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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On the occasion of the second African Climate Summit, the international NGO ActionAid urges the continent’s leaders to adopt a just and sustainable transition path, away from fossil fuels and industrial agriculture. The organization warns against “false solutions” such as carbon offsets, which risk exacerbating climate injustices rather than resolving them.
According to ActionAid, discussions at the summit must place the rights of frontline communities at the heart of decisions, particularly women, indigenous peoples, young people, workers, and groups most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“Africa is paying a heavy price”
“Africa continues to pay a heavy price for the climate crisis. The time has come to demand a just transition away from fossil fuels and industrial agriculture,” said Emmaqulate Kemunto, regional campaigner for ActionAid International.
She insists on the need for “commitments to be made by Africa, for Africa,” particularly through climate finance mechanisms that focus on the rights and needs of local populations, rather than the interests of polluting countries or large corporations.
Justice, inclusion, and equity
For his part, Nigus Simane, Country Director of ActionAid Ethiopia, believes that this summit must mark a turning point:
« The time has come for Africa to show leadership and chart a new course based on justice, inclusion, and equity. The people most affected by the climate crisis must be at the center of discussions, far from systems that perpetuate injustice. » «
ActionAid’s four key demands
ActionAid has four main recommendations for African leaders:
1. Fair climate finance for Africa, in the form of grants, not loans. The NGO calls for support for the UN tax convention, the fight against tax evasion, and the cancellation of unfair debts.
2. A transition by and for Africa that does not reinforce inequalities, violate human rights, or sacrifice communities for the benefit of corporations.
3. Investment in agroecology and community-based solutions, which are considered sustainable alternatives to industrial agriculture.
4. Reject false solutions, such as genetic manipulation technologies, geoengineering, or carbon offsets.
This summit is a decisive moment
For ActionAid, this summit represents a historic opportunity for African leaders to defend a vision of ecological transition that respects human rights and the realities of local communities. The organization believes that the fight against the climate crisis in Africa cannot be won without rejecting misleading solutions that benefit polluters more than they benefit the people.
