Addressing climate crisis in Africa: Climate justice activists review, strategise for effective impact.

This was during their Annual General Strategic Meeting, AGSM, which ran from April 16 to 19, 2024. The Yaounde event was hosted by Green Development Advocates, GDA, who have been convenors of ACJC since 2022.

Speaking at the event, the ACJC Coordinator, Rumbidzai Mpahlo, said ACJC which has been in existence since 2020, regroups movements and organisations from different thematic areas of the climate justice space. 

The Zimbabwean activist explained that they have remain steadfast in their Counter COP thrust and creating an environment in various convenor organisations and partners.

They are out to speak against and showcase the negative impact of climate injustices perpetrated by various national, regional and international mechanisms. 

He reiterated that ACJC has stood in solidarity with the communities, organisations and countries in the region who have been negatively affected by climate induced catastrophes.

The Coordinator spelt out that the AGSM provided an opportunity to review the performance of ACJC in the past year, identify opportunities to improve its work and to develop its institutional strategic objectives, mission and vision. 

While critically analysing the climate justice issues in Africa and the responses of ACJC organisations, the activists developed a collective operational and fundraising plan for ACJC in 2024. 

Mental health of activists

According to the coordinator, mental health stress is a reality amongst climate activists which explains why a special session was dedicated to mental health.

She explained that activists go about trying to influence public policies, engage communities and assisting different communities, they often forget about taking care of their own selves. 

“So, the mental health session was brought in to have a kind of look into the activist as people who are not super humans,” Rumbidzai stated. 

“When someone is stressed and overwhelmed, there is need for that person to be addressed so that they can continue doing their work effectively. Once the wellness is affected, the mental health is also affected, and then they will not be able to deliver well on their groups’ responsibilities” the Coordinator told The Guardian Post.   

Review climate crisis in parts Africa

The participants at the general meeting all attested to fact that climate change is having a major impact on lives and activities of their respective communities. 

According to Claude Evny Maganga, activist from Gabon, Africa continent pollutes the least but suffers the most impacts of climate change as none country is spared of the disasters. 

“…even Gabon, which lies at the heart of the Congo Basin, is suffering the effects of climate change through flooding, drought and seasonal changes,” she affirmed. 

With impacts on agriculture, economy and other sectors of the economy, Maganga acknowledged that countries are obliged to contract debts that further suffocates the economies.

On his part, Ange David Baimey from Cote D’Ivoire, said though the Congo Basin absorbs an enormous amount of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, it’s continually threatened by deforestation, hydrocarbon exploitation and mining projects. 

“These forests are important not only for the Congo Basin, but for the whole of Africa, because by absorbing greenhouse gases, they provide a favourable climate,” the Ivorian activists stated as he urged governments in the Congo Basin area to protect the forest.

South African climate justice activist, Trusha Reddy, said her country is acutely suffering from climate crisis. 

She noted that of recent, multiple disasters have struck South Africa especially flash floods causing destruction of infrastructures, farmlands and loss of lives and properties. 

She, however, attributed the worsening impact of climate change on South Africa’s over dependence on coal as a source of power and one of the top polluters in the world. 

“What is really sad is that human activities in South Africa like the building Coal Plants is worsening the climate crisis in our country. So, as we try to deal with the impacts of the climate change, we also have to deal with what is further worsening the climate crisis in South Africa,” she added.