Africa Demands Climate Justice Linked to Colonial Past

Published: 19 November 2025 Wednesday . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The African Union has declared 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” a symbolic but potent call to address historical and ongoing injustices. At the heart of this effort is a critical conversation on climate justice, which increasingly links the devastating impacts of climate change on Africa to the enduring legacy of colonialism. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights now faces an opportunity to turn that slogan into meaningful action through an advisory opinion on states’ human rights obligations in the context of climate change.

Legal and environmental experts suggest that a landmark opinion affirming the connection between colonial exploitation and contemporary climate harms would be a historic step for both Africa and global climate governance. Unlike previous rulings, such as those by the International Court of Justice, this would explicitly recognize how centuries of extraction, environmental manipulation, and neglect have compounded vulnerabilities to climate change across the continent.

A striking example of this colonial-era environmental destruction comes from Madagascar. Between 1924 and 1929, French colonial authorities deliberately unleashed genetically manipulated cochineal parasites across roughly 40,000 hectares (98,850 acres) of drought-resistant vegetation in the Androy region of southern Madagascar. Amnesty International documented that this action destroyed approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) of vegetation cover each year, severely impacting local ecosystems and livelihoods. The campaign not only devastated the natural environment but also undermined the adaptive capacity of communities already vulnerable to drought and food insecurity.

Experts argue that these historical actions have left a long-lasting imprint, exacerbating the effects of current climate challenges. “What we are seeing is the deep entanglement of colonial exploitation and environmental vulnerability,” said one human rights scholar. “Addressing climate justice in Africa cannot be divorced from the reparative obligations linked to colonialism.”

The advisory opinion currently before the African Court could serve as a turning point, clarifying states’ responsibilities to protect human rights in the context of climate change and acknowledging historical injustices. Advocates argue that the court’s intervention could provide a legal framework for reparations, both financial and structural, and help African nations demand accountability from former colonial powers and multinational corporations that benefited from historical exploitation.

Moreover, recognizing the colonial roots of environmental harm would elevate the global discourse on climate justice, challenging narratives that frame climate change solely as a technical or scientific issue. It would highlight the structural inequities that leave African countries disproportionately affected by extreme weather, rising sea levels, and desertification, despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

This approach also aligns with broader calls for rethinking global governance and development strategies. African policymakers, environmentalists, and human rights advocates emphasize that without acknowledging historical accountability, efforts to build resilient infrastructure, improve food security, and protect ecosystems may remain incomplete or ineffective.

The potential impact of the African Court’s opinion extends beyond the continent. By formally connecting climate harms to colonial exploitation, it could influence international climate negotiations, development funding policies, and transnational litigation strategies. Countries and institutions that have historically profited from exploitation may face new pressures to contribute to climate adaptation and restoration efforts.

As the advisory opinion moves forward, the stakes are high. Beyond legal implications, the decision has symbolic weight, representing a collective acknowledgment of Africa’s historical suffering and the need for justice in the climate era. For the people of Madagascar and other regions affected by colonial environmental interventions, this could mark a step toward long-delayed recognition and accountability.

Ultimately, the conversation on climate justice in Africa cannot ignore the past. Linking colonialism to contemporary environmental and human rights challenges underscores the urgency of reparative action, providing a roadmap for addressing both historical wrongs and present-day climate vulnerabilities. How the African Court responds may well define the continent’s legal and moral leadership in the global fight for climate justice.