Climate Change Impact in Africa: CAPPA Reveals Eye-Opening Documentary
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has recently revealed a compelling documentary that highlights the dire consequences of climate change on various communities in Africa. The documentary, titled “Climate Change: Africa’s Cooked and Sinking Communities,” made its debut at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, bringing to light the impact of climate change in Taita Taveta County, Kenya; Kambele, Cameroon; and Ayetoro, Ondo State, Nigeria.
A noteworthy aspect of the documentary is its focus on the harmful effects of mining and oil extraction activities in these vulnerable communities, prompting a crucial call for the implementation of a loss and damage mechanism to address the challenges faced by local communities across Africa.
In line with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention, the loss and damage fund aims to provide compensation for the harm caused to human societies and the natural environment by human-induced climate change.
The documentary presents the distressing plight of the inhabitants of Taita Taveta County in Kenya, who have been severely impacted by drought, resulting in once fertile lands becoming arid and forcing farmers to resort to emergency mining practices to survive, exacerbating climate-related issues.
Similarly, the residents of Kambele, Cameroon have been dealing with landslides, extreme heat, and unpredictable weather patterns due to unregulated gold mining activities. The tragic consequences of these practices have led to numerous deaths and a myriad of health challenges for the community.
Ayetoro, Ondo State in Nigeria presents yet another heart-wrenching story, with its residents facing the imminent threat of rising sea levels and subsequent submersion due to ocean surges, particularly following the installation of oil extraction facilities near its shoreline.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA, has underscored the urgent need for sustainable climate finance to address the plight of these and other affected communities across the continent. He emphasized the necessity for COP 28 to devise a reliable and equitable mechanism to address the impact of climate change in frontline communities across Africa.
Furthermore, Mr. Oluwafemi highlighted the longstanding climate debt owed to Africa and the global south, urging developed nations to take responsibility and provide reparations for the damage inflicted.
This thought-provoking documentary serves as a poignant reminder of the catastrophic impact of climate change on vulnerable communities in Africa and calls for decisive and meaningful action to mitigate its effects. It is an essential step towards raising awareness and mobilising support for sustainable climate finance initiatives to safeguard the future of these communities.
As the documentary captures the real and pressing struggles of these communities, it stands as a poignant testament to the urgency of addressing climate change on a global scale to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all.
