Baku, Azerbaijan, 15 November 2024: Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and environmental justice activists from Limpopo, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape have arrived at #COP29, to ensure grassroots voices are heard. Representing communities deeply affected by climate change, these activists bring urgent and essential perspectives to the global stage.
In the Eastern Cape, recent catastrophic floods have left communities struggling to recover, while in Limpopo, unprecedented heatwaves are threatening local livelihoods. These activists aim to spotlight the human toll of the climate crisis and share innovative solutions rooted in their communities. In turn, they will bring back critical insights from global leaders to help address these challenges at home.
Earthlife Africa’s Thabo Sibeko emphasized the importance of representation at COP29: “With rural communities grappling with agricultural and water challenges and urban areas facing infrastructure failures and pollution, it is crucial that grassroots voices are included. We must ensure that community concerns shape the global response to climate change and that we actively participate in solutions to prevent further harm.”
Earthlife Africa representatives, activists from the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Gauteng participating in an anti-nuclear energy demonstration at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Mbedzi Nemakhavhani from Rotondwa Trust in Limpopo shared his frustration at the lack of tangible progress: “We are here at COP29, and so far, it feels like we are hearing the same promises as before. Our youth must take action – this is their future at stake. Activists need to unite and challenge the fossil fuel industry head-on.”
Andile Mlambo (Gauteng) from Grassroots For Climate Action criticized the allocation of resources: “The money spent on this conference could have been directed towards immediate aid for climate-affected communities. Instead of hosting another COP in Brazil, these funds should be used to support those who are already suffering the consequences of climate change.”
The delegation outlines several priorities:
- Loss and Damage Fund: The activists demand that this fund be delivered as grants, not concessional loans, ensuring direct benefits to local communities.
- Transition to Renewable Energy: They advocate for prioritizing renewable energy solutions in industrialized regions of Africa to support a Just Transition to low-carbon development.
- Global Responsibility: The activists urge the Global North to finance reparative measures for the harm caused by fossil fuel extraction in Africa, ensuring marginalized communities can rebuild and adapt.
Sibeko added, “We came to COP29 to ensure that we raise the voices of marginalised communities affected by the climate crisis and fossil fuel industries. The future of our communities depends on immediate and equitable action, and to achieve that, grassroots must be included in decisions.”
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