibility are welcome, their ideas, entrepreneurial capabilities, agency and leadership are not. Over time, this not only erodes trust in institutions but also discourages civic engagement. Moreover, tokenistic practices undermine the effectiveness of climate policy. Youth bring unique perspectives, particularly around innovation, technology, communication, and intergenerational equity. Their exclusion means missed opportunities to design responsive, creative, and long-term solutions that reflect the realities of Uganda’s future leaders and workers.

Tokenism vs. Genuine Inclusion: What’s the Difference?

Genuine inclusion means more than representation; it requires power-sharing. It means giving youth not just a seat at the table, but also a say in shaping the agenda, contributing to decisions, and evaluating outcomes.  It involves early involvement of youth at the design stage of policies or projects, not just at the launch or closing ceremony. It involves including youth in high-level committees or technical working groups, not just in “youth forums” isolated from influence. It means facilitating access to resources, funding and capacity-building for youth-led organisations to implement and scale up climate action.

Several structural issues contribute to tokenism in Uganda’s climate sector. Many institutions operate within deeply hierarchical cultures where youth are not viewed as equals. There is a belief that experience and age automatically confer better judgment, which marginalises young voices. In some cases, youth inclusion is motivated by donor requirements rather than a genuine desire to engage. Organisations may include youth to align with project terms, without building long-term engagement.

Despite these challenges, there is growing awareness that youth can no longer be sidelined. Encouragingly, some youth initiatives in Uganda are making strides towards promoting meaningful engagement of youths. For instance, youth-led organisations like Fridays for Future Uganda, Green Africa Youth Organisation, and Youth Go Green have carved out spaces to drive community-level adaptation and engage in policy advocacy. Platforms like the National Youth Parliament on Climate Change have also emerged as tools to build dialogue between young people and policymakers.

But more systemic changes are needed. Ministries, local governments, and development agencies must institutionalise youth inclusion, not as a formality but as a strategy for impact. This includes developing youth-responsive climate budgets, embedding youth in national adaptation planning processes, and ensuring that rural and underrepresented youth have access to platforms and resources. Youth must also continue to organise, demand accountability, and build coalitions that go beyond visibility. Movements grow stronger when they are not dependent on invitations but grounded in community, values, and sustained advocacy.

The writer is an MSc Climate Change and Development, Makerere University [MAK], Miss Climate Change Awareness - Community Impact (2025- 2026)