CSOs, activists counter COP, demand climate justice for Africa

By Faridat Salifu
Civil society organisations, climate justice activists and local communities stakeholders from 21 African nations have united towards confronting the persistent climate injustices faced by African communities.
Representatives of these countries unanimously agreed to confront the persistent climate injustice on the continent at the African People’s Counter COP (APCC) 2024 held in Saly, Senegal.
The summit held under the theme: “United Against Systematic Oppression and Climate Injustice in Africa,” was organised by the Africa Climate Justice Collective (ACJC) in partnership with Lumière Synergie pour le Développement (LSD).
The four-day summit which began on October 7, 2024, was opened with a reminder by Trusha Reddy of WoMin African Alliance, regarding Africa’s minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
He said less than 3% contrasted with the continent’s disproportionate suffering from the effects of climate change.
Reddy criticized the historical lack of meaningful action from international climate negotiations since the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, arguing that global leaders and corporations continue to prioritize profit over the welfare of vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
“The global North and large corporations launch projects for profit, not for the people or the planet,” Reddy stated, justifying the necessity of the Counter COP as a space to advance solutions centered on the needs of impacted communities.
In his own contribution at the summit, Rumbidzai Mpahlo, coordinator of ACJC, highlighted the gathering as an opportunity for climate justice activists and community members to strengthen solidarity and present real solutions to Africa’s climate crisis.
“We are here to fight for justice and to proffer real, community-driven solutions,” Mpahlo noted.
Also, Ibrahim Thiam, in his keynote address, called for a return to Africa’s roots of resilience, innovation, and solidarity.
He emphasized the importance of indigenous knowledge systems in adapting to the ongoing climate crisis.
“The change must start with every African when we take autonomy to solve our problems our way,” Thiam said, urging a reclamation of African identity and ingenuity in tackling climate challenges.
Aly Marie Sagne, Executive Director of LSD, reinforced the call for reparations and justice, advocating for local alternatives that respect environmental limits.
“We must stand firm in our fight against injustice and for the right to a healthy environment,” Sagne urged, while also promoting agroecology as a sustainable agricultural model.
He insisted that Africa could not only feed itself but the world if it embraced environmentally conscious farming practices.
Nahounou Daleba towed Sagne’s line of argument saying Africa’s current extractivist economic model serves foreign interests at the expense of local communities.
“We must rethink our consumption patterns, favor sustainable practices, and put an end to the reckless exploitation of our natural resources,” Daleba declared.
The APCC has thus become a rallying point for African voices demanding climate justice, underscored by breakout sessions and panel discussions aimed at building solidarity and highlighting community struggles.
The body is not just a forum for discussion; it serves as a platform for African voices to assert their rights and share their stories of resilience.