Contextual Analysis
Digital technologies are emerging as powerful avenues for change. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stakeholders should harness these technologies to ensure we meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Aligning with these digital and climate aspirations is YOUNGO’s COP29 Demands which emphasizes the need of accelerating the role of technology in advancing and scaling up transformative climate solutions in developing countries. Cognizant of the potential of digital technologies in climate action, and in alignment with the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, the African Activist for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project has strategically been integrating digital tools in its climate justice efforts. This integration has demonstrated the effectiveness of digital activism in driving climate action and has shaped new narratives around the issue.
However, these technologies are not without their challenges for climate justice advocates. Digital climate activists are increasingly facing threats in the digital space, which tends to prioritize urban populations. This urban-centric approach raises concerns about the effectiveness of these technologies in supporting rural climate advocates. This is because many rural communities in Africa grapple with technological barriers, such as limited internet access and tech illiteracy, which can hinder their ability to fully engage in the digital landscape.
To protect climate activists and address the growing digital divide in the climate arena, PACJA’s African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project launched the ‘Power to Voices’ platform in August 2023. The platform has since its inception provided an avenue for diverse activists to share their African climate narratives without fear of censorship of profiling. Power to Voices has also allowed climate activities to share experiences and approaches to climate justice advocacy through their distinct knowledge and stories.
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