Earth Day 2026: African Coalition Demands Action, Targets Shell, Others Over Climate Damage
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
As climate shocks intensify across Africa, from erratic rainfall to rising sea levels, pressure is mounting on both governments and global corporations to move beyond promises and deliver real accountability.
Marking this year’s Earth Day 2026, the Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) coalition has called for urgent and decisive action to tackle the climate crisis, warning that Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden despite contributing the least to global emissions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the coalition said the theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” reflects a stark reality, the climate emergency is no longer distant but already disrupting livelihoods across the continent.
The group criticised what it described as exploitative practices masked as climate solutions, rejecting carbon offset schemes and “green transition” projects that, it argued, often deepen inequality and environmental harm in Africa.
Reaffirming the Polluter Pays Principle, the coalition singled out multinational oil giants including Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil for their operations in the Niger Delta, alongside other industrial actors across the continent accused of degrading ecosystems and worsening climate vulnerability.
The coalition is demanding an immediate halt to new fossil fuel exploration and a clear, time-bound phase-out of existing infrastructure.
It also urged governments to adopt policies that prioritise ecological protection, community rights, and Indigenous stewardship of natural resources.
Beyond fossil fuels, the group raised alarm over threats to soil health from industrial agriculture, mining, and poorly regulated carbon projects, stressing that ecosystems must not be reduced to tradable commodities.
Led by organisations such as Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa and supported by over 30 groups across Africa, the MBPP coalition warned that without holding major polluters accountable and ending extractive practices, global climate targets will remain out of reach.
The coalition concluded with a call for collective responsibility, urging governments, communities, and stakeholders to take bold steps towards climate justice and sustainable development.
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