Although the habitability of the earth is currently under threat due to climate change, the challenges posed by the menace can be a great opportunity for the young people to earn a living a make a difference in the world – this is the belief of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solar Taxi, Jorge Appiah.
Jorge Appiah, who is also a technopreneur, is urging the youth to shift their perspective and see the crisis as a gateway to innovation and impact.
The world is currently facing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems, with potential consequences for human health, security, and economic stability. The menace has become a major threat to Africa’s agriculture. For instance, the World Meteorological Organization reports that since 1961, Africa has seen a 34% decrease in agricultural productivity emanating from the impact of climate change.
The International Livestock Research Institute also reveals that rising temperatures pose a severe threat to key African staple crops like wheat, maize, sorghum, and millet. With 2°C of warming, crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa could drop by 10%, and beyond this threshold, losses may reach 20%. At 3°C of warming, current maize, millet, and sorghum-growing regions will become unsuitable for cultivation.
Given this impact, the CEO is calling on young people to embrace climate change not as an insurmountable challenge but as an unprecedented opportunity to create solutions that benefit both the planet and society.
He tells The High Street Journal in an interview that the greatest challenge of this generation is climate change, but it also presents the biggest opportunities, and hence advised young minds to direct their energy towards solving environmental issues through sustainable innovations, particularly in the areas of mobility, afforestation, and water conservation.
“The challenge can become an opportunity for young people who are looking for opportunities to do something with their lives. They should focus on climate change. The biggest challenge that we have for our generation and that out of that also is the biggest opportunities also,” he told The High Street Journal.
“We shouldn’t just look at climate change as something that should deter us from as a challenge. No, it’s also an opportunity. Let’s tap into this in various areas. We could look at it from afforestation to mobility to water and all that. These are challenges that we face as a country. So the issue should focus on the students in particular now. Focus your research, focus your work towards engineering to see what we can do in solving the climate challenge that we face,” he added.
Solar Taxi, an electric mobility company pioneering the shift to eco-friendly transportation in Ghana, has demonstrated how technology can be leveraged to address climate issues while fostering economic growth.
Jorge Appiah’s call to action is a wake-up call for young innovators, urging them to align their education, research, and careers toward engineering and sustainability-focused solutions.
His message is timely, as Ghana and the broader African continent face increasing climate-related challenges, from erratic weather patterns to deforestation and water scarcity. By viewing these challenges as catalysts for innovation rather than setbacks, young people can position themselves at the forefront of Africa’s green economy.
