World Earth Day: MBPP Demands Action, Targets Shell, Others over Environmental Damage

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An African environmental coalition has called on governments to take urgent action to protect ecosystems and hold major polluters accountable as the world marks Earth Day 2026.

The Africa Make Big Polluters Pay Coalition (MBPP) made the call in a statement on Wednesday, warning that the climate crisis is already having severe consequences across the continent.

The coalition said this year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” reflects the growing urgency of environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, extreme heat, erratic rainfall, rising sea levels, and climate-induced displacement, particularly in African countries.

It stressed that despite contributing the least to global emissions, Africa continues to bear a disproportionate share of the impacts.

The group called for strict accountability from fossil fuel companies operating in Africa, including Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, especially in the Niger Delta, over what it described as environmental degradation and livelihood disruptions.

The coalition also demanded an immediate halt to new fossil fuel exploration and a phased transition away from existing infrastructure, urging governments to adopt policies that prioritise ecological protection and community rights.

It rejected the use of African ecosystems for carbon offset schemes and other market-based environmental solutions, arguing that such approaches often shift the burden of climate action onto developing countries while allowing continued emissions in industrialised nations.

The group further highlighted concerns over soil degradation caused by industrial agriculture, mining, and poorly regulated carbon projects, warning that this threatens food security and ecosystem stability.

According to the coalition, meaningful climate action must involve systemic reforms, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and greater support for community-led and indigenous resource management.

It added that Earth Day should move beyond symbolic observance and serve as a turning point for enforceable climate justice and global accountability.

The statement was jointly signed by 16 organisations across Africa, including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (Nigeria), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (Nigeria), GenderCC Southern Africa (Southern Africa), Climate Awareness Advocacy and Resilience Initiative (Nigeria), DWB Foundation (Kenya), Green Climate African Campaign (Africa), Household Disaster Resilience Project (The Gambia), Africa Institute for Energy Governance (Uganda), CherieHomes Global Initiatives (Nigeria), Centre pour la justice environnementale (Togo), Tell That Story (Nigeria), Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre (Nigeria), Liberty Pro Bono Initiative (Uganda), Lekeh Development Foundation (Nigeria), Youth Go Green Network Liberia (Liberia), and Vision For Accelerated Sustainable Development (Ghana).

The MBPP coalition comprises over 30 organisations across Africa advocating for environmental justice and sustainable alternatives to extractive economic practices.


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