Story: Dennis Ato Keelson
In an unprecedented move, climate justice activists from across the continent have filed a formal application at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, seeking an ‘advisory opinion’ on the legal obligations of African states in addressing the climate crisis.
Led by the African Climate Platform (ACP), in partnership with Resilience40, Natural Justice, the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, and supported by the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), the coalition called on the court to interpret key human rights provisions under the African Charter in the context of climate change.
This groundbreaking request marks the first time the African Court has been asked to provide legal clarity on how the climate crisis intersects with human rights obligations under the Charter—including the right to life (Article 4), the right to health (Article 16), the right to development (Article 22), and the right to a healthy environment (Article 24).
“Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it faces some of the harshest climate impacts,” the coalition said in a joint statement on the court’s steps in Arusha.
“This petition is our collective voice against these injustices and a demand for accountability and protection.”
The Lead Coordinator of the ACP, Alfred Brownwell, announced this landmark development during a virtual press conference on Friday, May 2, 2025, encouraging all African countries to rally behind the petition.
The submission comes at a critical time, as African communities face mounting threats from climate-induced droughts, floods, and food insecurity.
He emphasised that the request was not only a legal action but a moral call to centre the rights of frontline communities—farmers, fishers, children, and indigenous peoples—most affected by climate change.
According to him, Africa must not just be treated as a victim but as a key partner in the global fight against climate change, lamenting that Africans continue to bear the brunt of climate change and its impact on its people.
The petition has been hailed as a historic moment in African climate jurisprudence and a vital step toward embedding climate justice in the continent’s legal and political frameworks.
“As courts around the world are being called upon to act, the African Court now stands at the helm of a new chapter for Africa—one where our laws reflect the realities of our people and the urgency of the climate crisis,” said a representative of the African Climate Platform, the organisers noted.
Supporters of the initiative include legal experts, youth leaders, feminist groups, indigenous movements, and civil society organisations from across Africa.
The effort also echoes broader continental ambitions under the African Union’s Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want,” which envisions a prosperous, just, and sustainable future for all.
The coalition concluded with a strong message to African leaders and global allies: “This is not just a legal plea—it is a bold assertion of our right to survive, to thrive, and to lead in shaping climate solutions rooted in justice.”
