Dear President William Ruto,

We are gravely concerned about the direction the African Climate Summit is taking.

We look up to you as Africa’s most senior leader on climate change. As the Chairperson of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), you are the fulcrum around which Africa’s interests and position on climate issues revolves as defined by African Ministers (AMCEN) and officials (AGN).

The summit is a tremendous opportunity to chart a new course for the continent that creates a leadership vision for a cleaner, safer and prosperous future that protects our people, our food systems, water resources and biodiversity.

This vision must  boost our collective efforts to build our renewable energy systems and electrification infrastructure on a scale that benefits millions of Africans while inspiring other countries to make interventions that prevent further global heating.

Rather than advancing Africa’s interests and position on critical climate issues, the summit has been seized by Western governments, consultancy companies and philanthropic organisations hellbent on pushing a pro-West agenda and interests at the expense of Africa.

Even more worryingly, the agenda of the Summit has been unduly influenced by US-based consultancy firm McKinsey & Company. The lead of African officials and ministers has been pushed on the backburner.

These developments are seriously unsettling.

The Summit concept note, as proposed by McKinsey & Company, reflects the interests of the US, McKinsey and the western corporations they represent. Meanwhile, Africa’s stated priorities are conspicuously missing, as a result.  

Moreover, the so-called “think tanks committee” set up to drive negotiations at the Summit is chaired by individuals who represent UK and US-based organisations and not African organisations.

The content for the Summit – including major initiatives – is being spearheaded by McKinsey, with the World Resources Institute now competing to shape the agenda and its outcomes. Both are headquartered in the United States and do not champion Africa’s interests.

Some African organisations that advance Western agenda have also been given a disproportionately huge role in the organisation of the event.

The result is a Summit agenda that foregrounds the position and interests of the West, namely, carbon markets, carbon sequestration and “climate positive” approaches. These concepts and false solutions are led by Western interests while being marketed as African priorities. In truth, though, these approaches will embolden wealthy nations and large corporations to continue polluting the world, much to Africa’s detriment.

African professionals and leaders are aware of the capture of this Summit by non-Africans and some are already threatening to not attend. This trend will grow as word spreads that this is not an African conference. The risk is the collapse of the event in the eleventh hour.

But all is not lost, Mr President. Things can still be remedied. We, therefore, call for an urgent reset of the Summit in a manner that puts Africa’s interests first.

As an African Head of State who champions the continent’s interests in the climate discourse, you have gained international recognition for fronting transformative ideas and being firm in this cause. Similarly, there is a wealth of African-led ideas and proposals that the Nairobi summit must consider.  

To restore the meeting on track and to advance an agenda of, by and for Africans, we call on you to:

  1. Withdraw the control and influence of Mckinsey in the organisation of this Summit. In exchange, an African-led expert group has to be established to help reshape the Summit’s agenda.
  2. Ensure the meeting advances Africa’s interests and priorities as promoted by African Governments and  civil society in the UNFCCC.
  3. Adopt an integrated approach to Africa’s climate, energy and development issues. Without such an integrated African-led approach,  concepts  like “green growth” will simply further “neo-colonialism”.
  4. Advance a strong focus on renewable energy to counter efforts by the fossil fuel industry, Western interests, fossil fuel-producing African countries to hijack Africa’s just energy transition.
  5. Avoid all false solutions such as carbon markets and geo-engineering which are designed to encourage wealthy countries and people to continue polluting and turning Africa into a dumping ground and field for technological trials.
  6. Implement and adopt  climate policies that promote a just and equitable phase-out of all new oil, gas and coal projects on the African continent in line with Africa’s development interests and the recommendations of IPCC, IEA and other scientific organisations by cutting public and private financing.
  7. Seek transparent and meaningful dialogue between citizens and policymakers across the continent to build a shared African narrative and agenda to tackle the interlinked challenges of climate, energy and development.
  8. Promote avenues that provide sufficient and consensual climate funding to realise this commitment.

CC:

African Heads of State and Governments

Chairperson of the African Union

Chairperson of the African Union Commission

Signed by the following organisations, CSOs, Movements across Africa and African Diaspora

NAME OF ORGANISATION/CSO/MOVEMENT

COUNTRY/COVERAGE

350 Ghana Reducing our Carbon

Ghana

A Common Future

Cameroon

AAPI Ghana chapter

Ghana

AbibiNsroma Foundation

Ghana

Acção Florestal

Angola

Accountability Project Gambia

Gambia

Action for Community Transformation (ACT)

Liberia

ActionAid International Burundi

Burundi

ActionAid International Somalia

Somalia

ACTIVISTA GHANA

Ghana

ADOA MEDIA CONSULT

Ghana

Africa Climate and Healthy Alliance

Botswana

Africa Coal Network

Regional; 26 states across Africa

Africa Movement Building Space

Africa

Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)

Nigeria

Africa Water Justice Network

Ghana, Gambia

African Coalition on Green Growth

African-wide

African Council of Religious Leaders - Religions for Peace

Headquartered in Kenya with coverage in over 30 African states.

AFRICAN DIASPORA FOR DEVELOPMENT

Global Mouvement

African Network of Young Researchers

Regional

African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Tax (APNIFFT)

Regional: 43 Countries

African Renaissance Trust

Kenya and Ethiopia

African Union youth wing

Liberia

African Women’s Communication and Development Network

Kenya

African Youth Commission

African wide Network

African youth mouvement

Mali

Africans Rising

Africa and Diaspora

Afrika youth movement

DRC

AFRIKA YOUTH MOVEMENT

Afrika

Agency for Community Development and environmental conservation

Uganda

AGIR POUR LA SÉCURITÉ ET LA SOUVERAINETE ALIMENTAIRE ASSA

DRC

Agribusiness for African Markets

Kenya

AGRICULTURAL EXPERTISE CENTER

Benin

AGUIPER

République de Guinée

Akadi Group

Kenya

Al ummah Perfumes

Nigeria

AL-IHSAN QUANTUM COMPUTER CENTRE

Nigeria

Alliance Multibusiness Concept Ltd

Nigeria

Alliance of Kiambu Residents and Neighbourhood Associations

Kenya

Alpha and Omega Reconciliation and Peace Building(AREPEB)

Tanzania

Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative ACDI

Nigeria

Amadu James foundation

Sierra Leone

Article 43 committee

Kenya

ASOMEF

Cameroon

Association d’aide aux femmes et enfants démunis

Mali

Association des Acteurs de Développement (ADEV)

Cameroon

Association des Jeunes Arc-en-ciel pour la Stabilité Sociale en Afrique (AJASSA)

Tchad

Association for Climate Action Network Eastern Africa (ACANEA)

Uganda - cover the Eastern Africa Region

Association for the welfare of women and indigenous people

Cameroon

Association of Young Visionaries for the Development of Congo AJVDC

Democratic Republic of Congo DRC

ATTAC CADTM Burkina

Burkina Faso

AuRab

Nigeria

Baffa Agro Solution

Nigeria

Balanta B'urassa History & Genealogy Society in America

United States & Guinea Bissau

Bargny coast waterkeeper

Senegal

Barnabas Charity Outreach

Nigeria

Baruch Initiative for Transformation

Nigeria

Barwaqa relief organization

Kenya

Benard Wabuge

Kenya

Better Future for Young Generation

Nigeria

Big Afrika Network

Kenya Nakuru

Bio Gardening Innovations

Kenya

Biso Peuple

Congo-Kinshasa

Boma Ikolojia Regeneration

Kenya

Bomet University Environmental club

Kenya

Buleega Baptist Church

Uganda

Cameroon Women's Peace Movement

Cameroon

Campaign for Democratic and Workers' Rights

Nigeria

CAN East Africa

East Africa region

CARE FOR ENVIRONMENT

Cameroon

Carefound-Liberia

Liberia

Catford Against Social Cleansing

UK

Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative -CCEI Uganda

Uganda

Center for Environmental Advocacy and Development-CEDA

South Sudan

Center for Integrated Community Empowerment

East African Region

Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA)

South Sudan

Central Organisation of Trade Unions Kenya (COTU)

Regional

Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)

Uganda

Centre for Climatology and Applied Research

Botswana

Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities CCYA

Sierra Leone

Centre for Learning & Development

Nigeria

Centre for Natural Resource Governance

Zimbabwe

Centre for Partnership Initiatives Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Centre of Dialogue on human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA)

Sierra Leone

CFE-CAMEROUN

Cameroon

Child friendly spaces kenya

Kenya

Children and Young People Living for Peace (CYPLP)

Nigeria

Chirichiro wrua

Kenya

Christian Aid

Global - Sierra Leone based

CLAP Gh

Ghana

Clean steps international academic Nigeria

Nigeria

Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa

Africa

Climate Action Network Uganda

Uganda

Climate Action Network Zambia

Zambia

Climate Action Network Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Climate and sustainable development Action Club

Niger

CLIMATE CHANGE AFRICA OPPORTUNITIES - CCAO

Democratic Republic of Congo

Climate Clock Rwanda

Climate Communications and Local Governance-Africa

Ghana

Climate Kakuma

Kenya

Cmiqn5e

Uganda

Coalition Action For Preventive Mental Health Kenya

Kenya

Communities Forestry And Social Development International

Ghana

Community And Family Aid Foundation-Ghana

Ghana

Community Initiative for Peace And Development ( CIPAD-INTENATIONAL)

Guinée

Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE)

Uganda

Confirm Catering Limited

Nigeria

CONNECT AFRICA

Ghana and Ethiopia

Connected Advocacy

Nigeria

Connected Advocacy

Nigeria

CONSTRUISONS ENSEMBLE LE MONDE

DRC

Coordination des Élèves et Étudiants Patriotes (CEEP)

Senegal

COTU

Kenya

County government of Kisumu

Kenya

CYMG to UNEP

Global

Dare Organization

Tunisia

Democracy And Development Associates-Sierra

Sierra Leone

Den of Hope Youth Group

Kenya

Development Education and Advocacy Resources for Africa

Nigeria

Dunia Salama Foundation

Tanzania

Dzuka Cholinga youth Zambia

Lusaka, Zambia

Easy Urban Green Grower

Kenya

Ebubedike Consultancy Limited

Nigeria

ECCSA

Ethiopia

Ecological Justice

Kenya-Eastern Africa

Ecovista laikipia

Kenya

Effective Care

Cameroon

Emmaus International

Zimbabwe

Emmy Digital Technology Concept

Nigeria

Emonyo Yefwe International

Kenya

Enowem Network

Nigeria

Environmental Management and Sustainable Farming Service for Africa

Sierra Leone

Environmental Rights Action Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN)

Nigeria

ESAFF BURUNDI

Burundi

Extinction rébellion université de Goma

République Démocratique du Congo

Fabius Mulongo Foundation

Kenya

FAEB - Fédération AgroEcologique du Bénin

Benin

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSE

Nigeria

Federation of Environmental and Ecological Diversity for Agricultural Revampment and Human Rights (FEEDAR & HR)

Cameroon

Felmart

Nigeria

FEMNET African Women's Development and Communication Network

Pan African

Fight Inequality Alliance Pan Africa

Continental

Food and Rural Development Foundation (FORUDEF)

Cameroon

Forum des Engagés pour le Développement Durable (FORED)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Foundation for Environmental Management and Campaign against Poverty-FEMAPO

Tanzania

Foundation For Environmental Rights,Advocacy & Development (FENRAD)

National and Regional

Fridays for Future MAPA

Global south

Friends of Franbarnie International

Liberia

Friends of Lake Turkana

Kenya

Gambia Association of the Physically Disabled (GAPD)

Gambia

Gambibgo Ghana Project

Ghana

Gatef organization

Egypt

Gbolekekro Women Empowerment and Development Organization (GWEDO)

Nigeria

GCA

Kenya

GDMR

Mozambique

GenderCC SA - Women for Climate Justice

South Africa

Girls and Women Empowerment Network Trust

Zimbabwe

Give them hope women

Liberia

GLFx Nairobi

Kenya

Global Alliance for Public Health Intervention (GAPHI)

Nigeria

Global River Protection Coalition

Africa-wide

Good Health Community Programmes

Kenya

Governing African Development

Sénégal

GPU

Uganda

Grassroots initiative for peace

Nairobi

Greeh Homeland Initiative

Uganda

Green Arise Initiative

Kenya

Green Cameroon

Cameroon

Green Circle Foundation

Kenya

Green leaf Advocacy and Empowerment Center

Nigeria

Green Life Act

Cameroon

Green Mama Africa

Kenya

Green Somali initiative GSI

Somalia

Greenpeace United

Nigeria

groundWork/ Friends of the Earth South Africa

South Africa

Gsm repairs

Nigeria

Haddy decor creatives

Uganda

Haki Nawiri Afrika

Kenya

HAMID INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS LTD

Nigeria

Hawlat and Toyeeb enterprise

Nigeria

Health of Mother Earth Foundation

Nigeria

Heart to bear love foundation

Nigeria

Hope for Street Children and Vulnerable people Foundation

Nigeria

Hope for Youth and Women Organisation/ Central Region Devolopment Commissiom

Ghana

Hopes Of Tomorrow (H.O.T)

The Gambia

Human Rights education for schools (huries)

Kenya

Human Rights Reporters Ghana

Ghana

Humanitarian Focus Foundation

United States

Humanitarian Works Organization

Cameroon

Inclusive Civic Engagement Organization of Africa

Ethiopia

Independent Signee

Kenya

Individual

Uganda

Inicia Mudança Social - IMS E.I

Mozambique

Initiative for Inclusive Empowerment (IIE)

Kenya

Initiative pour le Développement Communautaire (IDC)

Senegal

Initiatives pour le Changement, Paix et Développement

DRC

Inspirational Leadership Movement

Sierra Leone

Inspire World International Foundation

Nigeria

Institute for political progress

Somalia/Somaliland

International Governance Institute IGI-Cameroon

Cameroon, Kenya, DRC, Senegal and UK

ISD AFRICA

Ethiopia

JCI Abidjan-Premium

elle est basée dans plus 100 pays

Jeunes action classiques ESPOIR des jeunes

Niger

JIF'AFRIK

Sénégal

j'if'Afrik (jeunesse interconnectés et fusionné d'Afrique)

Sénégal

Jojo Tengya Foundation

Nigeria

KADIVDO NETWORK

Uganda

Kaganga John

Uganda

Kakamega county disability cacus

Kenya

Kamujuu coffee farm

Kenya

Kamukunji Paralegal Trust (KAPLET)

Kenya

Karamoja Go Green

Uganda

Kaura Goje Development and Enlightenment Association

Nigeria

Kayole Community Justice Center

Kenya

Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre

Nigeria

Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG)

Kenya

Kenya quarry and mine worker's union

Kenya

Kikandwa Environmental Association

Uganda

Kilifi Social Justice Centre

Kenya

Kilombo Africa Strategies Lab

Sierra Leone and Germany

Kishoka Youth Organization

Kenya

Kitron Green Solutions

Nigeria

Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network

Kenya

KUBATSIRA

Mozambique

Kwatankwari Family Foundation

Nigeria

Laudato Si' Movement Africa

Africa region

Liberty 32

Madagascar

Light Bearers Youth Initiative Trust

Zimbabwe

Light of brain entertainment

Sénégal

Lower Nyakach Pamoja Youth Group

Kenya

Lubaga social justice center/Fellowship for community enlightenment

Uganda

M A.Afrika

Cameroon

Malimbas Consultoria & Serviços Sociedade Unipessoal, Lda

Mozambique

MDC Hloldings

Cameroon

Media Initiative on Peace

Zimbabwe

Mind initiative

West Africa region

Molding minds and changing attitude

Liberia

Mongu District Farmers Association

Zambia

Movement for Social Justice

The Gambia

Movimento Hip hop Terceira Divisão

Angola

MPULUNGU YOUTH VISION CENTRE

Zambia

Munis global concept

Nigeria

Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI)

Kenya

Mzalendo Halisi Foundation

Kenya

Namagnon

Mali

Narec

Kenya

Nareto Latia indigenous people's program

Kenya

National Security Council Secretariat

Regional

National Sudanese Women Association

Sudan

National youth council of Nigeria NYCN, FCT chapter

Nigeria

Natural Resource Women

Liberia

Nature Guardian

Uganda

NATURELCD

DRC

Nawi Afrifem Macroeconomics Collective

Kenya

Nawiri Africa Social Justice Center

Kenya

Nde Oduko Foundation

Nigeria

NDI

Kenya

Network Movement for Youth and Children's Welfare (NMYCW)

Sierra Leone

Network of Africans Journalists again Climate and Environmental Crisis

Côte d'Ivoire

New Apostolic Centre for Development (NCD)

Nigeria

New Millennium Women Empowerment Organization

Ethiopia

Nguzo Africa

Kenya

Nigerian Earth Warriors

Nigeria

Njala Students' Union

Sierra Leone

Northern Youth Council of Nigeria

Nigeria

Nyali Zambia

Zambia

Ode’s Music

Sierra Leone

Ohanezendigbo youth Oji-river Chapter

Nigeria

Oil Watch Africa

Africa - Regional

OilWatch Kenya

Regional

Okara & Onuko Company Advocates

Kenya

Okoa Jamii Arts Initiative

Kenya

One More Percent

Kenya

Organization for a United Africa (OUA)

Kenya

PAFM

USA

Pambazuka

Kenya

Pamellah

Kenya

Pan - African Peacemakers Alliance (PAPA)

South Sudan

Pan African Media Alliance for Climate Change (PAMACC)

Kenya

Partnership for Universal Healthcare

Kenya

Pastoralists Alliance for Resilience and Adaptation Across Nations (PARAAN)

Kenya

Peace Society of Kenya

Kenya

PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP)

Malawi

Peuple noir magazine

DRC

PLATAFORMA MOCAMBICANA DA mULHER E RAPARIGA

Mozambique

Plogging Kenya

Kenya

Policy Alert

Nigeria

Population and Development Initiative (PDI)

Tanzania

Power Shift Africa

pan African

Powering Young Initiatives

Zambia

Praxis Academy

Nigeria

Promotion Hub231

Liberia

Quality e

Mauritanie

Rachael Mwikali

Kenya

RAPEN

Senegal

Reach Out Cameroon

Cameroon

RECODEF Sénégal

Sénégal

ReSCOPE

Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe

ReSCOPE network

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya,Malawi and Uganda

Réseau d'Appui au Développement Local (RESADEL)

République de Guinée

Réseau des jeunes pour le développement communautaire

Afrique de l'ouest ( côte d'ivoire)

Restore Green Lives

Liberia

Rimi crop nig ltd

Nigeria

Rural Agency for lifelyhood development

The Gambia

Rural Women assembly

Malawi

Rural Women Assembly (RWA)

South Africa

Rural women's assembly Zambia

Zambia 🇿🇲

Sahel Dev

Cameroon

Sandu Youth Development Network

The Gambia

SAUTI ya WANAWAKE

Kenya

Savañnah Zambia

Zambia

Scar of life youth organization

Malawi

Shalom Women's Development Network

Uganda

Sinatsisa Lubombo

Eswatini

Sista Shanice Show

UK

Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA)

Nigeria

Solidarity health Foundation

Cameroon

Solidarity health Foundation

Cameroon

Somali Greenpeace Association

Somalia

Southern Africa Climate Change Coalition

Botswana

Southern Africa Rural Women's Assembly (RWA)

Regional (Southern Africa)

Stratford College of Management

The Gambia

Sudan Of Future

Sudan

Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN)

Uganda

Surge Africa Organisation

Nigeria

Survivors of Presidential Alternative Treatment Program

The Gambia

Sustainable Education for All Initiative

Ghana

Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation

Malawi

Taalu limited

Geneva

The African Women’s network for Community management of Forests - REFACOF

20 African countries - The Secretariat is based in Cameroon

The Environment Shield

Uganda

The Soil Solution (NGO)

The Gambia

The STEMinist Foundation Ghana

Ghana

The wellbeing initiative

Nigeria

The Zoba Advisory

Nigeria

Think Big Experts-Thicos

Zambia

Tijjaniya Senior High School

Ghana

Tulonga foundation

Namibia

Tunaweza Organisation

Tanzania

Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development

Uganda

Umo Isua-Ikoh

Nigeria

UNION DES AFRICAINS DU QUÉBEC ET AMIS SOLIDAIRES DE L'AFRIQUE (UAQASA) CANADA

Canada

United Youth Social Symposium for Education and Development (UYSSED)

Liberia, West Africa

University of Juba

South Sudan

University of Kordofan Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

Sudan

Unlimited Youth Kenya

Nairobi East, Kenya

URGENCE CONTRE LA FAIM (UCF)

Chad

Voice of The Vulnerable

Nigeria

Wahenga Youth Group

Kenya

Warembo na maendeleo

Kenya

Watchman Relief Association Global

Cameroon

Welfare Togo

Togo

Women Environmental Programme

Nigeria

Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda

Uganda

World March of women Kenya

National

Wote Youth Development Projects CBO

Kenya

YARD-Liberia, Inc

Liberia

Young And Winning (YAW)

Malawi

Young Liberals of Ghana

Ghana

Young urban women's movement

Ghana

Young voices of Africa

Africa

Young voices of Africa

Sierra Leone

Youth Advocacy for Good Governance

Nigeria

Youth Alliance Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Youth Association for Environmental Protection

Guiné-Bissau

Youth Climate Action Network

Sierra Leone

Youth Engaged for Development and Social Progress YEDSP

Congo - Kinshasa

Youth for Development and Human Right Advancement

Rwanda

youth for sustainable development -Kilifi

Kenya

Youth in Action for Developmental Initiatives-Liberia

Liberia, West Africa

Youth Power Africa

WCNA regions

YOUTH, HEALTH AND LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Nigeria

Youth4change

Nigeria

Youth ambassadors for democracy-yad

Nigeria

Zamfara State Youth Parliament

Nigeria

ZIMBABWE CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION

Zimbabwe