Activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged African leaders, including Nigerian authorities at the federal, state, and sub-national levels, to ensure climate justice for Africans in the Global South communities at the center of the climate crisis.
This call comes with the release of the 2024 Africa People’s Declaration, signed by eleven non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which addresses urgent needs within communities affected by climate change.
The declaration emphasides that Global North nations, which have historically contributed the most to the climate crisis, must lead efforts to cut emissions and fund energy transitions as reparations for the climate debt owed to the Global South.
During a recent media briefing organised by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), in partnership with Africa Climate Justice (ACJ), Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Center for Earth Works (CFEW) and others, the activists highlighted several critical demands. The primary demand is for an end to fossil fuel extraction across Africa, which has led to significant environmental degradation and social upheaval.
Activists also stressed the necessity for funding economic reforms in areas. most affected by climate change, arguing that such reforms are essential for fostering resilience and sustainable development.
The declaration calls for “food sovereignty,” urging African governments to prioritise local food crops over cash crops while promoting agricultural practices that resist genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Additionally, the call for “energy democracy” emphasises the need for socially owned renewable energy projects that benefit local communities before serving corporate interests.
A media adviser for Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), Elvira Jordan stated that “The transition must be grassroots-driven, ensuring that policies prioritise the wellbeing of people and the environment, not corporate profits.”
The African Climate Justice Collective (ACJC) held the first physical African People’s Counter COP (APCC) in Saly, Senegal, from October 7 to 10, where these issues were prominently discussed.
Over 100 participants from social movements, grassroots organisations, and academia gathered to strategise on elevating these demands on international platforms.
The President of Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), Anthony Akpan emphasised accountability, saying, “We must ensure that local communities benefit from the resources extracted from their lands.” The Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor lamented the lack of tangible benefits for communities after decades of oil extraction.
“There is nothing to show for 60 years of commercial oil extraction,” he noted, stressing the critical need for prioritising community welfare.
As the world prepares for the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), activists hope their declaration will resonate with African leaders, urging them to advocate for a just energy transition that prioritises the rights and needs of local communities.