2019 Africa Day echoes demand for fossil-free continent
… climate change effects, environmental degradation put Africa at risk, activists say
Africa is at the receiving end of recent climate impacts with cyclones causing devastating destruction in places like Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, killing more than 1000 people. environmental degradation also remains rife as exploration for fossil fuels, especially crude oil, continues to leave many producing communities in bad shape.
As the Africa Day was observed this past weekend, thousands of participants gathering in more than 20 countries on the continent in different events to mark the day are said to have shown support for the continual fight against fossil fuels and advocate for climate justice.
Since its origin, Africa Day has been a symbol of aspiration for selfdetermination against the exploitation of natural resources that has seen the continent in perpetual conflict and on the brink of a devastating climate crisis, read a statement by 350 Africa, which coordinated events across sev
er al african countries to mark the day.
Landry Ninteretse, regional team leaderfor350africa.org, said in a statement: “In the last few months, we’ve seen the climate impacts of Cyclone Idai and Kenneth in Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, drought sand flood sin kw a zulu-natal and eastern cape. with the exception of south africa, african countries have done relatively little to contribute to climate change yet are being severely impacted and have little to no resources to cope with the aftermath.
“Less developed African countries are a natural disaster away from sinking into a negative loop of poverty and lack of access to social and economic opportunities, exacerbated by climate change.”
Saturday, participants from all walks of life took part in various activities to send a strong message that Africa does not have to rely on fossil fuels to satisfy its energy demand, but rather lead the world in the just energy transition powered by low-cost renewable resources.
“Fossil fuels have been identified as one of the primary drivers of climate change ,” said michael david te rungwa from GISEP, in Nigeria, saying, “The people who mobilised for Afrikavuka today are demanding a rapid phaseout of fossil fuel energy.”
Terungwa further said despite overwhelming evidence that continued fossil fuel use was killing the planet and many of us with it, investors appear dead set on enriching themselves at the expenses of billions of people.
“Those in power are doing nothing to stop this madness, and are instead adding to it, claiming that more coal-fired power stations in Lamu, an official UNESCO Heritage site, and oil exploration in the DRC’S Virunga National Park, a biodiversity hotspot, to name a few, are going to be good for development. We ask them ‘Whose development, exactly?’ There is a path for a just development that puts people, their safety and the resilience of the environment we all rely on at the centre,” he said.