Youth Leadership in Environment and Health: Empowering Young Professionals to Drive Change

On Saturday January 17th, 2026, ISEC Cameroon successfully hosted its first webinar of 2026, Youth Leadership in Environment and Health, bringing together young professionals, students, health workers, environmental advocates, and community leaders from across the country. The webinar marked a strong start to the year, reaffirming ISEC Cameroon’s commitment to building youth leadership at the intersection of climate action, environmental protection, and public health.

The session created a dynamic space for learning, reflection, and dialogue on how leadership skills can empower young professionals to respond to today’s complex and interconnected challenges.

Setting the Stage: Leadership, Health, and Climate

The webinar opened with an introduction to ISEC Cameroon and its mission to empower young people through environmental education, leadership development, and civic engagement. Participants were reminded that the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and public health are deeply interconnected and require leadership that goes beyond traditional sectoral boundaries.

The discussions were structured around three core themes:

• Why leadership skills matter in life and career

• The link between environmental degradation, climate change, and health outcomes

• The role of health professionals in climate change mitigation and community action

From the onset, the tone of the webinar was interactive, reflective, and action-oriented, with participants actively engaging through questions and shared experiences.

Leadership as Responsibility in Action

Harrison Ashangwa, Executive Director of ISEC, delivered a session titled “Why Leadership Skills Matter in Your Life and Career.” He emphasized that leadership is not defined by titles, positions, or authority, but by responsibility, action, and influence.

A central message was that leadership begins with personal responsibility—the moment an individual decides to take ownership of a problem, act on it, and accept the consequences of their choices. Influence, he noted, does not come from authority but from consistent, responsible action over time.

Drawing from his personal leadership journey, which began years before any formal role or recognition, Harrison shared how curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn by doing—and failing—shaped his growth. He stressed that many young professionals delay leadership because they feel unprepared, yet growth comes from starting, learning, and adapting along the way.

In a rapidly changing world and an increasingly uncertain future of work, leadership skills were highlighted as essential life and career skills. These skills enable individuals to make decisions under pressure, communicate confidently, work effectively in teams, lead with empathy and integrity, and translate knowledge into meaningful community impact—particularly in the health and environmental sectors.

Environmental Degradation, Climate Change, and Health Outcomes

Dr. Silas Nalikoko provided an in-depth exploration of the link between environmental degradation, climate change, and public health. He explained how environmental harm directly and indirectly contributes to a wide range of health challenges, from vector-borne diseases such as malaria to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses caused by air pollution.

The discussion highlighted how climate change intensifies heat-related illnesses, food and water insecurity, mental health burdens, and health inequities, particularly among vulnerable populations. Dr. Silas emphasized that human activities—including deforestation, fossil fuel combustion, pollution, unsustainable industrialization, and poor waste management—are key drivers of these risks.

A critical takeaway from this session was that addressing health problems without tackling their environmental causes leads to recurring crises rather than lasting solutions. Protecting public health therefore requires urgent action to address environmental degradation and build climate resilience.

The Role of Health Professionals in Climate Action

Merilyn Ngemukum, ISEC Cameroon National Coordinator and a trained nurse, spoke on the vital role of health professionals in climate change mitigation and environmental advocacy. She emphasized that health professionals are among the most trusted voices in society, positioning them uniquely to influence healthier and more sustainable behaviors within communities.

Beyond clinical care, health professionals play an essential role in prevention, public education, data collection, and advocacy on climate-related health risks. She highlighted how health workers can lead by example in healthcare settings through waste reduction, energy efficiency, sustainable procurement, and improved waste management practices.

Merilyn also stressed the importance of data and research generated by health practitioners to inform policymakers about emerging climate-related health trends. By engaging communities and young people in climate adaptation efforts, health professionals can help strengthen grassroots resilience and long-term sustainability.

Collaboration, Civic Engagement, and the Way Forward

A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Health and environmental challenges are inseparable and demand collective action from health professionals, environmentalists, engineers, educators, policymakers, and communities.

Participants also learned about opportunities to engage with ISEC Cameroon’s growing network of volunteers and regional chapters in Yaoundé, Douala, and Bamenda. Through environmental education, leadership training, climate advocacy, and community-based initiatives, ISEC Cameroon continues to provide platforms for young people to turn knowledge into action.

The webinar concluded with a strong call for participants to take responsibility, act locally, think globally, and contribute actively to building healthier, more resilient communities.

As the first webinar of the year, Youth Leadership in Environment and Health set a powerful tone for 2026—one rooted in responsibility, collaboration, and youth-led action. The challenges of our time demand leaders who are willing to start now, grow through action, and work collectively toward a more just, healthy, and sustainable future.

Author: Harrison Ashangwa

Email: harrison.ashangwa@isecoal.org