A compilation of films produced by Wilfrid Laurier University faculty will take the international stage when it is featured at the United Nations COP27 Climate Change Conference in Egypt on Wednesday, Nov 9.

The documentary on the environment and climate change produced by Ghanaian Youth Videographers will be showcased at the upcoming climate talks in Egypt (COP 27) the first in the history of the country.

According to a press statement by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty today, November 3, Laurier Associate Professor of Social Work, Mr Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy as well as English and Film Studies Instructor Mark Terry will be presenting the films as co-producers at the summit.

The films, collectively called The Ghana Youth Film Program, were supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Laurier.

The project, led by Laurier’s Mfoafo-M’Carthy, Terry and Associate Professor of History Jeff Grischow, involved 12 Ghanaians aged 18-30 creating short films on the impacts of climate change to their communities.

Mr Terry in the statement, expressed his joy in seeing these skills and talents displayed by these young filmmakers. He indicated that the youth played an important role in the fight against climate change, adding that the documentary was one of the ways to ensure that the views of the youth were considered in the climate talks.

“I was impressed with the skill and talent displayed by these young filmmakers. Many stories address water issues, both droughts and floods, yet the filmmakers all presented them in a unique documentary style. I am proud to present these at the UN climate summit, COP27, in Egypt next week.”
Mark Terry

The compilation of the films was premiered last month at a VIP screening in Ghana and it has been officially selected by three film festivals so far: the Docs Without Borders Film Festival (Delaware); the Emerging Artists Film Festival (Calgary); and the Sustainable Stories Film Festival (Houston).

The feature-length compilation film won the award for Best Documentary Feature at the Calgary festival.

According to the faculty, a selection of the films will be presented by Mfoafo-M’Carthy and Terry at the COP27 Conference on Nov. 9 at 9:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (4:45 p.m. Eastern European Time).

A press conference announcing this event and presenting other climate change documentary short films made by Laurier students in Laurier’s Graduate Enhancement Program will also take place in Egypt on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. (EET).

The Documentary

The documentary consist of 12 seperate films that highlight the impact of climate change on the environment and livelihoods, particulary among coastal communities hit by tidal waves and rising sea level.

It also captures climate change mitigation measures executed by individuals and organizations, including the adoption of climate-smart agricultural systems to improve food production.

The films were produced as part of the Ghana Youth Videograph programme and facilitated by the UN Youth Climate Report, a platform that showcases actions being taken by the youth around the world on climate Change.

According to Terry, the idea is to amplify the voice of the youth, particularly those in Ghana. He noted that he and his collegues are interested in hearing stories of climate Change and the impacts that they have here in Ghana.

Professor Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy, who is member of the Project Team, opined that policy makers must realise that the youth also have the voice because ”they also have something that they bring on the table.”

He said the Film would create awareness on climate change and elevate Ghana to the world in terms of climate action.

Africa will host the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) in November this year, which will be the second time the continent is hosting the global climate talks after hosting COP 17 in South Africa in 2011.