Civil society calls on African Union to foster fossil-free future

As diplomats and political leaders headed to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for an African Union (AU) summit, civil society groups from the continent argued on February 17 that "rather than doubling down on the obsolete and dirty energy systems", the AU must "move away from harmful fossil fuels towards a transformed energy system that is clean, renewable, democratic, and actually serves its peoples".

...Activists, including Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebhe, campaigns lead for Don't Gas Africa, echoed those messages, declaring that “African land is not a gas station. Millions are losing their homes, don't ∑have access to food, have their health threatened, and are slipping into higher levels of extreme poverty because of the fossil fuel industry."

"Instead of selling away fossil fuel extraction rights to big multinational companies, African leaders should invest in clean, renewable energies that will directly benefit people across the continent without damaging their health."