Climate variability and change is an increasing
issue in Burkina Faso: extreme weather events
occur more frequently and have disastrous impacts.
This paper begins with an exploration of
how the events of climate change affect Burkina
Faso and identifies what factors cause and augment
its vulnerability and state fragility. Drawing
from empirical research performed within
Burkina Faso, the paper then focuses on the impact
that the environment plays on young people,
since they form the majority who need to deal
with and adapt to the changing climate. Tangible
and intangible resources are identified, which allow
youth to be resilient, and the main similarities
and disparities within this heterogeneous group
are explored. The findings reveal that the youth
of Burkina Faso are a pluralistic group and that
their resources are influenced by gender, age
and ethnicity. The paper concludes that effective
approaches to climate change require the inclusion
of strategies aimed at enabling youth resilience
against extreme weather events.