5 African women leading the fight for climate justice

After two weeks of intense negotiations, the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP29, concluded on Friday, despite significant differences remaining between participating states. Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, the conference aimed to address pressing global climate challenges and chart a path forward for collective action. Despite the fact that the results of the negotiations were considered “disappointing” and “insufficient”, especially for the populations bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change even though they did not cause it, we honour these 5 women who proudly carried the voice of thousands of other women. 

1. Vanessa Nakate 

Vanessa Nakate, a 28-year-old Ugandan climate justice activist, environmentalist, and author of A Bigger Picture, has become a prominent voice for Africa in the global fight against the climate crisis. A graduate in Business Administration from Makerere University, she founded the Rise Up Climate Movement to amplify the voices of African climate activists. Vanessa began her journey in 2019 with weekly climate protests on the streets of Kampala, becoming a key figure in the global Fridays for Future movement. 

Her work focuses on raising awareness of the dangers, causes, and impacts of climate change while advocating for climate justice. In 2020, she joined former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Alpbach Forum to discuss climate activism and was named one of Jeune Afrique’s 100 most influential Africans. Recognized as an MDG 13 Young Leader by the UN, Nakate was honored with the 2021 Hau Law Environmental Award for her impactful climate activism and efforts to amplify her generation’s voice in global environmental campaigns. In 2022, she was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, championing the voices of children and marginalized groups in critical climate discussions. Through her relentless efforts, Vanessa continues to inspire action and bring African perspectives to the forefront of the climate movement.

2. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim 

For over 20 years, she has been fighting for the protection of the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples, criss-crossing the villages of her country, Chad, and taking her fight to the international stage. 

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is the President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), where she champions the rights and resilience of indigenous communities in the face of climate change. 

Her groundbreaking work has earned her prestigious accolades, including the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award, and she is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. Hindou has held prominent roles such as Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Member of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), and Senior Indigenous Fellow at Conservation International. She also served on the Advisory Committee for the UN Secretary-General’s 2019 Climate Action Summit. 

A powerful advocate for inclusive climate action, Hindou is a sought-after speaker at global events like the Inclusive Growth Summit, where her insights consistently leave a lasting impact.

3. Elizabeth Wathuti

29-year-old environmentalist and dynamic climate leader from Kenya, Elizabeth Wathuti is the visionary founder of the Green Generation Initiative (GGI), which inspires young people to embrace environmental stewardship from an early age. She also serves as a sustainability analyst at Sustainable Square, Kenya, and is an active member of both the Greenbelt Movement and the Global Youth in Landscape Leadership network. 

Elisabeth’s impact extends to leading the Wangari Maathai Foundation’s Youth Hub, where she played a pivotal role in mobilizing the largest delegation of African youth at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. She has received numerous awards, including the UN Young Champions of the Earth Award, TIME 100 recognition, the Diana International Award, Africa Green Person of the Year, the Young Climate Champion Award (GCF), the Commonwealth Youth Award, the 2023 Amnesty International Chair Award, and the 2023 TIME Impact Award. As Kenya’s youngest presidential appointee, she represents civil society and youth as a Commissioner on the Nairobi Rivers Commission. Elisabeth’s unwavering commitment continues to shape environmental advocacy and inspire youth leadership across Africa.

4. Khady Camara

Khady, a trailblazing Senegalese ecofeminist and environmental consultant, is the driving force behind the annual Women’s Climate March in Dakar, launched in 2021. She is a member of the international network “Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement”, which is a organization committed to environmental preservation and sustainable development in Senegal. As the founder of the ecofeminist Association “Vacances Vertes”, Khady champions green entrepreneurship and women’s rights. 

Her advocacy spans crucial environmental priorities, including valuing biodiversity, advancing green infrastructure, and promoting food sovereignty through agroecology. Through her organization, she calls for a just energy transition to a decarbonized society and greater investment in ecosystem restoration. Notably, her team has planted over 15,000 trees to rehabilitate areas like the Mbao forest. Khady’s bold vision blends environmental stewardship with social equity, creating a sustainable future for all.

5. Adenike Oladosu 

Adenike, a globally recognized Nigerian climate activist, ecofeminist, and climate justice leader, is a first-class graduate in Agricultural Economics. She has represented Nigeria as a youth delegate at multiple United Nations Climate Change Conferences, including COP25 in Madrid, COP26, COP27, COP28, and now COP29. Her tireless advocacy earned her the Ambassador of Conscience award from Amnesty International Nigeria for her work on climate justice and human rights. 

Adenike was the first African to join the Fridays for Future movement, mobilizing millions worldwide for climate action. She leads the pan-African initiative “I Lead Climate Action” and her innovative curriculum, Ecofeminism and Climate Change in Africa, is taught by Enginyeria Sense Fronteres through both online and in-person courses. Her blog, “Women and Crisis”, features impactful articles published in international outlets.

Adenike is also a recipient of the International Climate Protection Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for her work on peacebuilding around Lake Chad.