Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) is increasingly gathering momentum for the long-awaited African People’s Counter COP (APCC) 2023 with plans to take an active role in the event which has since begun in earnest ahead of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai
As part of the APCC, on the 19th of September CNRG, in its capacity as a member of the Africa Climate Justice Collective (ACJC) group, hosted an online session on Critical Minerals, Climate Change, and False Solutions.
The session highlighted the significance of critical minerals and the geopolitics of critical minerals.
In addition, the modestly subscribed online session also touched on key aspects of gender dynamics in the key natural resource extractive sector.
Moreover, the online session again focused on the topical environmental issues affecting the extractive sector and climate change and brainstormed on possible community-based solutions.
In his remarks during the online session, George Nyamaropa, CNRG Programs Manager, reiterated the necessity of a just transition through the exploitation of Critical minerals in order to reduce carbon emissions.
“The demand for critical minerals has increased exponentially due to the rise of renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and electric vehicles.”
“To ensure climate justice and tackle climate change, Africa must balance the need to extract critical minerals for clean energy technologies with the need to protect the environment and the rights of local communities,” said Nyamaropa.
The APCC 2023 runs under the theme Reflect, Resist, and Rise up to Demand Climate Justice Now and is billed to take place from September 18–29, 2023 with an aim to connect African struggles and bring together African Civil Society organizations like CNRG for a common cause.
As part of the APCC, CNRG will host a Peoples’ Counter COP in Chimanimani on the 28th and 29th. of September. 2023 marks 4 years since Cyclone Idai git Southern Africa, with Chimanimani being the hardest hit in Zimbabwe. The trauma caused by the disaster will take a long time to heal. Similarly, the socio-economic impacts are dire. Beyond the emergency services provided by the government is a mammoth task to ensure the community builds back better.
Several Community Based Organizations operating under the banner of Tackling Climate Change and Energy Transition in Zimbabwe (TaCCET-Zim) will be part of the Cyclone Idai Commemorative events. CNRG coordinates TaCCET-Zim with generous support from the European Climate Foundation. Our Chimanimani events seeks to take the climate change discussion to one of the communities most vulnerable to climate change in Zimbabwe.
The Chimanimani counter COP is part of the APCC which is being hosted at the community and national levels across the region with the goal of strengthening and amplifying grassroots action and voices against false solutions, poor financing, and heavy dependence on fossil fuels. . The APCC will also spotlight real development solutions that African people and communities can use to advocate for a just transition.
Africa continues to bear the brunt of climate change and intersecting crises despite minimal historical contribution to the climate crisis.
Rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels impact the environment, health, and economy. Food insecurity, disease spread, and biodiversity loss continue to persist.
Climate change continues to trigger migration and conflicts, heightening insecurity. Growing natural hazards, fossil fuel demand, COP27 resolutions, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report urgency demand united action by African climate justice activists across all levels. Accountability from global North governments, corporations, and elites profiting from the crisis is essential to address Africa’s climate impacts.