Voix du Paysan pour former et informer les citoyens : un engagement pour la justice sociale et climatique.
A committed conversation to restore Africa’s place in climate negotiations
On Saturday 22 November 2025, Afrikki organised a large virtual conversation on COP30 in Belém (Brazil), bringing together young activists, intellectuals and engaged citizens from Africa and beyond. The event, held at 12 pm Kinshasa time (11 am GMT), created a space for open discussion on the continent’s environmental challenges, its very small share of responsibility in global greenhouse gas emissions and its continued marginalisation in international climate negotiations. The debates focused particularly on a central question: can Africa, and should Africa, exploit its natural resources to meet the urgent needs of its populations while respecting ecological imperatives?
African voices for responsible ecological sovereignty
Emmanuel Ndimwiza, editor-in-chief of the magazine dec-rdc.org (rights, environment and citizenship), stressed the urgency of a paradigm shift: Africa must no longer remain a spectator in international forums. It must speak with one voice to demand fair financing and to promote its own development models, rooted in sustainability and local knowledge. Pascal Mirindi, Congolese ecological activist and participant at COP30, insisted on the need to move away from dependence on fossil fuels. As coordinator of the campaign Our Land without Oil, he advocates for a just transition that promotes renewable energies, agroecology and climate justice.
A mobilised youth, aware and determined to act
The exchanges among participants were rich, critical and action-oriented. Several young activists from citizen movements expressed their desire to further understand global climate issues and their impact on the African continent. They welcomed the relevance of the contributions and called for more conversations of this kind to strengthen capacities, build synergies between movements and develop more structured advocacy strategies.
Continuing the struggle: towards a pan-African ecological watch network
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed on the need to continue these dialogues. The idea of a pan-African platform for young climate justice activists was raised, with the aim of bringing the demands of African peoples to all arenas. This conversation was only one step, but it represents a decisive move toward an Africa reclaiming its climate future with clarity, solidarity and courage.
The Editorial Team
