On Friday, people across Africa stepped up their commitment to keeping fossil fuels in the ground with courageous actions that have challenged business as usual across Africa.
Click here to see photos from Break Free actions that happened on Friday!
Break Free stood up to the proposed coal-fired station in Lamu, Kenya – told the Development Bank of Southern Africa to not fund Thabametsi, or any more coal projects in South Africa – reached out to communities in the Eastern region of Ghana (Dome, Asayansu, Kwesi Kunde, Fori) to promote and distribute renewable energy solutions.
#Breakfree Press Conference in Abuja Made Headlines, See one below:
We will not rest untill we #BreakFree from Fossil Fuels and embrace Renewable Energy for the good of all of us. @350Africa @AfricaCRP @ninteretse @GlenTyler @groundWorkSA @Rukiya_Khamis https://t.co/LprVpyiwgb— David Mike Terungwa (@miketerungwa) May 27, 2018
With powerful actions involving people across the continent, Break Free from Fossil Fuels took the fight directly to the fossil fuel industry and showed just how powerful we can be when we act together.
The only way we’ll defeat the fossil fuel industry, which is wrecking our climate is if we all come together to show it up for what it is: an immoral and dangerous industry that is at odds with a safe future.
As the planet becomes dangerously hot, our greatest collective hope is that this movement continues to grow in size, strength and boldness. Friday showed what we can accomplish together.
In every country that took action on Friday — Cote D’Ivoire, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Ghana — organising against fossil fuels and for renewable energy will continue, stronger than ever.
Children are the future of tomorrow, let us habit train them to #breakfree and go for #fossilfree. Children in Kenya are saying #CoalSiCool @350_kenya @350Africa @ninteretse @deCOALonize @LamuYouthAllia1 @savelamu #deCOALonize pic.twitter.com/OjlAb902pj
— BintiKhamis (@Rukiya_Khamis) May 25, 2018
Because people everywhere see the writing on the wall: the planet is heating up, renewable energy is becoming more affordable, and the fossil fuel industry is entering a financial crisis, the time has come to stand up to its power and pollution.
This movement will continue to grow in all of its forms: divesting from fossil fuels, blocking fossil fuel extraction and transportation, passing fracking bans, stopping new coal plants, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and securing commitments build a 100% renewable economy.
in case you missed us ,#GreenEnergy is the future.#breakfree #fossilfuel #FossilFriday #fossilfree #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/9pw4wjvn9k
— Asmaa Hanafi (@AsmaaHanafi1) May 27, 2018
But our work does not end here. The need for a rapid transition to renewable energy has never been more urgent, and the way we get there is by continuing to organise, mobilise and campaign.
This how we did it in Lagos Nigeria. Happy that African Youths are Championing this course- We must #BreakFree from Dirty Energy. @350Africa @AfricaCRP @gifsep4climate @ninteretse @GlenTyler @Rukiya_Khamis pic.twitter.com/BJJVFp9bch
— David Mike Terungwa (@miketerungwa) May 26, 2018
Even though Break Free 2018 is now over, you can get involved in climate campaigns and mobilisations by signing up to the deCOALonise.africa platform mailing list, or getting involved in the global mobilisation, Rise for Climate.
Related blogs
News, stories, and insights from the global climate movement.
Grassroots Comics for Climate Justice
Written by Tanzanian cartoonist Nathan Mpangala, the blog details a two-day Grassroots Comics on Climate Action workshop held on October in Dar es Salaam. The initiative was part of the REPower Tanzania campaign, supported by 350Africa, Green Conservers, and Global Platform Tanzania aimed at empowering youth to become climate storytellers.
Indonesia’s wildfire crisis cannot be business as usual
Every wildfire season, I watch the smoke arrive. This year, the fires have gotten worse.
Why Africa's fight for Climate Reparations should question historical structural Injustices
Despite contributing under 4% of global emissions, Africa faces the worst climate impacts. At a symposium in Mombasa, Kenya, leaders call for historical polluters to pay $170 trillion in climate reparations, not as voluntary charity but a binding legal liability.
