Speaking during the launch of the GreenFaith-Africa office in Nairobi, Meryne Warah, the GreenFaith Global Director for Advocacy, drew the attention of the multi-faith gathering at the All African Council of Churches (AACC) in Nairobi to the destruction the fossil fuels industry had caused people in Africa.
Several teams presented videos showing the effects of fossil fuels in their communities. Tanzania and Uganda shared videos of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) affected persons, many complaining about poor compensation for land taken and disrespect for their kin’s graves during displacement, among other ills. Nigeria had evidence of oil spills and gas flaring in Port Harcourt, in the Niger Delta, which has polluted rivers and the soil, killing the farming and fishing communities’ sources of livelihood, and increasing cases of respiratory and other diseases.
The global North’s efforts to dangle the carbon market when they had refused to honor the $100 billion climate fund pledge was pretentious. “Faith communities are our only hope.countries must not politicize issues of climate change. Capitalism places its efforts on profits against human well-being. Matters of climate change are matters of life and death. No hypocrisy. No deceit. No lie.
GreenFaith Executive Director Rev. Fletcher Harper said: “Africa is on the frontline of the climate crisis. Global North corporations want to exploit the continent’s resources and addict Africa to fossil fuels. GreenFaith Africa team is campaigning for clean, safe, affordable, reliable energy for every African, calling for millions of green jobs to lift people from poverty.The climate justice champions have demanded an immediate stop to new fossil fuel projects and loss and damage funds for those who have suffered permanent losses from climate change.
The meeting was attended by representatives of indigenous communities, women and youth from several parts of Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and the DRC and faith leaders from the Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and other communities.
