Agape Earth Coalition’s Post

Addressing issues beyond COP, this book, CLIMATE IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA, looks into the political economy of climate change, especially as it affects Global South, and in particular, Africa. Available here: https://lnkd.in/dgtvjzc5 Climate Action Network International South Africa Climate Action Network (SACAN) Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa Oxfam International Oxfam in Africa Oxfam South Africa OZA Oxfam in Nigeria 350.org Urgewald Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Recourse SOMO ECCO think tank CLIMA Fund PACJA South Africa Pan African Climate Justice Alliance PACJA PACJA SA Oil Change International Oilwatch Africa Greenpeace Africa Greenpeace International Greenpeace UK Greenpeace Nederland Corporate Accountability ActionAid ActionAid Nigeria PowerShift e.V. Power Shift Africa Big Shift Global Germanwatch e.V. Earth4All Taproot Earth WRI Africa WRI Climate FES Just Climate International Institute for Sustainable Development International Accountability Project Amnesty International Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa Global Greengrants Fund

Yesterday marked the official opening of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP16) in Cali, Colombia, under the theme #PeaceWithNature. The ceremony set the tone for two weeks of crucial negotiations, addressing climate change, just energy transition, and debt cancellation, among others—key priorities for us at CAN Africa. Colombian President Gustavo Petro gave a powerful opening speech, highlighting the urgency to decarbonize and condemning the continued exploitation of fossil fuels that accelerate climate change. He criticized the accumulation of wealth at the expense of biodiversity and called out the debt burdens trapping developing countries, directly naming nations profiting from high-interest loans. Petro also boldly addressed global inequalities, political turmoil, and the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Lebanon, reminding us how these crises intersect with the fight for justice in environmental and climate spaces. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced the need for action, urging countries to align national targets with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He stressed the importance of finance for developing countries through the GBF Trust Fund and called for deeper engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in conservation efforts. China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, noted that China was the first "developing country" to submit a revised NBSAP, underlining the importance of finance and global cooperation in addressing the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. COP16 President and Colombian Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad, emphasized the need to jointly tackle biodiversity loss and climate change through decarbonization. She called for an end to development models that exploit nature and recognized the essential roles of research, indigenous knowledge, youth, and civil society in addressing the planetary crisis. We are proud to share that our Campaigns and Policy Lead, Dr. Wafa Misrar, will be attending COP16 as a policy fellow with the African Wildlife Foundation. She will actively follow the negotiations, ensuring Africa’s priorities—just energy transition, equitable climate finance, and debt justice—are championed. Stay tuned for updates as CAN Africa continues to advocate for solutions that place Africa at the center of global climate action! 🌱 African Wildlife Foundation #ClimateJustice #JustTransition #DebtCancellation #PeaceWithNature #CBDCOP16

Over the weekend, PACJA led crucial discussions on climate justice, underscoring the urgent need for stronger North-South collaboration. The dinner meeting held on Sunday at the Khazri Hotel, with participants from PACJA and the Azerbaijan NGO Forum, provided an opportunity for strategic exchanges on combating the climate crisis. Susan Otieno, Country Director of ActionAid Kenya, highlighted the human impact of climate change, particularly on women: “If you want to know and see the impact of climate change, look at the face of the women. They demonstrate it in their bodies, in their everyday lives, and in their resilience.” This statement underscores the importance of inclusive approaches that address the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups. Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA, called attention to the interconnectedness of global crises: “We must address the pandemic, the health crisis, the debt crisis—all of which are linked to an inequitable international financial system. Our approach to the climate crisis must be holistic and aim for systemic change.” Dr. Tinashe Gumbo of AACC reiterated their commitment to supporting PACJA’s efforts in climate justice advocacy, stressing that addressing these challenges collaboratively is key to sustainable progress. If you missed these pivotal discussions, read and download the key outcomes to stay informed and join our mission for climate justice. https://bit.ly/3UW0n0U #KeepYourPromises #PacjaatCOP29 #AfricaWeWant #ClimateFinance #COP29 #NCQG

Working closely with young people is such a blessing and journeying with these dynamic leaders to learn from them and to collaborate is just astounding! To have such young women of Africa take interest in climate (and other) negotiations is life-giving to a new trajectory of women leadership in the #environment. The support accorded by the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) to young faith leaders speaks commitment to our purpose. Gender progressive leadership cannot be on paper alone - it MUST be faith with action. As for the #COP29, it MUST shift gears towards delivering for the most vulnerable (climate) poor even ahead of the Climate Finance #COP30 Pledges MUST be honored. Promises MUST be kept. Most of all, ambition MUST prevail!

I participated in the SB60 Subsidiary Bodies summit representing YLE Foundation. Also as Pan African Climate Justice Alliance PACJA, GNDR, Global Center on Adaptation. 1. I attended the opening session, which featured an important speech from the Executive Director of the UN Climate Change . The session was briefly interrupted and then halted due to an activist raising the Palestinian flag, which I found remarkable to remnid us where we are. 2. I took part in a press conference organized by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, where we discussed: - Challenges faced by African youth - The necessity of facilitating their participation by securing visas - Increasing climate finance directed towards youth in the Global South 3. I met with the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators along with a delegation of representatives from African civil society organizations to discuss: - Enhancing the role of African organizations and increasing their quota in climate summits as one of the main challenges - Involving young negotiators in the work of the African Group of Negotiators 4. During a conference with the Global Center on Adaptation, we announced "Youth Adaptation Day" and I emphasized: - The urgent need to significantly increase climate adaptation funding 5. Throughout the summit, I participated in: - Bilateral meetings, media engagements, and met with numerous colleagues and partners during my participation in the Subsidiary Bodies meetings. #YLE #PACJA #ClimateAction #YouthPower #gndr #ClimateJustice #ActNow #ClimateChange #youth4adaptation #cop29 #climatejustice #unfccc #gendr

As COP29 kicks off in Azerbaijan, with focus on climate funding, this essay exposes the inadequacies and frauds in existing climate funding for Africa. The essay focused on the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), a REDD+ programme funded by major western (Global North) countries, as part of their climate funding commitment. The essay is an excerpt from the book, CLIMATE IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA ( available here: https://lnkd.in/dgtvjzc5 ) Climate Action Network International Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa South Africa Climate Action Network (SACAN) Pan African Climate Justice Alliance PACJA PACJA SA Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Power Shift Africa PowerShift e.V. Big Shift Global Greenpeace International Greenpeace Africa Greenpeace Nederland Germanwatch e.V. Oxfam Oxfam International Oxfam in Africa Oxfam South Africa OZA Oxfam in Nigeria Oxfam in Southern Africa SOMO Recourse ECCO think tank Amnesty International Earth4All Taproot Earth Health of Mother Earth Foundation ActionAid Oil Change International Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Global Greengrants Fund

📝 💡 New research article out today in Climate and Development with co-authors Neeshad Shafi and Charles Mankhwazi. In this piece, we engage with the experiences of youth advocates from the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region who participated in the U.N. COP 27 climate negotiations in 2022. We argue for more intersectional understandings of youth climate justice advocacy that prioritize the perspectives, stories, and lived experiences of young people in regions most impacted by climate change. This work underscores the importance of understanding the 'spatial politics' that youth activists mobilize in their work through place-based storytelling and regional solidarity. We also highlight the importance of research collaborations that bring together academic researchers and youth civil society advocates. Article is available open-access below: https://lnkd.in/gzQFuMSg

7 African NGOs Leading the Fight Against Climate Change Africa faces severe climate challenges, from prolonged droughts to rising temperatures. From reforestation initiatives planting millions of trees to advocacy groups shaping international climate policies, these organizations are making remarkable strides: 1. African Climate Reality Project (ACRP): Building a network of climate leaders across Africa 2. The Green Belt Movement (GBM): Combining environmental conservation with community empowerment 3. SouthSouthNorth (SSN): Specializing in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies 4. Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA): Advocating for climate justice in 48 African countries 5. African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI): Accelerating renewable energy adoption continent-wide 6. Greenpeace Africa: Campaigning on various environmental issues with a strong climate focus 7. Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN): Engaging youth in climate-smart agriculture These NGOs exemplify the diverse and impactful efforts being made across Africa. Their work is crucial for global climate action. Click here to learn more: https://rb.gy/g0yi52 #ClimateAction #AfricanNGOs #Sustainability #ClimateJustice

The 3rd regional convening on Loss and Damage in Malawi is coming and you do not want to miss out! Since our inaugural convening in 2022, our focus has been on driving meaningful conversations and actions surrounding Loss and Damage. In our first gathering, we played a crucial role in framing and elevating the agenda, contributing to its adoption at COP7. Building on this momentum, our second convening saw us actively engaging with the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, providing vital inputs and strengthening our capacity to effect change within the #UNFCCC framework. Now, as we prepare for our third convening, we are more determined than ever to foster rich and targeted discussions that drive tangible outcomes. This gathering isn't just about dialogue; it's about catalyzing action at every level. By participating in this event, you will have the opportunity to: 🔹 Gain insights from leading experts and practitioners in the field. 🔹 Collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations committed to addressing Loss and Damage. 🔹 Contribute to shaping future policy and advocacy efforts in the fight against climate change. Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity to be part of the solution. Register now to secure your spot and join us virtually in Malawi for what promises to be a transformative and informative event: https://bit.ly/3Vhm4JG #LandDConf2024 #FinanceLossandDamage #ClimateJustice

As we celebrate the African Union Day, I am proud to honour our unity and progress, and reaffirm my commitment to combating climate change. The African Union (AU) is leading the way with impactful initiatives like the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) and the Great Green Wall, promoting renewable energy and enhancing climate resilience. I believe in a resilient Africa, where we turn climate challenges into opportunities. By embracing green technologies and advocating for climate justice, we can pave the way for a sustainable future. Let’s celebrate today by reaffirming our dedication to these vital efforts. Together, we can build a greener, thriving Africa. #AfricanUnionDay #ClimateChange #SustainableFuture #GreenAfrica #SDG #ClimateAction 🌱🌱🌍 #CDKNGhana