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By Jephiter Tsamwi
Addis Ababa, 10 September 2025
The African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) consortium successfully convened its side event, Community-Led Adaptation in Practice (CLAP for Climate Justice), at the 2nd Africa Climate Summit (ACS2). Guided by the theme #ClimateJustice from the Ground Up: Safeguarding Rights and Transforming Commitments into Action, the event placed communities at the centre of Africa’s climate conversation and demonstrated the power of grassroots-led solutions.
Partnerships and Lessons from Five Years of Action
The side event marked five years of the AACJ project, offering both a celebration of achievements and a reflection on lessons learned. Delegates, partners, and community representatives spoke with one voice: grassroots action is the backbone of Africa’s climate justice movement.
Opening the session, Grace Alupo, Head of the AACJ Program Management Unit, underlined the value of collaboration and adaptive strategies in driving sustainable impact: “Partnerships thrive through collaboration, but as climate challenges keep evolving, so too must our strategies.”
Her remarks captured the consortium’s core approach – building strong governance structures and collaborative partnerships that can withstand shifting political, economic, and environmental landscapes.
Women and Youth at the Heart of Climate Justice
Throughout the event, women and youth were celebrated as powerful agents of change. Anne Tek of FEMNET reminded participants that women-led organizations are already reshaping Africa’s climate narrative: “The story of climate justice in Africa must show the role of women. That narrative shift is powerful. It is possible for women-led organizations to drive climate justice work in Africa. Even with small amounts of money, the impact has been huge.”
Her words resonated with stories of women across the continent who, through small but strategic interventions, are influencing policy and leading resilience-building initiatives. Equally powerful was the voice of youth.
Representing the African Youth Commission, Marubini Muswede underscored the urgency of recognizing young people as decision-makers, not token participants: “As young people, we are not just the leaders of tomorrow. We are leading today; the question is, will you have the courage to finally match our ambition with your action?” This call to action highlighted the need for financing and policies that move beyond symbolic gestures to real power-sharing with the continent’s youth majority.
Safeguarding Rights in Climate Policy and Finance
The discussion also turned to carbon markets, which are expanding rapidly across the continent but carry significant risks if poorly regulated. Speaking on behalf of Natural Justice, Nomasango Masiye-Moyo raised critical concerns: “We must ask ourselves: Who is setting the rules for these carbon markets? Who benefits the most? And how do we make sure Africa’s voice and priorities are not just heard, but truly centered?”
Her intervention emphasized that without safeguards, carbon markets could become yet another mechanism of exploitation, dominated by polluting industries and external interests. Ensuring transparency, protecting rights, and prioritizing community benefit-sharing were flagged as urgent advocacy priorities moving into COP30.
The AACJ side event reinforced a clear and unified message: community-led adaptation works. From women-led movements influencing national policies to youth-driven innovations tackling climate and energy challenges, Africa’s frontline communities are demonstrating resilience and leadership every day.
As global climate negotiations advance, AACJ and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying local voices, ensuring climate finance reaches the ground, and holding decision-makers accountable to their promises. Africa’s communities, women, and youth are not waiting for change—they are already leading it.