Positioning Africa’s Civil Society and Citizens on Climate Change, Energy Transition and Extractives in Readiness for COP27

Despite contributing little to greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is the region most affected by climate change and looming energy transition commitments. Potential changes to consumption of its resources also pose risks to its envisaged development and reductions in inequality and poverty reduction.
 
Since March 2022, East and Southern African (ESA) civil society organizations have engaged in a series of webinars to discuss and document common concerns on climate change and energy transition issues affecting the African continent and its people.

Their key conclusion has been that responses to climate change and the energy transition should be about people. A just transition cannot be achieved if those at the negotiation table do not hear or account for the views and experiences of the majority of people affected by climate change and likely to be affected by energy transition as a mitigation measure.
 
Key players at this year’s COP27 climate conference haves a unique opportunity of distinguishing this from previous COPs by actively listening to Africa’s concerns and taking action to address them.

In this final webinar, speakers presented the summary of concerns and positions collected in this webinar series. These were presented alongside views of other social movements, with the aim of amplifying African voices and positions heading into COP27. The panelists presented and discussed the issues of just transition from an African perspective, examine existing just energy transition partnerships (JETPs), financing and the future of Africa's green minerals and fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

Speakers included:

• Nelly Busingye, PWYP-Africa (Moderator)
• Veronica Fadzai Zano, Oxfam
• Moses Kulaba, NRGI 
• Philip Kilonzo, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
• Jacquiline Dominic Massao, Climate Action Network