Urges Radical Reforms to Address Systemic Inequalities and Climate Injustice
Stella Peters
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) convened a critical webinartitled “The Emission Gaps and the Road to COP 29.” The webinar broughttogether environmental experts, activists, and public interest lawyersto discuss urgent issues surrounding global climate policy, emissionsreduction, and the upcoming COP29.
Speakers reviewed the evolution of COP conferences and pointed tocritical milestones, such as the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the ParisAgreement of 2015. They noted, however, that COP’s current voluntaryemission targets—known as Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs)—fall short, pushing the world dangerously close to catastrophictemperature increases. Participants critiqued COP’s structure, whichcontinues to benefit wealthy nations and the private sector at theexpense of vulnerable communities.
Ruth Nyambura, an African ecofeminist with Ramani Collective, arguedthat the emissions gap reflects more than just figures; it representsongoing injustices—wars, inequality, and human rights abuses. Shehighlighted how the fossil fuel industry and military-industrial complexdrive environmental devastation and land dispossession, especiallyacross African nations and the broader Global South.
“For participatory frameworks to ensure these funds serve communitiesgenuinely impacted by climate change and avoiding absorption by elitesor corrupt governments. A decentralized approach to climate policy wouldbetter meet the real needs of frontline communities. Nyambura called fora reevaluation of COP data and narratives to dismantle rather thanreinforce colonial power structures while highlighting the limitationsof current multilateral structures, prioritizing powerful nations andsidelining local voices.
Fadhel Kaboub, an associate professor of economics at Denison Universityand Senior Advisor with PowerShift Africa, noted that global warmingtargets would be impossible to achieve under current fossil fuelextraction rates, leaving Africa’s renewable potential largely untappeddue to a lack of financing and technology transfer. Kaboub advocated forclimate reparations, structured as grants rather than loans, to addressthe historical carbon debt owed by industrialized countries.
“These reparations would finance Africa’s self-sufficiency throughrenewable energy and food sovereignty initiatives. As COP 29 approaches,we must center the voices of those most affected by climate injustice,especially in the Global South. African leaders must stand againstfurther fossil fuel exploitation and demand policies that trulytransform our continent,”
Thuli Makama, a public interest attorney and Africa Senior Advisor atOil Change International emphasized that the “pipeline of resistance”needed to counter false narratives around climate action that profitcorporations while harming vulnerable communities. Makama encouragedcivil society to resist co-optation by COP processes and instead investin counter-COP forums, which allow for open discussion on the rootcauses of climate change.
“COP 29 should focus on accountability. The calls include climatefinance, technology transfer, and addressing loss and damage—a COP wherefossil fuel interests do not dominate and where the voices of impactedcommunities are prioritized. African leaders should reject fossil fuelexpansion and promote biodiversity protection and renewable energysolutions aligned with Africa’s sustainable development.”Nnimmo Bassey emphasized that fossil fuel interests remain heavilyrepresented within COP, creating a shield from accountability despitetheir contribution to the climate crisis.
“The COP process hasprioritized market-based solutions that do not address the systemiccauses of emissions, such as extractive capitalism and entrenched globalpower structures. Instead of driving meaningful climate action, these‘solutions’ are deepening the crisis,” said Bassey.
The dialogue, led by HOMEF’s Director, Nnimmo Bassey, called for radicalreforms to address COP’s historic failings and the inequalities thatpersist in climate negotiations.
Panelists agreed on the need for aglobal resistance movement to unite feminists, labor unions, indigenouscommunities, and environmental activists to challenge structuresperpetuating climate injustice.
