Opening Statement by Mithika at the AACJ 2025 Global Coordination Meeting

 Distinguished partners, esteemed colleagues, representatives from the Embassy of the Netherlands, our friend Carel de Groot from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our AACJ Consortium Project Stakeholders – that is Consortium partners, Downstream partners and their smallest units in communities, all allies of climate justice.

Good morning!

It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today at this pivotal moment for the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project. As we gather here in Johannesburg for the 2025 Global Coordination Meeting (GCM), we do so with a profound sense of purpose, determination, and urgency.

Since the inception of AACJ in 2021 – and you remember this happened at the height of Covid-19 pandemic where we could hardly meet physically – we have made tremendous strides in advocating for climate justice not only in Africa, but globally.

What began as an ambitious vision shared by all those in this room — to elevate African voices, challenge systemic injustices, and accelerate locally-led climate action—has evolved into a formidable movement. Over the past four years, our collective efforts have influenced national and regional policies, strengthened community resilience, and fostered North-South cooperation that underscores the transformative power of Southern-led leadership.

Today, as we convene under the theme “Powering Pathways for Sustainable Climate Actions,” we not only reflect on our achievements but also to strategically position ourselves for the future of an increasingly volatile and unpredictable global socio-economic and political environment dominated by wars, sharp ideological differences and tectonic ecological and emotional shifts.

While the need for urgent action is undeniable, the shifting geopolitical landscape complicates efforts to address climate change in a fair and equitable manner. The rise of extreme right-wing movements, including in countries like Netherlands present formidable challenges to the climate justice movement.

Celebrating Achievements, Confronting Realities

The AACJ project has been instrumental in shifting power dynamics within the climate justice space. We have witnessed first-hand how African-led initiatives have driven impactful solutions at sub-national, national, and regional levels. Through our advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and strategic partnerships, we have demonstrated that when communities are at the center of climate action, change is both meaningful and lasting.

Yet, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead. The structural inequalities in climate financing, the limited inclusion of African voices in global climate negotiations, and the continued marginalization of

vulnerable communities—women, youth, and Indigenous peoples—remain major concerns. We must ask ourselves: How do we ensure that our gains are not reversed? How do we guarantee that our impact continues beyond the AACJ project’s official end date?

The Road Ahead: What This Meeting Must Achieve

The 2025 GCM presents a crucial opportunity to ensure that – despite the uncertainties we are facing as outlined above – the groundwork we have laid is consolidated, strengthened, and sustained. Over the next three days, we will focus on four key priorities:

1. Assessing Our Impact: We will take stock of what we have achieved by critically examining key performance indicators, impact metrics, and the lived realities of the communities we serve. Our approach will be data-driven yet deeply rooted in the stories of change that define our movement.
2. Refining the Sustainability Framework and Exit Strategy: As the AACJ project transitions towards completion, we must establish a clear, actionable roadmap that ensures the continuity of our work. We cannot afford to leave behind unfinished business. Our sustainability strategy must prioritize Southern-led leadership, continuous advocacy, and long-term financing mechanisms that empower communities beyond AACJ’s lifecycle.
3. Strengthening Policy Influence and Advocacy: With the upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) review, we must ensure that Africa’s climate justice agenda is not only represented but prioritized. This meeting will provide a platform to refine our policy-influencing strategies, enabling us to drive stronger commitments from governments and international stakeholders.
4. Scaling Southern-Led Leadership Beyond AACJ: One of the greatest legacies of AACJ is the demonstration of African-led climate action at scale. As we chart the way forward, we must ensure that the power shifts we have worked so hard to achieve remain intact. The Global North has a role to play—not as decision-makers, but as allies who amplify and support Southern-led solutions.

A Call to Action: Deepening Commitment and Collaboration

Colleagues, this gathering is not just about reviewing progress; it is about shaping the future of climate justice in Africa. I urge each of you to actively engage, challenge perspectives, and co-create solutions that will carry AACJ’s impact forward.

We must think beyond 2025. We must be bold in demanding accountability from decision-makers, persistent in advocating for fair climate finance, and unrelenting in our pursuit of justice for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

This is our moment to not only celebrate our achievements but to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to climate justice. Together, we have built a movement that has challenged power structures, influenced policies, and elevated community-driven solutions—now, let us ensure that this movement continues to thrive, lead, and influence in the years ahead.

Let’s get to work!

Thank you, and let’s power the pathways forward!