The One Forest Summit closed on 2 March 2023 in Libreville, Gabon, leaving many conservationists thirsty. According to them, Central African leaders chose to sidestep the real threats to the Congo Basin forests in favour of a roadmap that risks being as sterile as those drawn up at other international forestry meetings.
Toute l'actu sur la protection de l'environnement
The One Forest Summit closed on 2 March 2023 in Libreville, Gabon, leaving many conservationists thirsty. According to them, Central African leaders chose to sidestep the real threats to the Congo Basin forests in favour of a roadmap that risks being as sterile as those drawn up at other international forestry meetings.
Six Central African heads of state met on 1-2 March 2023 in Gabon to discuss the future of tropical forests, including the Congo Basin. But more than a week after this meeting, questions are being asked about its relevance and effectiveness.
Greenpeace Africa is one of the environmental defenders and indigenous communities living in the Congo Basin who were left thirsty after the summit. « The One Forest Summit was like a parade used by participants to showcase their ‘altruistic’ side while dodging the real threats to the Congo Basin forests, » laments Irene Wabiwa, International Project Manager for the Congo Basin at Greenpeace Africa. The environmental activist points to the silence on the auctioning of 27 oil blocks and three gas blocks in a forest reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example, as well as the case of Cameroon, where multiple agribusinesses such as Camvert and Sudcam are razing thousands of hectares of forest in the south of the country.
For environmentalists, the overriding need for the forests of the Congo Basin is not about funding. « We need this green heart of Africa to be effectively protected and that’s quite simple. We would have expected, for example, that strong and ambitious measures would have been taken to compel non-compliant states to comply with these measures without hesitation, » adds Irène Wabiwa Betoko.
Co-organised by French President Emmanuel Macron and Gabonese President Ali Bongo, the One Forest Summit resulted in the « Libreville Plan ». Among the main provisions of this document are the Positive Conservation Partnerships (PCP). This innovative financing initiative for forest conservation will be endowed with a €100 million fund and a mechanism for remunerating countries that are exemplary in preserving forests and safeguarding their vital carbon and biodiversity stockś, via « biodiversity certificateś.
Fanta Mabo
The Republic of Congo will once again host a summit of the world’s three major forest basins. Scheduled for June 2023 in the capital Brazzaville, this summit will serve as a framework for the creation of a global coalition for the protection of the environment and biodiversity.
On 5 January 2023, during the ceremony to present New Year’s greetings to the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N’Guesso reiterated the announcement he had made at the 27th United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt. In his capacity as president of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, he announced that the summit of the world’s three major forest basins would be held in Brazzaville in June 2023. The Congo Basin in Central Africa, the Amazon Basin in South America and the Borneo Mekong Basin in Southeast Asia.
The aim of this summit is to advance the ambition for the protection and sustainable management of tropical forests around three themes. The development of scientific cooperation on forest ecosystems, in particular to increase international expertise on the links between health and biodiversity. The second theme focuses on building sustainable value chains in the forest sector, so that their activities benefit the economy, the environment and local populations. The third theme focuses on innovative financing for biodiversity, to increase the quantity and quality of financing for tropical forest conservation.
On this third aspect, the French Head of State expressed his country’s commitment at COP27 to granting a « special status » to tropical forests. « The states that are home to these forests could benefit from political and financial contracts that would help them to preserve them, » Emmanuel Macron announced at the time.
The large forest basins play a major role in regulating the climate by sequestering huge volumes of CO2. They are also home to exceptional flora and fauna. The Brazzaville summit on countries sharing these ecosystems is the second of its kind. It was initiated by the Congolese president, Denis Sassou N’Guesso, after the one held from 31 May to 3 June 2011 in the same city.
Fanta Mabo
CONGO: Summit of the world’s three great forest basins, scheduled for June 2023
The Republic of Congo will once again host a summit of the world’s three major forest basins. Scheduled for June 2023 in the capital Brazzaville, this summit will serve as a framework for the creation of a global coalition for the protection of the environment and biodiversity.
La communauté d’Adoué, assistée par Conservation Justice, a décidé de porter plainte contre la société SNL Group Management, dirigée par M.BNB, propriétaire de la structure, et M.HB, son représentant local à Makokou. Cette décision faisait suite à des soupçons d’abus de confiance et de détournement de Fonds de Développement Local (FDL). Le dépôt de plainte a eu lieu le 15 février 2023, au Secrétariat du Parquet de Makokou.
Cette affaire porte sur le financement d’un projet de construction d’un dispensaire dans le village Adoué, à travers un Cahier de Charges Contractuelles (CCC) signé avec l’exploitant forestier TBNI en 2016. Cependant, il a été révélé que la société sus évoquée chargée de réaliser ce projet a détourné 2.700.000 FCFA des 4.112.843,4 FCFA prévue pour la construction du dispensaire pour l’utiliser à d’autres fins. Notons que les projets financés par certains partenaires sont souvent mal gérés ou mal planifiés, et les fonds alloués, parfois détournés, laissant les communautés locales sans ressources pour améliorer leur cadre de vie.
Après une enquête menée par la Police Judiciaire, M. BNB a été présenté au Procureur de la République près le Tribunal de Première Instance de Makokou, le 27 février 2023.
Conservation Justice a suivi la procédure judiciaire de la communauté villageoise d’Adoué contre SNL Group management, qui a abouti à l’inculpation de M. BNB pour les faits reprochés.
Au fil des jours, les populations villageoises d’Adoué, ont été inquiètes quant à la suite de cette action en justice. Elles ont néanmoins été rassurées par la reprise des travaux de construction, le 2 mars 2023.
Précisions que pour une même situation, les plaintes des communautés de Mbes, Ebessi, Minkwala, Simitang et Ntsibelong n’ont pas abouties en 2022 puisque les entrepreneurs inculpés, dont ceux de SNL, avaient été relaxés par le Tribunal de Makokou.
Il est essentiel que les responsables administratifs locaux et les organisations de la société civile travaillent en étroite collaboration pour s’assurer que les projets de développement sont conçus et gérés de manière transparente, avec la participation active des communautés locales. Les personnes impliquées dans des actes de détournements doivent être traduites en justice, afin de dissuader celles qui sont tentées de commettre des actes similaires à l’avenir.
Boris Ngounou
GABON : détournement de revenues forestières à Makokou
La communauté d’Adoué, assistée par Conservation Justice, a décidé de porter plainte contre la société SNL Group Management, dirigée par M.BNB, propriétaire de la structure, et M.HB, son représentant local à Makokou. Cette décision faisait suite à des soupçons d’abus de confiance et de détournement de Fonds de Développement Local (FDL). Le dépôt de plainte a eu lieu le 15 février 2023, au Secrétariat du Parquet de Makokou.
On the occasion of the 38th International Women’s Day, Environnementales highlights the opinion of Arlette Soudan-Nonault, in the great concert of climate action. Concerned about an Africa unfairly hit by natural disasters, the Congolese Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin demands openness and concreteness during major international meetings on environmental protection.
A determination that has clearly not wavered. That of mobilising the international community towards real action in the fight against climate change in Africa. Arlette Soudan-Nonault once again took to the stage on 3 March 2023, on the occasion of Africa Environment Day. « If countries continue with their current policies, global warming will not be 1.5 degrees in 2100 but 2.8 degrees, a far cry from the Paris Agreement, and with the near prospect of a total loss of control over our climate destiny, » warned the Congolese Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin.
In this pressing context for the acceleration of the ecological transition, the Minister expresses her frankness every time she calls on developed countries to honour their climate commitments to the countries of the South. In November 2022, during the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 27) in Egypt, the Congolese woman slammed the door on the debates, believing that the speeches of the heads of state were leading nowhere and that the virtues of the Congo Basin were not recognised at their true value. « Africa, which only emits 4% of global emissions, has not been taken into account. We have come to talk about adaptation, we have come to talk about mitigation, we are good at mitigation, but as a responsible person, we must continue to reconcile mitigation and development, so we must move towards an energy transition with clean energy, so we need financing, » had defended the minister, who is also a Commander of the Congolese Order of Merit.
From journalist to environmental defender
If Arlette Soudan-Nonault expresses an ecological sensitivity, her freedom of tone for climate justice is certainly due to her professional past. The daughter of a diplomat, she lived and studied in Moscow, Russia, and Paris, France, before embarking on a career as a journalist in Brazzaville, Congo, between 1989 and 1997. At Radio Congo, she presented the news and produced programmes such as « Les stratèges du Look » and « Clin d’œil d’Arlette Soudan-Nonault ». She later became a press attaché at the Presidency of the Republic, before setting up her own communications consultancy.
In addition to this professional ascension, which led her in turn to the high office of Minister of Tourism and Leisure on 30 April 2016 and Minister in charge of the Environment since 22 August 2017, journalism also gave her marriage. Arlette Soudan-Nonault is the wife of French journalist François Soudan, editorial director of Jeune Afrique magazine.
Also the Technical Coordinator of the Congo Basin Climate Commission since August 2017, Arlette Soudan-Nonault is currently at the heart of preparations for two important summits to be held in Brazzaville in June 2023. These are the summit of the world’s three largest basins and the summit on the global decade of afforestation.
Fanta Mabo
AFRICA: Arlette Soudan-Nonault, a voice for climate justice
On the occasion of the 38th International Women’s Day, Environnementales highlights the opinion of Arlette Soudan-Nonault, in the great concert of climate action. Concerned about an Africa unfairly hit by natural disasters, the Congolese Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin demands openness and concreteness during major international meetings on environmental protection.
Delegates to the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction have just adopted an international treaty on the protection of the high seas. The document takes into account the concerns of southern countries regarding the distribution of revenues generated by the exploitation of genetic resources in the high seas.
There are high hopes for marine genetic resources. In the deep sea, ecosystems develop under extreme conditions of light, temperature, pressure and acidity. These ecosystems contain molecules of great interest to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Before the International Treaty on the Protection of the High Seas, concluded on 4 March 2023 by negotiators from more than 100 UN member countries, access to genetic resources on the high seas was based on the « law of the strongest », to the detriment of southern countries with limited financial and scientific resources for operations on the high seas.
With the new treaty, the States have agreed on a mechanism that allows the benefits generated by the exploitation of genetic resources in these international waters to be shared, following the principle of North-South equity. Part of the benefits will therefore be redistributed to the international community and the states of the South.
Two decades of negotiations
The issue of deep-sea genetic resources has long been at the heart of international negotiations on the International Treaty on the Protection of the High Seas, as countries in the South did not want to see the potential windfall from the exploitation of these resources slip away. « This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, the protection of nature and people can triumph over geopolitics. We congratulate countries for seeking compromise, putting aside their differences and developing a treaty that will enable us to protect the oceans, build resilience to climate change and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people, » said Aliou Ba, Greenpeace Africa’s Ocean Campaigner.
Talks on the International Treaty on the Protection of the High Seas began in 2004. The text is intended to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters. The high seas account for 60% of the ocean’s surface, or almost half the world’s surface. In addition to the crucial biodiversity it harbours, the ocean provides half of the oxygen we breathe, and limits global warming by absorbing CO2. However, barely 1% of the high seas is currently protected, and the ocean is in serious danger from pollution, acidification and overfishing.
The High Seas Treaty is therefore one of the tools for achieving the « 30 by 30 » goal, which aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 by placing them in protected areas. The new treaty will be formally adopted after technical review and translation into the six official UN languages.
Fanta Mabo
AFRICA: Treaty on the High Seas takes into account the continent’s specificities
Delegates to the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction have just adopted an international treaty on the protection of the high seas. The document takes into account the concerns of southern countries regarding the distribution of revenues generated by the exploitation of genetic resources in the high seas.
Increasing investment in the clean energy sector is one of the twelve recommendations contained in the Niamey Declaration. The document was adopted at the end of the 9th edition of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (FRADD-9), which was held from 28 February to 3 March 2023 in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The central theme of the three-day event was « accelerating inclusive and green recovery from multiple crises and the integrated and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 ».
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the UN system and other development partners are called upon to remain mobilised behind African states in the pursuit of local resource-based industrialisation, including the promotion of a mineral value chain for lithium-ion batteries in Africa. This is the main recommendation of the Niamey Declaration, adopted on 2 March 2023 in the Nigerian capital, at the end of the ninth African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (FRADD-9).
This recommendation is the second of a total of twelve. Its theme is similar to that addressed by the first recommendation, on transformative initiatives favourable to a green revival of economic growth. On this point, the President of Niger called on the developed countries. « Climate change, coupled with demographic dynamics, has created challenges in many African countries that need to be addressed if Africa is to make progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals. Developed countries must play their part in ensuring that African countries have access to climate finance, particularly with regard to the Sahel Climate Fund, » says Mohamed Bazoum.
The Loss and Damage Fund
In addition to issues related to access to water and sanitation, the preservation of biodiversity and the sharing of scientific knowledge, FRADD-9 participants insisted on the respect of international agreements and the implementation of major resolutions in the fight against climate change. This is the case of the Loss and Damage Fund, adopted at COP27 in Egypt. The Niamey declaration states: « Let the efforts undertaken to create a Loss and Damage Fund bear fruit so that resources can be mobilised to compensate for the increasing losses of infrastructure, ecosystems and livelihoods due to extreme climatic phenomena that are severely affecting the continent ».
The 9th FRADD also calls on the international community to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement and to redouble its efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions so that humanity can continue to live in a stable climate system.
The ninth session of the Forum was held under the theme: « Accelerating Inclusive and Green Recovery from Multiple Crises and the Full and Integrated Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want of the African Union ». This theme is closely linked to the theme of the 2023 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development meeting, namely « Accelerating recovery from the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels ». The meeting is being held from Monday 10 July to Wednesday 19 July 2023 in New York, United States of America.
Garama Saratou Rabiou Inoussa, Niger’s Minister of the Environment, Urban Hygiene and Sustainable Development, in her capacity as Chair of FRADD-9, will present the forum’s recommendations at the upcoming global gatherings on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate. In addition to the July meeting in New York, these include the SDG Summit on 19-20 September 2023, the UN General Assembly’s Week of High-Level Segment, COP28 and global, regional and sub-regional fora on the accelerated implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Boris Ngounou
FRADD-9: increasing investment in clean energy projects
Increasing investment in the clean energy sector is one of the twelve recommendations contained in the Niamey Declaration. The document was adopted at the end of the 9th edition of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (FRADD-9), which was held from 28 February to 3 March 2023 in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The central theme of the three-day event was « accelerating inclusive and green recovery from multiple crises and the integrated and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 ».
C’est une première à Yaoundé, et même Cameroun. Un centre dédié à l’accompagnement des jeunes qui entreprennent et innovent dans le domaine de la protection de l’environnement. Mboa Hub, la filiale camerounaise du programme Planet One a été officiellement lancée le 16 février dernier, à son siège sis-au quartier Obili à Yaoundé. Ce centre de formation permettra d’équiper gracieusement les jeunes, d’outils devant leur permettre d’être plus efficaces sur le terrain de la protection de la nature.
Sur les axes d’intervention et le mode opératoire de Mboa Hub, les opportunité que le centre offre aux jeunes, Nous écouterons tour à tour, Dolorès Mache et Rex Andoh, ils sont tous deux des Planet One trainers, ou encore des encadreurs de l’antenne Cameroun de Planète one, baptisé Mboa hub. Mesdames et messieurs, chers auditeurs, chers internautes, bienvenus dans environnementales.
Une production de Boris Ngounou
CAMEROUN: lancement de Mboa Hub, l’antenne camerounaise de Planète One
C’est une première à Yaoundé, et même Cameroun. Un centre dédié à l’accompagnement des jeunes qui entreprennent et innovent dans le domaine de la protection de l’environnement. Mboa Hub, la filiale camerounaise du programme Planet One a été officiellement lancée le 16 février dernier, à son siège sis-au quartier Obili à Yaoundé. Ce centre de formation permettra d’équiper gracieusement les jeunes, d’outils devant leur permettre d’être plus efficaces sur le terrain de la protection de la nature.
Dr Oulie Keita, experte en Développement, née au Mali, a été nommée Directrice Exécutive de Greenpeace Afrique à l’issue d’un processus de recrutement intensif et compétitif visant à faire passer l’organisation à une autre étape de sa lutte pour la justice environnementale.
Dr Keita rejoint l’organisation dans un contexte où de multiples injustices environnementales continuent de sévir sur le continent, notamment la déforestation dans le bassin du Congo, la surpêche en Afrique de l’Ouest, la dépendance aux combustibles fossiles en Afrique du Sud et l’Afrique de l’Est qui est encouragée à se tourner vers l’agriculture écologique. Des défis que devra relever Oulie, du haut de ses 20 années d’expérience en matière de développement international.
« Greenpeace Afrique est à l’avant-garde de la protection et de la préservation de l’environnement sur tout le continent, qui connaît d’énormes défis. Il est essentiel de construire un mouvement dirigé par des femmes et des jeunes qui constituent la prochaine génération de leaders et de gardiens de notre patrimoine et de notre environnement en Afrique. Nous sommes convaincus que Dr Keita rendra ce mouvement plus percutant à travers le continent« , a déclaré Oury Traoré, Présidente du Conseil d’Administration de Greenpeace Afrique.
Les injustices sociales et environnementales en Afrique sont enracinées dans un modèle économique néocolonial basé sur l’extractivisme. Dr. Keita va ainsi coordonner la mise en œuvre de la nouvelle stratégie de l’organisation qui, fondée sur l’éveil de la conscience et de l’esprit africains, vise à démanteler les systèmes qui, historiquement, n’ont servi qu’aux puissances coloniales, et pillent encore l’Afrique pour ses ressources.
« L’Afrique est capable de mener le mouvement mondial en faveur de la justice environnementale. Nous avons suffisamment d’outils pour cela. Nous ne pouvons pas continuer à suivre le reste du monde sur le même chemin qui mène vers la catastrophe climatique. L’Afrique subit les conséquences des activités des grands pollueurs. Des organisations comme Greenpeace Afrique sont à la pointe de la lutte contre le changement climatique, montrant qu’il est possible de changer cette trajectoire, de gagner des batailles environnementales et sociales, et de promouvoir des modèles de développement alternatifs qui valorisent notre lien avec la planète et avec les autres« , a déclaré le Dr Keita, la nouvelle Directrice Exécutive de Greenpeace Afrique ».
« Les femmes et la jeunesse africaines méritent un avenir prometteur et brillant. La crise climatique a des conséquences désastreuses sur elles, les privant ainsi de leurs droits. Notre défi essentiel est de faire en sorte que les gouvernements, les pollueurs et les entreprises à but lucratif soient stoppés dans leur élan et empêchés de détruire notre avenir« , a ajouté le Dr Oulie Keita.
Dr.Keita rejoint Greenpeace Afrique avec derrière elle une expérience combinée de plus de 20 ans dans le domaine du développement international, ayant travaillé entre autres sur les questions politiques, de plaidoyer et de lobbying à divers niveaux. Elle a une solide expérience dans le domaine du développement, de la paix et de la sécurité, avec un accent particulier sur l’autonomisation des jeunes, les questions de genre et la protection de l’environnement. Au cours des trois dernières années, le Dr Keita a travaillé en tant que Directrice exécutive de YouthConnekt Africa, couvrant 32 pays sur le continent, où elle a collaboré avec des partenaires pour connecter la jeunesse africaine en vue d’une transformation socio-économique. Mme Keita apporte de facto près de deux décennies de connaissances et d’expérience acquises à divers titres auprès d’agences des Nations unies, d’institutions continentales telles que l’Union africaine (UA), d’organisations internationales et régionales, d’organisations de la société civile et d’organisations communautaires en Afrique.
Le Dr Keita succède à Paul Ngugi, qui a occupé le poste de Directeur exécutif par intérim de Greenpeace Afrique à partir de septembre 2022, remplaçant son prédécesseur, Lagi Toribau, Directeur exécutif par intérim en août 2022.
Greenpeace Afrique
AFRIQUE : Dr Oulie Keita nommée Directrice Exécutive de Greenpeace Afrique
Dr Oulie Keita, experte en Développement, née au Mali, a été nommée Directrice Exécutive de Greenpeace Afrique à l’issue d’un processus de recrutement intensif et compétitif visant à faire passer l’organisation à une autre étape de sa lutte pour la justice environnementale.