The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a project spanning 1,443km from Uganda to Tanzania, is expected to displace 100,000 people and pose a threat to the water resources of 40 million individuals. Its route through ecologically sensitive areas, including Murchison Falls National Park, endangers the habitats of significant wildlife populations.
Since the inception of the project, 350.org spearheaded a multifaceted campaign alongside a coalition of civil society organizations to prevent the advancement of EACOP.
With the backing of more than 260 civil society organizations, the campaign utilizes a multifaceted approach, incorporating public mobilizations, legal initiatives, extensive research, shareholder activism, and media advocacy to drive transformative change. In 2023, the StopEACOP campaign was recognised as a beacon of grassroots activism, and received the inaugural People Power Award at the Copenhagen People Power Conference, which was organized by ActionAid Denmark. This accolade serves as a testament to the campaign’s profound influence.
350.org leveraged political moments like COP27 to amplify EACOP’s ramifications, catalyzing a shift in discourse and policy. Grassroots mobilization efforts, like the protests at Standard Bank’s Annual General Meeting in South Africa, showcased the effectiveness of localized actions.
The release of the documentary “EACOP: A Crude Reality” further ignited support, earning accolades at prestigious film festivals. Notably, 350.org’s collaborative approach of working with other organizations in coalition signaled a pivotal shift, broadening the campaign’s scope and influence.
Challenging a monstrous corporate project like EACOP entails grave risks for local communities and activists in Uganda and Tanzania. Local environmental activists, human rights defenders, and journalists who have dared to criticize the project have endured harassment, threats, and even unjust arrests. Despite these dangers, local groups and communities have remained steadfast in their opposition to EACOP, and built alliances with organizations across Africa, and internationally, to amplify their message and enlist new partners in the #StopEACOP campaign.
In 2023 an additional seven banks and eight insurers withdrew their support for the pipeline, bringing the total to 27 banks and 23 insurers who have walked away from the project. Our campaigning brought victories in Japan and France, where financial giants like Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Crédit Agricole renounced their involvement in the project. This showcases the remarkable power of collective action, and collaboration at a global scale.
Amidst the vibrant celebrations of Africa Day on May 25, 2023, a beacon of hope illuminated the continent as 350Africa.org unveiled the report on renewable energy (RE) policies. This report delved into the challenges and opportunities surrounding renewable energy adoption in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.
The launch of the Renewable Energy report on Africa Day marked a triumph in the fight against climate change and energy inequality. The report identified key barriers and outlined actionable recommendations for civil society organizations (CSOs) to champion renewable energy initiatives.
Activists from ten countries, including Uganda, Egypt, and South Africa, joined forces to ignite change. Through diverse initiatives such as The People’s Tribunal, art workshops, music festivals, mural painting, press briefings, and even climate change talent shows, they sparked momentum toward a more sustainable future.
In 2023, 350Africa, as part of the Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa, took bold steps to ensure a just transition with the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
JETPs are multi-donor agreements designed to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired power plants and support the transition to clean energy in developing countries. These partnerships aim to provide large finance packages to support country-led power sector decarbonization strategies.
Recognizing the critical need for public involvement, 350Africa engaged South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission to demand that they be transparent and have public consultations and participation.
350Africa’s efforts paid off as civil society information sessions were organized, opening the JETP Investment Plan to public scrutiny. Through collaborative engagement, comments from the public were incorporated, marking a significant victory for transparent climate finance.
Civil society organizations including 350.org and the Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa (FFCSA) hosted the first civil society-led event on the JETP, bringing together stakeholders from communities, labor unions, media, and beyond. This event set a precedent, igniting civil society’s demand for accountable climate finance. Since the announcement of JETPs in Indonesia and Senegal, 350.org has been actively building collaboration between groups working in each of these countries, and hosted workshops to share lessons and strengthen global advocacy for fair finance.
Additionally, the Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa initiated the Fair Finance School, a three-day event aimed at empowering activists from community-based organizations with the knowledge and skills to campaign on finance in the climate justice space. This novel approach coupled finance discussions with campaign planning, enhancing participants’ confidence and effectiveness.
Through the Fair Finance School and similar events, financed with sub-grants from the FFCSA, 350Africa continues to empower grassroots movements and drive meaningful change towards a sustainable future.
In April 2022, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government controversially initiated the bidding process for oil and gas exploration across 30 designated areas, including the ecologically invaluable and sacred grounds of Virunga and Upemba National Parks. Virunga, in particular, is renowned not just for its biodiversity but also as a critical carbon sink, playing a key role in sequestering carbon dioxide and mitigating the impacts of global warming. This move poses significant risks to the rich biodiversity within these parks and the Indigenous communities who depend on them, underscoring a deepening environmental and social crisis.
350.org and partners swiftly responded, and mobilized over 123,000 global supporters to petition President Félix Tshisekedi to halt the fossil fuel projects. Momentum surged with a resounding protest during Pre-COP27 in Kinshasa, amplifying the call to action against big polluters.
In January 2023, 350.org strategically leveraged the Pope’s visit to Democratic Republic of Congo, engaging with influential figures within the church to exert pressure on political decision-makers. Though the Pope remained silent on the issue, the groundwork laid with church leaders bolstered the campaign.
Activists and allies have raised their voices, compelling the government to reconsider. By forging alliances and igniting global solidarity, 350.org is working tirelessly towards conservation of the Congo Basin.
We are profoundly thankful for the steadfast support and collaboration of our partners, whose significant contributions have been pivotal to 350 Africa’s success. We've proudly included their names in our 2023 reflection to honor their vital role and express our appreciation.
This is a highlight from 350.org's 2023 Annual Report