Africa faces disproportionate climate impacts, inadequate finance, and exploitation. Justice requires equity, local empowerment, and fulfillment of global climate commitments. Africa stands at the frontline of a climate crisis it did little to cause. Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent bears a disproportionate share of the impacts, a phenomenon now recognized as climate injustice. From deadly droughts in the Horn of Africa to devastating floods in West and Central Africa, the consequences are not abstract. They are immediate, measurable, and catastrophic. Yet, in the face of growing emergencies, the international community’s response has been grossly inadequate, marked by broken promises, slow disbursements, and a disturbing tolerance for systemic corruption both within and beyond Africa’s borders.

According to the UNDP, Africa received just 2% of global climate finance between 2011 and 2021, amounting to approximately $170 billion. However, the estimated need stands at $2.8 trillion by 2030 to meet Nationally Determined Contributions.[1] In 2021-2022, only $30 billion was mobilized, a mere 11% of the annual requirement. While multilateral development banks overtook bilateral sources in recent years, financing remains overwhelmingly debt-based and heavily skewed toward mitigation over adaptation. This contradicts the region’s urgent priorities, given Africa’s high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity.[2]

The Climate Crisis on the Ground
Speaking at the 2022 United Nations General Assembly, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana declared: “Those who pollute the least suffer the most. It is unjust. We must not be made to pay for the carbon-intensive development of others.” Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti echoed the same urgency: “The droughts have dried our hopes. We cannot adapt to extinction.” Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, speaking during the 2023 Security Laws Amendment Bill debate in Parliament, argued, “Climate change is the greatest existential threat to African nations. It must be treated as a security issue, not just an environmental one.”

Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya have experienced five consecutive failed rainy seasons, culminating in the region’s worst drought in 40 years. Over 23 million people faced acute hunger in 2022 alone. In Somalia, drought displaced 1.2 million people by the end of that year.[3] In Nigeria, the worst flooding in over a decade occurred in 2022, killing more than 600 people and displacing over 1.3 million. Mozambique faced similar devastation, with repeated cyclone events, cyclone Idai in 2019 and Freddy in 2023, crippling infrastructure and livelihoods.[4]

Bureaucratic hurdles further weaken climate finance delivery. The Green Climate Fund and similar mechanisms are marred by long delays, complex application processes, and misaligned donor priorities. National institutions often lack the technical and administrative capacity to access these funds, a fact that undermines timely, context-sensitive responses. Moreover, rigid fiduciary standards and “one-size-fits-all” conditionalities ignore Africa’s heterogeneous institutional realities.

Furthermore, Africa’s natural resources have become battlegrounds for exploitation under the guise of climate action. Carbon offset schemes and conservation initiatives often lead to land grabs that displace indigenous populations without consent or compensation. Recent deals between private firms and African states have placed millions of hectares under foreign control, raising serious questions about sovereignty, environmental justice, and equitable development.[5]

The climate crisis also intersects with fundamental human rights. As highlighted in UNEP’s report on Climate Change and Human Rights, climate-induced disruptions undermine access to clean water, food, health services, and housing rights protected under international law.[6] Coastal communities in Nigeria and Mozambique face repeated displacement due to flooding, while droughts in Ethiopia and Somalia continue to drive food insecurity and migration. Without urgent remedial action, such events will increase in frequency and intensity.

Toward Climate Justice
International solidarity, to date, has largely failed the African continent. Commitments made under the Paris Agreement, including the annual $100 billion pledge, have been consistently unmet or manipulated through creative accounting. Loss and damage funding remains politically contested, despite the glaring need. The global climate architecture continues to prioritize mitigation in industrialized countries over adaptation in vulnerable regions, reinforcing a neocolonial hierarchy of climate responsibility and resource control.[7]

To break this cycle, a paradigm shift is required. First, developed nations must honor and scale up climate finance commitments, ensuring grants take precedence over loans. Secondly, mechanisms like the Loss and Damage Fund must become fully operational with transparent governance and direct access for vulnerable states. Thirdly, African governments must strengthen institutional frameworks to eliminate corruption and ensure inclusive, accountable climate governance.

Finally, climate action must be grounded in justice. That means empowering local communities, securing land rights, and rejecting exploitative models disguised as green development. Africa is not asking for charity, it demands equity, reparative justice, and a future shaped by its own people and priorities. Anything less would not only perpetuate injustice but deepen it in the face of a worsening planetary emergency.

BY EMMANUEL GUMBO 

[1] UNDP. Climate Finance in Africa: An Overview of Climate Finance Flows, Challenges and Opportunities. United Nations Development Programme, 2024.

[2] OECD. Climate Finance Provided and Mobilised by Developed Countries: Aggregate Trends Updated with 2021 Data. OECD Publishing, 2023.

[3] WMO. State of the Climate in Africa 2022. World Meteorological Organization, 2023.

[4] UNDRR. Africa Regional Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2023.

[5] Land Matrix. Large-scale Land Acquisitions in Africa: A Regional Overview. Land Matrix Initiative, 2023.

[6] UNEP. Climate Change and Human Rights. United Nations Environment Programme, 2015.

[7] UNFCCC. Standing Committee on Finance: Report on the Determination of Needs of Developing Country Parties. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2023.

On Press Freedom Day, HRS unveiled a Justice Wall at The Guardian, honoring imprisoned journalists and demanding global press freedom. On May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) carried out a powerful and meaningful demonstration in London to draw attention to press freedom and show support for imprisoned journalists. In front of the headquarters of the renowned newspaper The Guardian, we installed a five-meter-long Justice Wall, displaying posters of 11 journalists representing the nearly 400 journalists currently imprisoned worldwide.

The event attracted strong interest from journalists and human rights defenders. Reporters and editors from The Guardian wrote supportive messages on the wall. One of the newspaper’s writers and editors, Simon Hattenstone, expressed his appreciation for the demonstration taking place in front of his workplace. “This is a valuable initiative. Defending press freedom and speaking out for imprisoned or killed journalists is extremely important. Without a free press, a free world is impossible,” he said. He added that while journalism in the UK is relatively easy, it is far more difficult in countries like Turkey, Eritrea, and others. “I deeply respect your efforts to shed light on the horrific conditions in the countries represented here today,” he added.

Among the participants was Tarık Toros, a journalist living in exile from Turkey. Journalists from Eritrea, including Marymagdalene Asefaw of Desta TV, Amanuel Eyasu of Asena TV, and Tesfalem Araia from BBC Tigrinya Service, also attended and covered the event.

The demonstration received written support from prominent organizations, including the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Sweden-based Edelstam Foundation, the Canada-based Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), and the Eritrea Focus research center.

Among the displayed posters were journalists such as Mehmet Baransu, Ali Ünal, and Serdar Altan, who have been imprisoned in Turkey for years. One of the most striking figures featured was Dawit Isaak, a 61-year-old journalist, author, and playwright, who has been detained in Eritrea for 24 years without charge. A Swedish citizen, Isaak is considered one of the longest-imprisoned journalists in the world. His poster drew particular attention from Eritrean journalists.

Throughout the event, participants emphasized that press freedom is not just a media issue, but a fundamental human right. Tarık Toros stated, “When journalists are silenced, the truth is silenced. Press freedom is not up for debate.” Holding the posters of Dawit Isaak and Ali Ünal, Amanuel Eyasu highlighted that both were imprisoned simply for doing their jobs. “Repressive regimes are not the only ones responsible for these injustices — our silence plays a role too. These journalists work to be the voice of the voiceless, yet we remain quiet. It’s time to rise and act as an international community,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of HRS, lawyer Burak Batuhan emphasized that press freedom is under unprecedented threat. Citing Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) data showing 361 journalists currently imprisoned worldwide, he said: “We are honoring those who risk everything to expose corruption, human rights violations, and global crises. By displaying the posters of journalists like Dawit Isaak and Ali Ünal, we aim to amplify their voices with our five-meter-long Justice Wall. Their courage must never be forgotten.”

Batuhan also noted the increasing algorithmic suppression on social media and stated that press freedom is not only a right, but the lifeblood of democracy. He added, “Governments must enact laws and policies to ensure the safety of journalists. Tech companies should develop algorithms that prioritize reliable journalism over disinformation. We call on global media, civil society, politicians, and individuals: Join us. Raise your voice against censorship and injustice. Advocate for the release of imprisoned journalists.”

Throughout the day, supporters left written messages on the wall and shared powerful posts on social media. On this important occasion, we aimed to raise public awareness and send a strong message on behalf of silenced journalists.

We will continue to stand up for press freedom and give space to voices that have been silenced.