•More than 500 African civil society organisations have issued seven hard-hitting demands on their governments and wealthy nations.
•In a statement, the civil societies said the African People are demanding for justice, decolonisation of the continent’s economic systems and repayment of climate debt.
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As the Africa Climate Summit kicks off in Nairobi on Monday, civil societies have asked African leaders to shun false climate solutions offered by developed countries.
More than 500 African civil society organisations have issued seven hard-hitting demands on their governments and wealthy nations.
The summit is set to kick off from September 4 to 6 at the Kenyatta International Convention Center.
In a statement, the civil societies said the African People are demanding for justice, decolonisation of the continent’s economic systems and repayment of climate debt.
"African people are demanding an end to energy capture, an immediate stop to fossil fuel projects and rejection of false solutions in a move that is set to put the plight of over 900 million people in the global spotlight," they said.
The civil society organisations also demand global solidarity, peace and justice, no new fossil fuels, new commitments for international cooperation and an end to energy agency capture and energy system capture.
To raise awareness of the challenges Africa is facing with climate change, the Real Africa People’s Climate Summit has organised a march.
The march will take place on September 4 in Nairobi and will bring together diverse stakeholders from various struggles and movements across Africa.
Hardi Yakubu from the Real Africa People’s Climate Summit said Africans are tired of leaders and governments paying endless lip service to Africa on the impact of climate change on its people.
“We demand a decolonisation of Africa’s economy and development agenda, a repayment of climate debt and delivery of much-needed money to Africa for Climate Adaptation and losses and damages, as well as real solutions to this gripping problem the continent faces,” Yakubu said.
Dean Bhebhe from the Don’t Gas Africa Campaign noted that public services such as education and healthcare are chronically underfunded as unsustainable debt drives austerity.
“Unsustainable debt levels that many countries face today also mean less fiscal space and to invest in adaptation and mitigation as well as address losses and damages already being experienced,” Bhebhe said.
By putting African people in the driving seat of the climate and development action agenda, the Real Africa People’s Climate Summit believe this is an opportunity to centre people’s voices, needs, well-being and the earth’s welfare in the climate change action and development discourse.
Joab Okanda from Christian Aid stated, “Amid the spin and rhetoric on offer this week at the Africa Climate Summit, there is no escaping the hard reality, climate change is tearing us all apart and real solutions lie with communities on the frontline of the climate crisis".
Okanda said African leaders should choose whether to stay on the path of dangerous destructions advanced by corporations and Western consultancies, where structural traps continue to be laid against Africa’s development.
Similarly, he said they can choose the path of the people marching on the streets of Nairobi for a renewed climate and development vision for African people’s dignity.