African leaders demand climate justice, accountability for socio-economic growth

Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has slammed the Conference of Parties (COP) process, saying it has failed to deliver meaningful action on climate change.

Bassey, who spoke while briefing the media at the West Africa, Climate Justice Roundtable held in Abuja on Tuesday, said, “The world has been on a ‘treadmill’ for 30 years, with the COP process failing to hold big polluters accountable.”

Bassey described the current COP process as “hypocritical,” noting that countries are now working on voluntary emission reduction targets rather than binding commitments.

“No matter how big a polluter you are, you’re expected to cut emissions at your own pleasure,” he said.

Bassey emphasised the need for climate justice and accountability. “If we really want to talk about climate justice, there’s no climate justice in Nigeria.

“If there’s climate justice in Nigeria, there will be no gas flaring. Oil spills would stop, and there will be an audit of the entire oil belt”, he said.

Also speaking, Kwami Kpondzo, a prominent West African activist, also sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of environmental degradation and climate change on the region.

“We have pollution, either pollution by oil, gas extraction, or mining like phosphates, gold, or manganese mining.

“And everywhere in West Africa, we have seen plantations destroying communities’ livelihoods and biodiversity. So we said, enough is enough, because we can’t stand seeing all those things, impacts affecting us”, he added.

Kpondzo called for a united front to address the interconnected challenges facing the region.

“We need all those organizations to be in the movement in West Africa, to speak in one voice.

“We want to link our fight against climate change, against oil and gas extraction, against monoculture plantations, and for agroecology and women’s rights”, he added.

Bassey emphasised that Africa should demand recognition and payment of climate debt from rich countries.

“We’ve been raped for hundreds of years, it’s time for someone to pay for it,” he said. “Climate finance would never do it. It’s a debt that’s been owed. It’s a colonial debt. It’s a pre-colonial debt. It’s an ongoing climate debt”, he noted.

Meanwhile, the Ayetoro Community in Ondo State, Nigeria, has been ravaged by climate change, with 80% of the community wiped out due to rising sea levels and turbulence caused by oil exploration activities.

Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro community, demanded protection of their shoreline against turbulence, which they believe is an indirect effect of climate change and oil exploration.

The community is calling for climate justice and demanding that the government and oil companies take responsibility for their actions.

They are seeking protection, restoration, and compensation for the damage caused by climate change and oil exploration activities.