Tomorrow’s Earth is built today: Securing our children’s future

By Ademola Ajagbe

What kind of future are we shaping for the next generation? The answer lies in the choices we make today.

As a conservationist and a father, I often find myself returning to this question. Raising a child is an act of deep optimism that tomorrow will be more just, more abundant, and more secure. But we must match that optimism with action. In recent years, we have seen climate change intensify challenges across Africa. Droughts drying up farmland, floods sweeping away livelihoods and storms displacing entire communities. Often, it is those who have contributed least to this crisis who bear its harshest impacts.

And our children notice. They see, they ask, they worry. They see the cracked earth where rivers once flowed, flash floods submerging homes and trees disappearing from the hills. Their questions “Why is it so dry?” “Will the animals survive?” “Will we still have forests when I grow up?”. These are not just questions, they are warnings.

According to a UNICEF report, one billion children globally are at extreme risk due to climate change. And yet, even amid these sobering statistics, there is a rising sense of possibility.

The most important question perhaps is, what are we doing about it? How can we assuage our children’s anxieties and protect the earth for them and future generations? Because we know what works and the solutions are within reach.

Earth Day reminds us not only of the scale of our responsibility, but of the power of collective action. Science tells us that nature offers some of the most effective tools to address the climate and biodiversity crises. At The Nature Conservancy in Africa (TNC), we support the global call to protect at least 30% of the planet’s lands and oceans by 2030. But conservation cannot simply be about setting aside spaces, it must be about restoring balance between people and nature.

Across Africa, momentum is building. We are seeing more inclusive, locally led conservation take root, from the savannas of Kenya to the forests of Gabon and the floodplains of Zambia. Governments are working alongside Indigenous Peoples and local communities, private investors and conservation groups to drive meaningful change. TNC is proud to support these efforts—building trust, sharing knowledge and helping secure the long-term resources needed to make conservation a lasting solution.

Engaging communities helps to harness their invaluable knowledge and expertise, ultimately shaping and guiding our efforts for Earth’s protection. Such a collaborative approach acknowledges the wisdom of these communities and fosters effective, equitable strategies for long-term preservation and responsible management of our natural resources.

Finally, we must embrace sustainable financing mechanisms for nature. Without it, we cannot sustain the Earth or its ecosystems. Absence of robust financial frameworks to support conservation initiatives remains a major hurdle. Traditional funding alone will not meet the scale of the challenge. Africa needs bold, innovative financing approaches that align climate and development goals. In the Seychelles, TNC’s support for a debt conversion deal enabled the protection of more than 160,000 square miles of marine ecosystems. In Zambia, $16 million was mobilized to conserve critical wildlife corridors while supporting community development.

These are not isolated wins—they are part of a growing movement to finance conservation differently, with integrity and impact.

For such efforts to succeed, they must put people at the center. Carbon markets, biodiversity credits, or debt conversions will only thrive if they deliver transparent benefits, strengthen local governance and uphold community land rights.

Our children don’t need perfect answers, they need to see that we are trying and that we believe a better future is possible. So, this Earth Day, let us recommit, not just with concern, but with courage. Let us match the scale of the challenges we face with the urgency, innovation and unity they demand.

Because the greatest legacy we can leave behind is not just a living planet—it’s a world our children will be proud to inherit.