Over 40 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have united to launch the Climate Justice Movement (CJM).
The initiative was formally declared on wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day event in Abuja to advance environmental justice in Nigeria.
Ogunlade Olamide Martins said the collaborative effort marks a pivotal moment in the fight against environmental degradation and biodiversity loss in Nigeria. It reinforces the commitment of CSOs to hold corporations accountable while amplifying Africa’s voice in global climate justice debates.
Spearheaded by Greenpeace Africa, the Climate Justice Movement aims to connect fragmented climate advocacy into one powerful, unified front. The goal is to collectively address the disproportionate impact of climate change on the African continent.
“This declaration represents a turning point for grassroots environmental movements in Nigeria,” said Ogunlade Olamide Martins, Associate Director (Climate Change) at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA). “By uniting under the Climate Justice Movement, we multiply our collective power and create space for community voices to shape the solutions.”
Sherelee Odayar, Oil and Gas Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, condemned the long history of exploitation by oil corporations:
“For decades, oil giants like Shell have extracted billions in profits from Nigerian soil while leaving behind devastated ecosystems and broken communities.” She added, “Recent media investigations exposing Shell’s negligence in the Niger Delta is an example of the toxicity and selfish, unempathetic profiteering communities have endured for generations. Through this declaration, we’re sending a clear message: the era of unchecked pollution and corporate impunity is over it’s time for polluters to pay.”
Cynthia Moyo, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, stressed the need for structural change:
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads in its energy future. As we witness intensifying flooding in the Niger Delta and advancing desertification in the north, it’s clear that climate change requires systemic solutions. This movement isn’t just about cleaning up past damage it’s about shaping a just transition that centres African realities and protects communities from both climate impacts and false solutions like carbon trading that simply perpetuate exploitation.”
On the link between pollution and food insecurity, Elizabeth Atieno, Food Security Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, noted:
“Oil spills have contaminated once-fertile soils and fishing grounds across the Niger Delta, creating a food crisis that disproportionately affects women and children. When farmers can’t farm and fisherfolk can’t fish, entire communities face malnutrition and economic devastation. Climate justice is fundamentally about securing the right to food sovereignty in the face of corporate environmental abuses.”
The disproportionate effects of climate change on Africa were also highlighted. Although contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa suffers some of the most severe climate impacts. Between July and October 2024, floods devastated 34 states in Nigeria, affecting over 4.4 million people. More than 600 lives were lost, over 200,000 homes destroyed, and 676,000 hectares of farmland damaged, deepening existing food insecurity and economic hardship.
Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin, Program Manager at Yanayi Haki Afriqya, emphasized the urgency of youth-led advocacy:
“The youth of Nigeria are demanding accountability from corporations and policymakers. We refuse to inherit a country where profits routinely take precedence over people and planet. This declaration is our pledge to transform environmental advocacy from isolated campaigns into a formidable, unified force that drives positive change toward access to a safe and healthy environment for all which is a fundamental human right.”
Organisations (CSOs) have issued a powerful call to action with the launch of the Climate Justice Movement (CJM) a unified platform demanding immediate remediation of polluted environments, corporate accountability, and a just transition to renewable energy across Nigeria.
The CJM declaration outlines critical demands, which includes Clean-up of oil-polluted sites in the Niger Delta Compensation for affected communities.
An end to gas flaring, A shift to sustainable energy infrastructure, Stronger regulations against environmental abuses, Rejection of false solutions such as carbon trading.