Africa – This weekend people are joining over 735 actions in 90 countries under the banner of Rise for Climate to demonstrate the urgency of the climate crisis. Communities around the world will shine a spotlight on the increasing impacts they are experiencing and demand local action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. There will be hundreds of creative events and actions that challenge fossil fuels and call for a swift and just transition to 100% renewable energy for all.
The African continent will be teeming with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in various cities from Cape Town to Cameroon participating in a range of activities from mini-summits to youth groups rallies, as part of the lead up to the Global Climate Action Summit to be held in San Francisco. A delegation of African leaders from 3 countries will be representing the continent where they will learn how to phase out fossil fuel extraction from countries who have committed to 100%RE and begin a just energy transition that focuses on social and economic justice.
Elsewhere actions and events will include:
-
The Kenya Climate Rise Summit and concert that will bring together faith leaders, youth leaders and political leaders
-
A regional energy summit in the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)
-
Ghanaian activists pushing the Energy Minister to increase the RE part into the national’s energy mix.
-
The Abuja Climate Summit which will conclude in a colourful street parade
-
Representatives of youth, farmers, government, media, faith-based communities, business, academia and the legal profession in a discourse around climate impacts in Cape Town
People are rising to support urgent action before 2020 to accelerate to the rapid phase out fossil fuels and a just transition to clean and fair energy systems for all. There is no time to lose. Already this year the world has experienced catastrophic heatwaves in North Africa, Europe, Japan, Pakistan, Australia and Argentina; deadly wildfires in Greece, Sweden, the USA and Russia; drought in Kenya and Somalia; major water shortages in Afghanistan and South Africa; extreme storms and flooding in Hawaii, India, Oman and Yemen; record melting of the Bering Sea ice; and the 400th month in the row of above-average global temperatures.
This weekend Rise for Climate will demonstrate the growing strength and diversity of the climate movement and the people who won’t wait for governments to act, but will lead by example and hold them to account.
Note to editors:
-
Here you can find high quality photos and video reel from key events
-
Other photos will be available here (Flickr)
-
Here is a summary of key spokespersons available for interview/reactions
Media contacts:
Hoda Baraka
Global Communications Director
+201001840990
Brett Nadrich
GreenFaith, Communications Director
+17325886162
Lerato Ngakane
Africa Communications Coordinator
+27 81 464 9726
Quote Sheet:
“Climate change is the defining issue of our time, it is a crisis of democracy, justice and human rights. The diversity of these mobilisations show how the climate movement is the definitive global movement, bringing communities striving to improve civil and indigenous rights, deliver jobs and justice, protect the environment and defend democracy together. This weekend Rise for Climate will demonstrate the growing strength and diversity of the climate movement. These people are helping to accelerate the change we need to see, and usher in a new era of clean air and better health. Communities everywhere will show loudly and clearly what is expected from decision-makers to deliver on real climate leadership and build a fossil-free economy.” – May Boeve, CEO, 350.org
“Climate change is a matter of survival for millions of Africans already confronted with prolonged droughts, recurrent floodings, food insecurity, forced migrations and deadly conflicts due to water scarcity. By organising and joining Rise for Climate Mobilisations, Africans are calling their local governments and institutions to step up their efforts and do their utmost now to stop fossil fuels and develop 100% renewable energy for all.” Landry Ninteretse, 350 Africa Team Leader
“Australia is already feeling the impacts of our changing climate. We are fighting bushfires in winter, suffering a crippling drought, and scientists fear the first ever incidence of back-to-back of coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef during our next summer. Our country has so much renewable energy potential, yet we export climate change in the form of coal and gas to the rest of the world. Australians want climate action and today we are rising to demand real leadership.” – Blair Palese, CEO, 350.org Australia
“Global Warming is already affecting our livelihoods in the Southern border provinces of Thailand. We cannot afford even a single coal fired power plant to be built. We are rising to stop coal and call for renewable and sustainable sources of energy.” – Lamai Manakarn, Activist and Representative in Pattani, Southern Border Provinces of Thailand Network
“This mobilization is the voice of Iquitos, about something we have witnessed for many years and in which we have seldom joined, this event is the voice of the Peruvian Amazon for a clean and peaceful future. We want clean towns, without conflicts and injustice. We want policies that promote clean technologies. We want real change that makes it possible to leave behind more than 40 years of oil exploitation in our region and its impacts”- Victoria Espinoza, environmental management engineer, activist and coordinator of the event in Parque Zonal, Iquitos
“As part of the earth community, human beings are deeply connected to the environment. Climate change is one of the greatest threat to our existence on earth. As people of faith, our earth-centered spirituality provides a foundation on which we take action in healing earth and stopping climate change. In the face of earthly destruction, we need to continue to share the message of hope and to take action to respect and heal the earth and each other. Francesca De Gasparris, Director, SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute)