As African negotiators and technical experts are preparing to engage on a number of critical issues for shaping climate action, the interfaith Pre – COP 31 meeting in Nairobi from 22 to 23 October facilitate to shape the African faith actors’ position ahead of COP31 in Turkey.

The convening comes at a critical moment as Africa continues to experience the growing impacts of climate change while contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions which it didn’t provoke.

Diverse faith tradition participants (Muslims, Christians, Hindu and Bahai faith) reflected on how diverse faith communities can contribute to advancing climate justice for vulnerable people across the continent. 

Working together, can transform Africa’s immense clean energy potential into inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity. It possesses 60% of the best solar resources globally and 40% of the world’s renewable energy resources, but the continent receives only 2% of global clean energy investment.

For avoiding self-destruction in the name of modernity or civilization, diverse faith actors should be linked to practical elements of climate justice. The planet earth is so precious beautiful garden for human family, faith communities must not be indifferent or resigned to the loss of biodiversity and to the destruction of ecosystem.

Diverse faith leaders should pay attention on how climate change impacts people and instead of watching the self-destruction, they should promote resilient solutions and increase indigenous or local knowledge systems from local level with their own means (protect water, cultivate the soil, rebuild loss of disasters…), even if the need of financial support is crucial. This goes with the wish of AACC Assembly 2023, where faith leaders were requested more actions on the ground.

AFAN CJ is reminding that climate change is profoundly local in its impacts even if in some areas, local actors are left without the resources or authority to shape the responses that affect their lives. Faith leaders have the responsibility to act locally in protecting water sources, in planting trees, in reducing single use of plastic and gas emission. Only specific local actions and local climate initiatives will contribute to address global climate change and will lead to adaptation solutions.

As global transition energy is the foundation of prosperity, it is no longer a choice; it is an economic, environmental, and developmental necessity.  Faith leaders should continue to do what they can for building climate resilience through a combination of national policy frameworks.  Diverse faith leaders should move from prayer and advocacy and to practical actions. Praying is important, but action is also more important.

 That understanding may help all of us to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement specifically the article 8 focusing on the broader goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It is an urgent necessity to use more clean electricity in our homes, transport and industries.

AFAN CJ members should continue to persist and to act locally with limited access to finance for reducing emissions and adapt to climate change. Financing is one of the biggest questions at every COP. But loss and damage funds should not be in terms of aid or loan and it is not charity, it is a duty, an obligation and mandatory because local African community didn’t provoke climate calamities.

National governments should amplify the call for new money, in addition to the financial means already being given by developed countries to vulnerable communities, transparency, robust accountability mechanisms, and credibility are requested to our institutions in managing resources. In addition to that:

No extraction without African value

No adaptation without finance

No transition without justice.

No climate action when increasing Africa’s debt

No global climate governance without African agency

No more pledges without delivery

References

1) Africa can’t wait, https://www.the-star.co.ke/climate-change/2026-10-26-africa-cant-wait-faith-leaders-unite-ahead-of-cop31.

2) Faith Leaders Demand Just Climate Action and Debt-Free Financing Ahead of COP31,https://thekenyanprime.co.ke/faith-leaders-demand-just-climate-action-and-debt-free-financing-ahead-of-cop31/.

3)Tinashe Gumbo, Climate Justice Conversations in Loss and Damage Financing: What African Faith Actors Need to Know in The Journal of African Studies and Research Forum, 2026, vol. 35, no. 1.

4) William Otiende Ogara, Ethical leadership and Investment for a sustainable future, Globethics, 2024.

5) Islamic declaration on global climate change, 2015.

6) Philip Sutton Local-first implementation, https://www.caceonline.org/uploads/1/2/7/5/12758111/local_first-implementation_local-govt.pdf.