How to make the Africa Green Mineral Strategy work  

In Africa, Big Oil enriches the powerful while deepening the poverty of those least responsible for climate change. And among the worst affected are women, the invisible labourers, caregivers, food producers, and water carriers who are forced to bear the burden of environmental degradation and socio-economic exclusion.

East Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change impacts. But what has experts on the edge is the level of debt that the countries now face.

Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa, is facing the highest risk of debt distress among the three East African countries, with borrowings amounting to Sh5.09 trillion as of January 2025.

Being forced to buy new seeds every planting season is one of the burdens that dependence on genetically engineered and exotic seeds places on farmers, especially smallholders.

This is why it’s important for African countries to establish community seed banks: to protect indigenous seeds, uphold farmers’ seed sovereignty, and strengthen resilience against climate shocks and crop loss.

Hunger, malnutrition, obesity, biodiversity loss and declining soil fertility are all symptoms of a deeply unjust and unsustainable food system.

One where power has shifted from farmers and consumers to agribusinesses and corporations.  

Africa’s land governance faces legal uncertainty, tenure insecurity and weak enforcement mechanisms.

Outdated or poorly enforced land laws have led to fragmented tenure systems, creating legal ambiguity.  

Have you ever thought about the human cost of producing a single chocolate bar? Probably not.

To enthusiasts of the world's most popular snack, the fact that cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate is a no-brainer.

The reality, however, is that chocolate has a host of hidden ingredients, notably child labour, poor wages, difficult working conditions, exploitation, and resistance. There is also the high ecological cost of cocoa production. 

And now… climate change.  

Wetlands are nature’s ‘unsung heroes’ when it comes to supporting ecosystems.

Beyond climate benefits, wetlands support food security and safeguard biodiversity. Yet, they face immense threats, with destruction occurring at three times the rate of forests.

10 ways US Exit from the Paris Climate Agreement Could Affect Africa

Mohamed Adow, Executive Director of Power Shift Africa, speaking during the 3rd edition of the Nairobi Climate Talks

When climate disasters strike, loss is easier to assess. What is not visible, however, is the sociocultural trauma of gender-based violence, whose impacts outlast extreme weather events. 

In Zambia, women and girls would walk over long distances to look for water and food, which exposed them to the risk of violence. After a day of toil, mothers would sometimes give sexual favours in exchange for food, leading to sexual exploitation.   

At #COP29Baku, lobbyists had a field day with oil & gas, carbon markets & agriculture interests featured heavily. A total of 1773 fossil fuel lobbyists attended the climate talks, alongside 204 agricultural lobbyists and 480 carbon capture influencers.

Are the UN #climate talks slowly being captured by lobby groups?

Live updates: COP29 Conference

Whenever UNGA convenes, it inspires hope, marking a turning point for our planet. This UNGA is not different. Except the stakes are higher than ever before. For instance, 2024 is projected to be the hottest in record and current talks signal that the NCQG outcome may largely be political rather than informed by science or technical reports.