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Pan African Climate Justice Alliance

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Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
FounderAugustine B Njamnshi and Mithika Mwenda
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
Websitehttps://pacja.org/

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is a network of more than 1000 organisations from 48 countries in Africa. It is a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) established in 2008[1] It is based in Kenya and consists of NGOs, grassroots organisations, trusts, foundations, indigenous communities, farmers, community-based organisations, and religious organisations. It advocates for climate and environmental justice and it is a people-centered consortium.[2] It was co-founded by climate activists Augustine B Njamnshi and Mithika Mwenda.

Main areas of focus are: climate justice, environmental justice, sustainable development, community empowerment, policy influence, research and development, education.[3][4]

Objectives

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The PACJA wants to promote poverty reduction and develop positions based on equity, which are relevant for Africa in international climate change politics. The network wants a global environment without the threats of climate change and advocates for a development process based on equity and justice for all human beings. The goal of the network is to be an African platform for civil society organisations to make information available, to find strategies, to engage with African governments and other important stakeholders, and to stand for justice and fairness in the international climate change dialogue. It aims at creating sustainable development processes in order to protect both the climate, the human rights, and the pro-poor growth.[5]

Activities

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In 2017, the PACJA created a petition to stop France and the EU from interfering in the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI).[6] The AREI unit is based at the African Development Bank (AfDB) headquarters in Abidjan. Organisations from across dozens of countries supported the petition, including groups such as Greenpeace Mauritius, Somali Climate Change Network, Human Rights and Legal Aid Network of Sudan, Journalists for Climate Change in Nigeria, and Young Volunteers for Environment Zambia. These groups were worried about the EU and France interfering with investment plans in developing renewable energy in Africa.[7]

The PACJA created the ACCER Awards in 2013 to reward and sustain excellence in environmental journalism.[8][9]

On August 21, 2021, PACJA started the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice at Kenyatta University.[10] 700 people participated in the pilot program.[11]

In 2016, PACJA founded the Africa Coalition on Sustainable Energy (ACSEA), a multi-organizational alliance, to advocate for decentralized, low-carbon energy.[12]

In September 2021 lasting until September 2024, PACJA launched the GUARD Africa project, a post-COVID-19 reconstruction project that focuses on "low-carbon, climate resilient, just, and inclusive development."[13] The program cost 50 million Swedish Krona, or $5.1 million.[14]

In 2022, PACJA launched the Africa Green Climate Finance National Designated Authorities Network (AFDAN).[15] The goal of the program is to increase access to climate finance so that African countries may adapt to climate change.[16] African countries with climate legislation in place receive $1.3 million per year.[15]

In 2023, PACJA started the African Activists for Climate Justice project (AACJ).[17] The purpose of the project is to advocate for particularly climate vulnerable groups - women, children, and indigenous communities - to live in a "healthy and sustainable environment within the context of a climate emergency."[18] The 5-year project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is implemented in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, and South Africa.[18]

In June 2023, PACJA and the Pan-African Parliament co-organized the third African Parliamentarians' Climate Policy and Equity Summit. At the meeting, PACJA Executive Director Mithika Mwenda summarized the three dimensions of climate justice: distributive justice, retributive justice and procedural justice. Emphasized the importance of equality and justice in the climate change agenda.[19]

Influence

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Adhering to the principle of environmental justice, PACJA calls on African organizations and the international community to unwaveringly and correctly implement the Paris Agreement and continue to contribute to the 2030 Agenda. At the same time, the organization also advocates that governments take responsibility for actively promoting the development of environmental justice and social justice. Through partnerships, policy advocacy, and publicity activities, the necessity and urgency of climate action are emphasized.[20][21][22]PACJA conveyed African countries' development expectations for climate change at high-level international summits such as COP28 and COP29, and proposed to solve the climate problems facing Africa through financial and technical assistance. [19]

PACJA actively participated in climate negotiations in Africa and the world and played a core role in helping Africa move towards fair climate and environmental policies.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Beer, Christopher Todd; Mwenda, Mithika Joseph M. (2022), Madhanagopal, Devendraraj; Beer, Christopher Todd; Nikku, Bala Raju; Pelser, André J. (eds.), "Advancing Climate Justice in Africa: A Survey of Civil Society Capacities, Geopolitical Trust, and Policy Advocacy", Environment, Climate, and Social Justice, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 81–98, doi:10.1007/978-981-19-1987-9_5, ISBN 978-981-19-1986-2, retrieved 2025-02-07
  2. ^ "About us". Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  3. ^ "UAE human rights record ahead of COP28". Climate Change and Law Collection. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  4. ^ "PACJA- Pan African Climate Justice Alliance". Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  5. ^ "Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)". www.onlinevolunteering.org (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  6. ^ "EU and France hijacking Africa's renewable energy initiative, allege civil society groups". www.downtoearth.org.in. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. ^ "Climate activists tell Europe to stop 'hijacking' African energy plans | Africa Times". africatimes.com. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  8. ^ "ACCER Awards 2020". Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  9. ^ "2014 Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards launched". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  10. ^ "Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ) - PACJA - Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance". 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  11. ^ "African CSOs launch School on Climate Justice". The Africa Science News Service. August 30, 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.[dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Africa Coalition on Sustainable Energy (ACSEA) - PACJA - Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance". 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  13. ^ "GUARD AFRICA - PACJA - Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance". 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  14. ^ Nkurunziza, Michel (December 28, 2022). "2022: A look at 15 major climate finance flows in Rwanda". The New Times. Retrieved March 2, 2024.[dead link‍]
  15. ^ a b Lidigu, Leon (November 17, 2022). "Countries get Sh156m climate change cash for four-year period". Daily Nation. Retrieved March 24, 2024.[dead link‍]
  16. ^ "AFDAN. - PACJA - Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance". 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  17. ^ Ugwu, Chidi (October 6, 2023). "AACJ, OXFAM, Netherlands Embassy Seek Partnership With FG To Address Climate Injustice In Africa". Daily Independent. Retrieved March 24, 2024.[dead link‍]
  18. ^ a b "The African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) - PACJA - Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance". 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  19. ^ a b "Pan-African Parliament and PACJA Harmonize Voices, Urge Climate Solutions in Africa". Pan-African Parliament. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  20. ^ "THE DECENTRALIZATION OF PUBLIC POWER IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES - COMMON TREND AND NATONAL, CHARACTERISTICS". Pravovedenie IAZH (3). 2024. doi:10.31249/iajpravo/2024.03.04. ISSN 2219-861X.
  21. ^ Carlsbad (17 Sep 2019). "Pan African Climate Justice Alliance: Building on Enduring Climate Justice Movement".
  22. ^ "Ghana news Agency". African Studies Companion Online. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
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