Abstract:
Climate change and environmental degradation are arguably among the most significant
concerns for humanity and environmental sustainability on a worldwide scale. Today’s
youth are at the epicentre of discussions about ecological (in) justice, environmental
consciousness, and climate change discourses and practices. This is illustrated by
international protests, including the Fridays for the Future and Extinction Rebellion
campaigns, to highlight a few. However, both of the aforementioned youth movements
are western illustrations of youth who are participating in these discourses. This article
first argues that the African youth should be at the forefront of the environmental
discourse due to the impact this phenomenon has on Africa. Secondly, this article
focuses on why the environmental discourse should be prioritised in the practical
theological subject field of youth ministry. Within the practical theology discipline,
the tripartite concern with the link between youth, faith, and environmental
consciousness has been under-researched.