Coalition calls for integration of climate action into social justice advocacy

A coalition of civil society organisations has called for the integration of social justice into climate action. 

The coalition known as Social Justice Community of Practice made the demand at a workshop organised in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Community of Practice is facilitated by Cognito with support from Voice Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Victor Terhemba, executive director of Raising New Voices Initiative and chairman of the planning committee, said integrating social justice into climate action will achieve fair and long-lasting solutions for marginalised communities affected by climate change.

Terhemba said when justice is prioritised and all voices are heard, it will build resilience, empower the vulnerable, and create a future where everyone can thrive.

“You know, the intersection of social justice and climate justice is a complex issue that has posed a challenge for both activists and the government,” Terhemba said.

“Generally, we sometimes do not realise that climate justice is a social justice issue. Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including rural farmers and urban slum dwellers, women, and the poor, both economically and socially.

“It is against this backdrop that the COP organised this workshop to deepen our understanding of the intersection between social justice and climate justice, and how climate action can be integrated into social justice efforts.

“Through this workshop, we aim to enhance the knowledge capacity of members to better advocate fairer and equitable climate actions from the government and NGOs.”

Obinna Nwagbara, executive director, Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiatives, said integrating climate action into social justice would foster “fairness, equity, and participation”.

“So, we are here to see how climate change affects social justice. As a country, Nigeria has a lot of issues around social justice. We have the issues of access to health, energy poverty, and gas flaring. This contributes to global warming. In 2022, we had the worst flooding in Nigeria. All these affect Nigerians,” he said.

“In his workshop, we are trying to create more understanding for Nigerians to know that there is a very big relationship between climate change and social justice.

“COP members are civil society actors. The knowledge we get here will help us in our intervention in various communities.

“For instance, in the area of awareness because the problem we have is this high level of ignorance. Many Nigerians don’t know how climate change affects them.”

The social justice COP members are Raising New Voices Initiative, Center for Social Awareness Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE), Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD), Foundation for Societal Empowerment and Rejuvenation (FOSER), Youth Hub Africa, Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO), and Citizens Commons.

Others are Kingsleodews Initiative (KLI), Centre for Youth Advocacy and Development (CEYAD), Society for Empowering Vulnerable Individuals, Communities and Systems (SEVICS), Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA), Motherhen Development Foundation, (MDF), Kids and Teens Resource Centre, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), and Ike Foundation for Autism.