Fridays for Future, a youth-led organization, on Friday, organized activists and communities from all over the world to take part in climate strikes calling for an end to the flow of funding to oil, coal, and petrol projects all over the world.
African organizations held events in various parts of the continent to support this, emphasizing the need to increase investment in locally focused renewable energy and stop funding polluting fossil fuels.
African activists and communities on the front lines of the climate crisis are urging governments to take advantage of the continent’s enormous potential for renewable energy and prioritize a just energy transition in Africa as the continent suffers the devastation of worsening climate change.
They are also calling on financial institutions supporting the development of huge fossil fuel infrastructure on the continent such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, to stop fuelling the climate crisis and favor a sustainable energy future driven by renewables.
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Events in Benin, Cameroon, and Kenya featured art exhibitions highlighting the role of renewable energy as one of the key solutions to the climate crisis, public dialogue on fossil fuels, and the screening of a documentary on the planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
Landry Ninteretse, Regional Director, 350Africa.org, said: “The role of financial systems in the climate crisis is undeniable, as they continue to channel huge amounts to the fossil fuel industry, which is destroying our planet as it profits from coal, oil, and gas exploration. We are calling on financial institutions involved in fossil projects on the continent, such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to rule out support for such projects.
Seko Anas, a climate activist based in Benin, said: “Most African nations are blessed with abundant renewable energy to power clean energy growth and prosperity that serve the needs of people and economies. Some have already put forward energy transition plans, signaling a commitment to move away from polluting fossil fuels and charting a path to a sustainable and secure energy future with the associated social and economic advantages. To achieve this, the continent also requires the support of the developed nations to realize a just transition.”
Story adapted from EnviroNews
