KENYA: Catholic Movement Advocates for Divestment from Fossil Fuel in Africa
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Against the backdrop of Season of Creation, a period when Catholics and non-Catholics across the globe carry out various activities to respond to ecological crisis and renew relationship with the Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion and commitment, a movement dubbed as Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is campaigning for Africa to divest from use of fossil fuel and embark on the use of renewable energy.
At a webinar session that focused on “refueling Africa through ethical investment,” the (GCCM) Program Manager for Africa Fr. Benedict Ayodi said that “fossil fuel are the largest contributors to climate change,” hence the movement is calling upon the Catholics and non-Catholics alike to divest for These non-renewable fuels, which include coal, oil, and gas.
Speaking to over 260 participants drawn from Africa and other continents on Thursday, September 10, the Kenyan-born cleric who is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFMCap) explained that the webinar session was being conducted in the context of season of creation where people are “called to honor the creator by loving creation and each other.”
One of the four panelists, Mr. Mohammed Adow, said that fossil fuel industry continues to expand yet it’s the main cause of climate crisis and so “we must address how to fast-track the global progress to our safety and more cost effective solutions.”
Referencing a 2019 report by a group of researchers including United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP), Mr. Adow founder and director of Power Shift Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization that provides “solution-focused policy ideas, and up-to-the-minute media engagement from an African perspective,” said that the “production gap report” highlighted the need for phasing out fossil fuel in Africa.
“Fossil fuel accounts for over 50% of global greenhouse gas emission and nearly 90% of all carondioxide emissions,” Mr. Adow disclosed and added, “we have to know that fossil fuel industry is also planning to produce about 50% of the fuel by 2030.”
Because of this, he noted “it is important we come together and help chat for alternative pathways for Africa’s development.”
Highlighting the risk of delaying phasing out the fossil fuel Mr. Adow note, “The transition will be much harder and there will be delay in expansion of renewable energy.”
The webinar that was held in English and simultaneously interpreted to French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Portuguese also enlightened the people on the state of oil and gas in Africa, the impact of gas and oil in Mozambique and the state of play of renewable energy in Africa.
Other activities planned in various parts of the world during the month-long season of creation include; Ecumenical prayer session, integrating creation into Sunday liturgies, organizing creation walk or pilgrimage, blessing of animals and holding sustainable events among others.
