On 28th October 2024, the regional Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) coalition, which operates across 13 African countries, launched a digital initiative called the Story Telling Platform (STP). Held as a virtual event, the launch drew over 50 participants, including journalists from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, South Africa, Kenya, and Togo.
The event featured the unveiling of the STP website by the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, and his South African counterpart, Ndivile Mokoena of Gender CC.
The STP platform was specially developed to document and amplify the experiences of African communities grappling with the impacts of climate change. It is expected to serve as a resource for stimulating policy interventions and public and media advocacy. To kickstart the platform, the community of Ayetoro, an oil-rich but climate-impacted area in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, shared its story. Through a documentary, attendees witnessed Ayetoro’s reality, with over 90 percent of its land now submerged—a visible consequence of rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change. The story brought climate concerns across the continent to the forefront, highlighting the urgency of a united response.
Hellen Neima of Corporate Accountability explained that the storytelling platform will foster a powerful exchange of experiences, insights, and strategies, amplifying the voices of African communities enduring the impacts of extractive activities. She added that the platform will offer compelling evidence to challenge the Global North’s downplaying of climate impacts, reinforcing Africa’s call for climate reparations and fair compensation.
The launch also featured sessions that discussed the importance of leveraging the media and storytelling to articulate and cast a spotlight on African climate realities. By so doing, African climate advocates can own the continent’s narrative and further contribute to the global climate discourse in ways that accurately capture the situation and aspirations of frontline communities.
Ogunlade Olamide of CAPPA and Hellen Neima outlined the coalition’s priority plans for COP29, reminding media practitioners of their responsibility to ensure balance, representation, and accuracy in reporting matters of climate justice.
The event concluded with solidarity messages from MBPP partners from across the continent.
For your reference, kindly see a link to the webinar here with the passcode: *P%3Y3Zk
