By Gabriel Agbeja
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), People, Planet and Peace Foundation, has advocated a joint action among Africa countries to curb climate change within the continent.
Mr Olatunji Francisco, the Lead, Climate Beyond Borders Caravan, an initiative of the Foundation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Francisco said that a unified African voice in global climate action was achievable and essential for climate justice, equity, and the sustainability of the continent.
He said that although Africa is on the frontline of climate change, yet its voice in global climate decision making remains fragmented across regions and sectors.
He said that African countries shared common climate challenges ranging from drought, floods, food insecurity, health crises, desertification, and forced displacement or migration.
Francisco also observed that the continent often engaged in global climate platforms through isolated national or regional perspectives.
“Climate Beyond Borders Caravan, an initiative of People, Planet and Peace Foundation is positioned to transform Africa’s climate advocacy into a shared journey, unite regions, and amplify live realities.
“Africa can speak with clarity, strength, and purpose on the global climate stage by physically connecting communities and symbolically uniting voices.
“The African transnational advocacy initiative is designed to connect African regions physically and symbolically through an overland journey that unites voices from the West, Central, South, East, and North Africa,” he said.
According to Francisco, the initiative will transform advocacy from conference rooms to live-people-centered engagements by moving across borders and communities.
“This journey will serve as a youth mobile platform for dialogue, evidence gathering, solidarity building, and continental messaging.
“It will culminate in a unified African climate position presented at global platforms such as Conference of Parties (COPs), African Union forums, and International Climate Dialogues.
“The aim is to build and project a coordinated, inclusive, and youth-driven African voice on climate action through a Pan-African advocacy journey that connects grassroots realities with global climate policy processes,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Miss Olabisi Kumuyi, the Secretary of Climate Beyond Borders Caravan, Nigeria, reiterated the foundation’s readiness to connect climate affected communities across African regions through a shared advocacy road journey.
She said that the initiative would document and amplify local climate realities, solutions, and indigenous knowledge along the route.
“The initiative will strengthen continental solidarity among youths, Civil Society Organisations, faith actors, scientists, and policymakers to harmonise regional climate priorities into a unified African Climate Advocacy Statement.
“It will also influence global climate negotiations by presenting Africa’s collective demands on adaptation, finance, loss and damage.
“The journey will culminate in a continental convergence point at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the unified African message will be presented formally,” she said.
Kumuyi identified the theme of the initiative as “Unified African Voice in Global Climate Action- African Advocacy Initiative.’’ (NAN)
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Chidi Opara
