By Salifu Faridat
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In anticipation of the Africa Climate Summit, Greenpeace Africa has recently issued a compelling call to action, urging African governments to take immediate steps to mitigate the devastating effects of the climate crisis on the lives of African citizens.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the summit’s secretariat, Greenpeace Africa sounded a warning against the possibility of Africa becoming the new battleground for the extraction of oil, gas, and coal—a perilous trend driven by former colonial powers.
This warning comes at a time when East Africa is grappling with its most severe drought on record, northern Africa is battling extreme heat and wildfires, and flash floods are wreaking havoc in various African nations.
The science behind the climate crisis is unequivocal: it is driven by long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions, primarily stemming from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat.
Dr.Oulie Keita, Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “While greedy corporations continue to scramble for Africa’s coal, oil, and gas, more severe and frequent floods and droughts are shattering communities across the continent. This human-induced climate crisis will only become more catastrophic if we collectively fail to act.”
The consequences of extreme weather events—droughts, floods, and landslides—are being acutely felt in agriculture and crop harvests, as exemplified by Kenya’s worst drought on record. These events have far-reaching implications for food security, leading to rising food prices that are particularly burdensome for African populations.
Dr. Keita underlined the need for Africa to break its dependence on fossil fuel-powered energy systems. “Africa’s dependence on fossil fuel-powered energy is stealing our future and leading us to an ever-worsening climate disaster. Africa has the potential to build greener and better than previous generations if we act together. We have a collective responsibility and the power to minimize the harms of the climate crisis.”
The executive director stressed the importance of visionary leadership and a shift away from the destructive models of Western development. “Our governments and leaders must have the courage to reimagine an alternative future and chart a new developmental path away from the destructive models of the West; a path that prioritizes people and the planet over profit. This summit is an opportunity for genuine dialogue, where our leaders, civil society organizations, scientists, youth activists, and other stakeholders can assert our perspectives, needs, and solutions.”
Notably, the World Bank estimates that approximately 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa have limited or no access to electricity. Renewable energy offers a viable solution to address this energy gap while steering the continent towards sustainability. Instead of advocating for the continued extraction of fossil fuels, Africa has the potential to lead the world in a just transition to 100% renewable, secure, and affordable energy. Renewable energy technologies have made significant advancements, becoming the most cost-effective form of energy generation and driving employment growth.
Dr. Keita concluded with a call to action, saying, “Greenpeace Africa calls for Africa’s leaders to avoid falling into the fossil fuel trap and lead the continent towards a clean, renewable, affordable, and sustainable energy future. We need policies that incentivize investments in the continent’s exceptionally high potential for decentralized renewable energy.
