This marks the first time the African Court’s advisory jurisdiction will be used to confront the climate crisis—an act climate justice advocates describe as a transformative shift in Africa’s legal landscape.
ARUSHA, Tanzania – In an unprecedented legal initiative, a coalition of African civil society groups is preparing to submit a historic petition to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights seeking an Advisory Opinion on the human rights obligations of African states in the context of the climate crisis.
The petition, set to be officially submitted on May 2, 2025, in Arusha, Tanzania, is spearheaded by the African Climate Platform (ACP), Resilient40, Natural Justice, and the Environmental Lawyer Collective for Africa, in partnership with the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU). Legal experts have hailed the move as a watershed moment in the advancement of environmental justice on the continent.
This marks the first time the African Court’s advisory jurisdiction will be used to confront the climate crisis—an act climate justice advocates describe as a transformative shift in Africa’s legal landscape.
“Africa, which contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, is facing some of the most severe consequences of climate change,” said Alfred Brownell, Lead Campaigner of the African Climate Platform. “This petition is a heartfelt plea for justice and a call to action to protect the rights and dignity of millions of Africans whose lives are being upended by environmental devastation.”
The petition is grounded in key regional legal frameworks, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Maputo Protocol, the Kampala Convention, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It seeks judicial clarification on African states’ responsibilities in safeguarding rights such as life, health, housing, food, water, and a healthy environment in the face of climate change.
A Continental Call for Climate Justice
Since April 27, environmental lawyers, climate advocates, Indigenous leaders, women’s rights campaigners, and youth activists from across Africa have been meeting in Arusha to finalize the petition. The initiative calls for a united continental response to a growing climate emergency that is disproportionately impacting Africa’s most vulnerable communities.
The petition outlines several core legal and ethical priorities, including:
- Legal standards for climate adaptation, resilience, and addressing loss and damage;
- Protection of Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and environmental defenders;
- Accountability for multinational corporations and historic polluters;
- Promotion of a just and equitable energy transition;
- Demands for decolonized natural resource governance;
- Zero tolerance for reprisals against activists and communities defending their environment.
Voices from the Frontlines
Representatives from across Africa shared powerful testimonies on the human cost of the climate crisis:
“North Africa is already witnessing the harsh realities of water scarcity, displacement, and economic turmoil,” said Egyptian activist Ahmad Abdallah. “This is not a future crisis—it is unfolding now.”
“Southern Africa is reeling from its worst drought in a century, with over 61 million people affected,” said Lucien Limacher of Natural Justice. “Women and girls are disproportionately burdened, facing interrupted education and increased exposure to gender-based violence.”
“In West Africa, cocoa yields are collapsing and record-breaking heat is threatening livelihoods and entire economies,” said Peter Quaqua of Liberia’s MRU CSO Platform.
Dorcas Sikujua Faida from the Democratic Republic of Congo warned of a “triple crisis of flooding, drought, and conflict” that is overwhelming fragile states and endangering millions of lives.
“The climate crisis magnifies long-standing gender inequalities,” said Shahinaz Adel from Egypt. “Women, often family caretakers and breadwinners, face the brunt of these environmental shocks.”
Inna Maria Shikongo, a Namibian artist and influencer, emphasized: “We must confront the climate injustices experienced daily by women and youth across Africa.”
Agnes Kabujuni of the Minority Rights Group noted that Indigenous peoples, who have contributed the least to global emissions, are “the most affected yet hold vital knowledge for climate resilience.”
June Cynthia Okelo, Economic Governance Officer at PALU, summed it up: “Africa is not a shock absorber for polluters. This is a human rights emergency. It’s time for courts to take a stand.”
Next Steps
Following the submission, representatives will hold a press conference at the African Court to shed more light on the petition’s significance and outline the way forward. Organizers say the petition is more than a legal action—it is a powerful expression of grassroots solidarity and a bold step in redefining climate governance across the continent.
The African Climate Platform and its partners are calling on all Africans to rally behind the petition and demand that climate justice and intergenerational equity become guiding principles in regional and global decision-making.
