Considering New Perspectives: Reflections from the Youth Community of Practice on Just Transition

Chileshe Mwamba Wagner is a participant in our ongoing Youth Community of Practice on Just Transition, a joint initiative from IIED Europe and Green Economy Coalition, funded by the European Union, with learning journey content written and facilitated by Elaine France, Founder of Flow In Action. Here, Chileshe shares her thoughts on the practice so far...

It was my first session in Future Thinking as part of the Youth Community of Practice on Just Transition. Two questions opened my mind. These two questions have challenged my approach to business.

"Who else is not in the room?"

After 14 years of developing my career in Project Management and Business, I considered my main strength in planning & strategy. I can quickly populate a stakeholder map and then conduct desk research, a survey and few interviews to create an informed position. ‘Just Transition’ requires one to go further and listen to all voices - oneself, artisans, communities, operators, executives, policy makers, mothers and children. With an interview, yes you can be informed however speaking to others validates that position further and inches you closer to the truth, social or market needs.

Furthermore, despite my professional experiences, it is not advisable to replicate one solution from one scenario to another scenario. An entrepreneur from South Africa stated how she would focus on the geographical area of Gauteng as the human population is 19 million. However, my country's population is 19 million. Though we are both SADC member countries, national perspectives on topics such as immigration for example may differ, neither party would be right or wrong but different. Effective dialogue addresses these nuisances.

"How can we welcome nature into the room?"

In Zambia I am surrounded by greenery, pockets of bare savanna land, sounds of birds chirping and bees buzzing, yet I didn't stop to listen and deeply explore what a Just Transition future looks like for nature. What is the future of land, water, air, wildlife, livestock, soil and so on.

I run three companies in Real Estate, Technology and Marketing for Local Owned Mines. As a result of the very first session of the programme, I am reconfiguring my companies from their foundations. These sessions consist of compelling group discussions with peers from Taiwan, Portugal, Rwanda, Peru and many other countries highlighting how well meaning and eloquently populated ESG matrices and stakeholder plans are not enough. Just Transition means inclusion, decision making, innovation and action.

If I do not reconfigure my businesses, I will grow businesses for my children to benefit financially while potentially destroying their greenery, land, rivers, birds and bees. If I asked my 2 year old and 5 month old what they would prefer, a profitable company to inherit or birds in their trees. They would choose the latter. Just Transition makes it possible for me to have both.

I have experienced a level of overwhelm and anxiety by national and world events and their potential direct or indirect impact on my children. I enrolled in YCOP because it trains me how to problem solve even in parenthood. Parents find ways to protect their children. For example, access to safe water can be viewed as a rural problem and a ‘give-in’ in the city. However, events such as an environmental disaster as a result of an acid spill by a mine as seen in the Kafue River makes one cautious and question if our water sources are safe. Buying water purifiers and frequent water quality testing are temporal fixes. I must address what is happening on a personal level then organizational, industrial and at policy level. My Just Transition journey has been transformed by a pattern of thinking.

Malo Africa is a mobile application for the local businesses to trade with one another. In our phase we aim to encourage reuse of items and explore ways to highlight sustainable solutions and businesses through user profiles and marketing. Our commercial property under Makoli Logistics Park will run on mixed energy sources while selectively partnering with climate conscious companies. Lastly, Ascent Resources will completely change its mandate to focus on trade and financial support for local mine owners while bringing awareness on workers safety, safe disposal of hazardous materials in conjunction with government authorities, supporting alternative livelihoods in agriculture and protection of children and mothers.

These are immediate and short-term actions as we gain more knowledge, exchange views in our associations and engage stakeholders. Our actions will hopefully scale and multiply across various sectors and regions.

- Chileshe Mwamba Wagner