Baku, Azerbaijan. African climate activists have made a powerful statement at COP29 by presenting a petition with over 10,000 signatures to the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), urging urgent climate action for the continent.
The petition, delivered to AGN Chairman Amb. Ali Mohamed, demands that African negotiators push for a renewable energy future, equitable climate finance, and justice for African communities suffering from the escalating impacts of climate change.
Murtala Touray, Program Director at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized that the petition reflects the concerns of thousands of Africans who are already feeling the devastating effects of climate change.
“This petition represents the voices of Africans facing the harsh realities of climate change,” Touray stated. We call on negotiators to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in causing environmental damage and supporting the harm done to our communities”.
One of the petition’s central demands is for increased investment in renewable energy solutions across Africa. With energy poverty being a major challenge on the continent, the petition calls for a shift away from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
Fred Njehu, a Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa, underscored the urgency, stating, “Africa’s future must be renewable, not fossil-fueled. Our negotiators have the opportunity to push for solutions that will protect both our ecosystems and communities”.
Another critical issue highlighted in the petition is the need to halt the expansion of fossil fuel projects. African negotiators are urged to include strong language in national climate plans (NDCs) to phase out fossil fuels and signal a commitment to a just energy transition.
This demand is seen as essential to reducing emissions and safeguarding vulnerable communities from further environmental degradation.
Climate finance is also a key aspect of the petition. Greenpeace Africa urges negotiators to advocate for predictable and accessible funding that supports vulnerable communities affected by climate change. The petition calls for this finance to be in the form of grants, rather than loans, to avoid exacerbating the debt crisis in many African countries.
Additionally, the petition demands that the biggest polluters, particularly the fossil fuel industry, pay for the damage they have caused to the environment.
“Fossil fuels are responsible for the majority of global emissions,” the petition states. “At COP29, we need a global mechanism to ensure that polluters contribute to climate action in Africa”.
Amb. Ali Mohamed, responding to the petition, expressed full support for its demands. “We are united in this cause,” he said. “The African Group of Negotiators is committed to pushing for an outcome at COP29 that reflects the interests and needs of our communities”.
The petition arrives at a crucial time for African nations, which are seeking meaningful commitments on climate action and financial support. With projections indicating that 118 million Africans could be at risk from climate-related disasters by 2030, the demands in the petition are more urgent than ever.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by climate campaigners from Greenpeace Africa, alongside members of the Climate Justice Movement, who continue to push for bold leadership in addressing climate change.
As COP29 progresses, the focus remains on ensuring that African negotiators secure the necessary climate finance and support for the continent’s transition to a sustainable future.