March for Economic Liberation
Dear AfDB Board of Directors and Management,
We, the undersigned, representing grassroots organizations, frontline communities, and concerned individuals from across the African continent and beyond, are writing to demand an immediate and unequivocal end to the African Development Bank's financing and policy support for gas projects.
The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is here, wreaking havoc on communities and ecosystems across Africa and the world. The burning of fossil fuels, including gas, is the primary driver of this crisis, leading to catastrophic climate impacts such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and food insecurity. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence and the urgent need for action, the AfDB continues to provide technical support and funding for gas projects, thereby exacerbating the very crisis it claims to address.
We refuse to accept any justification for the AfDB's continued financing of gas projects. Claims of "cleaner" or "transition" fuels are nothing but greenwashing tactics used to mask the true environmental and social costs of gas extraction and combustion. Gas is not a bridge to a sustainable future; it is a bridge to climate chaos and ecological collapse.
Moreover, gas projects funded by the AfDB often perpetuate social injustice, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities, indigenous peoples, and future generations. These communities bear the brunt of pollution, displacement, and land grabs associated with gas extraction and infrastructure development, while corporate profits flow into the pockets of multinational corporations and corrupt elites.
We demand that the AfDB immediately:
1. Cease all financing for new gas projects, including exploration, extraction, liquefaction, transportation, and power generation.
2. Phase out existing investments in gas infrastructure and fossil fuel-related activities, prioritizing the rapid transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
3. Redirect financial resources towards community-led, renewable energy initiatives that prioritize energy sovereignty, social equity, and ecological sustainability.
4. Ensure full transparency and accountability in its energy financing decisions, including meaningful consultation with affected communities and adherence to international human rights standards.
5. Embrace a just transition framework that centers the needs and aspirations of workers, communities, and ecosystems affected by the shift away from fossil fuels.
Failure to heed our demands will only deepen the AfDB's complicity in perpetuating climate injustice and ecological destruction. We will not stand idly by as our planet burns and our communities suffer. We urge the AfDB to listen to the voices of the people it claims to serve and take decisive action to end its support for gas and other fossil fuels.
The time for half-measures and incremental change is over. The time for bold, transformative action is now. The future of our planet and our children depends on it.
In solidarity,
Don’t Gas Africa
Recourse
Africa Movement Building Space
Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education
deCOALonize
Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative (CCEI) -Uganda
Women Collective Kenya (WCK) /Nairobi Water Justice Working Group
IMPACT Kenya
Laudato Si’ Movement
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Franciscans Africa
Pan African Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Alliance
Mt. Kenya Network Forum
Power Shift Africa
African Climate Reality Project
ForResilient40 (R40)
Forum for Civic Participation In Governance (FCPG) _ Kenya
Crispin Ngakani/Climate Clock DRC
John Forum des Engagés pour le Développement Durable (FORED) DRC
MenaFem Movement for Economic, Development And Ecological Justice
Centre for Climate Change and Land Restoration - Somalia
Wote Youth Development Projects CBO
Bank Climate Advocates (International)
YOUTH CONCERN ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEV’T (YCED-UGANDA).
Consortium of Indigenous peoples and Local community Organizations, CIPLCOs-Liberia
Les Amis de la Terre-Togo
JendaGbeni Centre for Social Change Communications - Sierra Leone
Good Health Community Programmes Kenya
Association of Young People for the Protection of the Environment in Guinea-Bissau.
Sisonke Climate Justice Project -Zimbabwe
Pan - African Peacemakers Alliance (PAPA Africa) South Sudan
Indus Consortium
Powering Young Initiatives
Solidarity health foundation, Cameroon.
Kachere Progressive Women’s Group, Malawi
Emonyo Yefwe International
The STEMinist Foundation Ghana
Samson RUKIRA Synergie des Jeunes pour le Développement et les Droits Humains “SJDDH/RDC”
ORGANIZATION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (OCE)- TANZANIA
Jeunesse Unie pour le Progres et le Developpement, (Benin Republic)
Africa Institute for Energy Governance Governace (AFIEGO), Uganda
Innovate Foundation Ghana
RAWSA(Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement) Alliance for African and Arab States
Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA)
Innovation pour le Développement et la Protection de l’Environnement,(IDPE)
Fund Our Future, South Africa
Green Anglicans (Anglican Church of Southern Africa)
Rural Agency for Livelihoods Development (The Gambia)
Réseau d’Appui au Developpement Local (RESADEL) Guinée-Conakrya
Sarima Indigenous People's Land Forum (N.Kenya)
Réseau des associations pour la protection de l'environnement et la nature (RAPEN) Sénégal
Bargny Coast Waterkeeper (Senegal)
Center for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA)
Women Human Rights Defenders Hub - The Kenya Hub
Organization for Women Empowerment (OWE)
Reseau des jeunes pour le développement communautaire (RJDC)
The Green Connection
Afrika youth movement
Environmental Management and Sustainable Farming Services for Africa (EMaSFSA)
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment (CECIC) Uganda
Generation Consciente pour l’Environnement et la Culture (GCEC Cameroun🇨🇲& M
Dorothy Githae - Children With Nature, Kenya
ZINERSIO SITOE - NATIONAL PLATFORM OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IN MOZAMBIQUE (PNOSCMC)
MARY CHIZU-MPULUNGU YOUTH VISION CENTER-ZAMBIA
Urgewald
Precious kalombwana: CITIZENS NETWORK FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ZAMBIA
Pastoralists Alliance for Resilience and Adaptation Across Nations (PARAAN)
Nguzo Africa Community Foundation (Nguzo Africa) , Kenya
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg
Youth Action for Transformation Network (Liberia)
Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Nigeria
Oil Change International & Oil Change Africa
Judith Kateule from CAN Zambia
Manica Youth Assembly, Zimbabwe
Enowem Network Nigeria
Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda
MDC HOLDINGS Put Green energy at the heart of industries and households - Cameroon .
DION -NGO Network of Small Island Developing States. AIS Region.
CSFA - Climate Smart Farmers’ Association. Mauritius
Kasongo Ilunga| Karamoja Humanitarian Organization for Rural Development
Boniface Ojas MOUVEMENT CITOYEN BISO PEUPLE | DR CONGO
Jamaa Resource Initiatives, Kenya
Nareto Latia Indigenous Peoples’ Program- Kenya
Go Green Ankore-Uganda
IBON Africa
Climate action network Zimbabwe
ReSCOPE Network, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe
Surge Africa Organisation
Policy Alert, Nigeria
GREENLEAF ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT CENTER,NIGERIA
Voices of Community Activists and Leaders of Africa (VOCAL Africa)
Fossil Free South Africa
WoMin African Alliance
Big Shift Global
International Accountability Project - Global
350Africa.org
GREEN ANGLICAN CONGO
Change Creatives Kenya
Justice Institute Guyana
Urgewald, Germany
Kamukunji Youth Congress - Kenya
Strategic Response on Environmental Conservation (STREC)
Africans Rising
ActionAid International Kenya
Save Lamu-Kenya
Africa Climate Justice Collective (ACJC)
Climate Protection Zambia (CPZ)