The Ghanaian mother who travelled 10,000km to demand climate justice with her baby

A Ghanaian mother, identified only by her first name, Adjoa, recently embarked on a remarkable 10,000km journey from Ghana, carrying her one-year-old son, Leroy Kesse-Sam, to attend the 2024 COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan.

According to a report by Irish Mirror, Leroy, who recently celebrated his first birthday, is believed to be the youngest participant in the history of the UN climate summit, as he accompanied his mother, who is driven by an urgent plea for the equitable distribution of the burden of climate change support for vulnerable communities affected by its consequences.

Adjoa emphasised that her son's future is threatened by the impacts of climate change.

"My son’s future is at stake because of the impacts of climate change," she stated passionately.

Through her journey, Adjoa hopes to inspire action from wealthier nations to contribute the trillions required to support vulnerable countries in adapting to and recovering from climate disasters they had little role in causing.

"Young ones like my son Leroy need climate justice now," she noted.

Adjoa explained that rich countries can deliver climate justice by coming up with the support needed to help poorer countries adapt and bounce back from climate disasters.

Although Leroy is young, she wants to make sure his voice is heard.

"When I worked in schools, I taught them a song - reduce, refuse, recycle," she recalled. "My son has become so attached to that song; when I sing it, he keeps quiet. When he’s uncomfortable and I sing it, he stops crying. I think his voice needs to be heard in this climate finance agenda," she noted.

Adjoa recounted how the climate crisis is causing more poverty in Ghana, with some children unable to feed well because their parents are unable to afford it.

"The stakeholders have to provide finances so these children can benefit," she added.

On behalf of her son, Adjoa is supporting the call for the $5 trillion in climate finance that groups, including the Climate Action Network, say is owed to the global south.

The fight for climate justice has been a central theme in global discussions since COP24 in 2018, when world leaders finalised the Katowice Climate Package to implement the Paris Agreement.

This framework emphasised transparency, accountability, and support for vulnerable nations, principles that resonate deeply with Adjoa's journey.

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29, is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.

More than 65,000 delegates have registered to attend the summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, potentially making it the second-largest COP on record.

JKB/OGB

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