Africa calls for end of Climate Injustices, Hands over Climate Justice Torch to COP27 Presidency

By Charles Ogallo

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Friday November 4 in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt handed over three-month long Climate Justice Torch campaign messages to the Egyptian Presidency of the 27^th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with calls for immediate actions to address adverse effects of climate change in the continent.

PACJA is a consortium of more than 1000 organizations from 48 African countries that brings together a diverse membership drawn from Grassroots, Community-based organizations, Faith-based Organizations, Non-Governmental organizations, Trusts, Foundations, Indigenous Communities, Farmers and Pastoralist Groups with a shared vision to advance a people-centered, right-based, just and inclusive approach to address climate and environmental challenges facing humanity and the planet.

Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of PACJA while handing over the torch to the COP27 presidency, said the torch has been moving from country to country since being launched in Libreville, Gabon in August, 2022.

“In every country the Climate Justice Torch campaign has moved to, it has carried the message of hope from various African communities and the messages collected will be presented at COP27,” he said while handing over the Torch to by Mr. Amr Essam, the COP27 Presidency responsible for Youth and Civil Society.

Mithika said they gathered for the demonstration together with the youth to signify efforts by the current and future generation in tackling climate change.

“We have no Planet B. This planet belongs to all of us whether you come from the north, all from the south, whether you are young or you are old, whether you come from Africa or elsewhere. This torch is just illuminating we hope it’s going to spotlight on key African issues,” said Mithika and several youth leaders from around Africa.

Tumal Orto Galdibe was one of participants of marchers,a pastoralist from Marsabit County, Northern Kenya.  

According to Galdibe, pastoralists in Kenya and the horn of Africa face unprecedented effects of Climate change. “Pastoralists are losing their livestock and with that, their livelihoods. We are suffering loss and damages for the mistakes that we never caused,” he said.  

Mrs. Florence Kasule from Uganda said many years ago in her country they never faced the effects of Climate change including drought and flooding. She said that now lives are being lost due to climate change and hence at this COP27, this need to be addressed.

“We came here to raise our voices as mothers and parents representing the children, women, Marginalized groups and the youth from East Africa so that it can be taken to people who are polluting so that the address climate finance and loss and damage.” she reiterated.

Abu Stephen Monday, the programme Manager of the Nigeria- based Climate and Sustainable Development Network informed the COP27 presidency representative that West Africa has been under serious effects of climate change. 

“West Africa is bleeding from the adverse effects of climate change as some parts of West Africa are hit by drought. Animals are dying. There is a growing insecurity resulting from ever decreasing resources available leading to clashes between herders and farmers,” said Stephen.

Stephen added that in the recent weeks, flooding has become another problem for Nigeria where 21 states out of 36 are affected by floods. He said that flooding destroyed resources and businesses.

“We are calling for COP 27 to deliver for Africa and if it is to deliver for Africa, then loss and damage should be taken as critical issue. The issue of climate finance for adaptation should be taken as critical issue, “he demanded.

Speaking to marchers of the civil society, Amr Essam, The COP27 Presidency responsible for Youth and Civil Society reiterated that COP27 is an opportunity for Africans.

“Africa should not stay forever a victim of climate injustice. This needs to be rectified and this message needs to be amplified. No one is in better place to say it than the African Civil Society. The African Youth, the African vulnerable communities, pastoralists, farmers, African scientists, women whose climate change impact is becoming a reality – and how they live the life and how they make their livelihoods.”

He stressed that “the story of Africa and Climate change should not always be a story of risks, diverse impacts of climate risks, catastrophes, cyclones, and lives and livelihoods that are being lost. Rather a story that Africa is of power of solutions and added that all that Africa needs is capacity development.

It is expected that during the COP27, issues of loss and damage, and climate finance will dominate discussions.

The Climate Justice Torch, an initiative of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, has been used as a mobilization campaign tool to raise interest among the African public and various African voices towards a common position as the continent prepared to host the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Climate Justice Torch campaign has crisscrossed African nations beginning from Gabon, Senegal, Morocco, and DR Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Chad, Namibia among others.