On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the usually busy streets of Rosebank, South Africa, saw a different kind of energy: one fueled by passionate calls for climate justice, investment reform, and a fairer future for Africa. About 80 climate activists gathered outside the headquarters of Standard Bank and TotalEnergies, demanding an end to fossil fuel investments and a redirection of resources toward renewable energy across the continent. Their protest, part of a continent-wide Week of Action running from August 18 to August 24, echoed the mounting frustrations and aspirations of millions of Africans facing the brunt of climate change.
For many, the stakes could not be higher. According to The Conversation, nearly 600 million people across Africa still lack access to electricity in 2025, while close to one billion rely on traditional biofuels for cooking. Despite having contributed less than 5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions over the past 170 years, Africa remains acutely vulnerable to climate disruption. The continent’s renewable energy currently supplies just 24.1% of its electricity, with a whopping 76% of that coming from hydropower—a source increasingly threatened by climate variability.
It’s little wonder, then, that activists outside Standard Bank were calling for radical change. Their demands included an immediate withdrawal by the bank from fossil fuel projects, a public commitment to end fossil fuel financing, investment in renewables, and reparations for communities affected by extractive industries. As reported by GroundUp, protesters accused Standard Bank of being a “chief accomplice” to TotalEnergies’ operations, citing the bank’s $485-million investment in the Mozambique LNG project, support for the Coral Floating LNG Facility, and funding for the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. “The money being invested in the fossil industry should be used towards cleaner energy for our communities,” said Zandile Sifolo from Orange Farm, highlighting the daily realities of those living without electricity.
The protest wasn’t just about big banks and multinational corporations. It was about people—many from mining-affected communities—who condemned what they called “fossil colonialism” and demanded climate reparations. Dean Bhebhe of Donkers Africa pointed out that marine communities had lost livelihoods due to fossil projects and deserved compensation. Meanwhile, Zaki Mamdoo of the Stop EACOP campaign declared, “Total must pay reparations for the damage and harm it has caused, and leave the African continent.”
These voices are gaining traction at a time when Africa’s climate policy is at a crossroads. The upcoming Second Africa Climate Summit, scheduled for September 2025 in Ethiopia, is set to tackle many of the same issues raised by protesters. As outlined by regional development and climate change specialist Abay Yimere in The Conversation, the summit’s agenda is ambitious: reimagining climate finance, accelerating renewable energy, scaling nature-based solutions, strengthening governance, harnessing critical minerals, and advancing regional implementation.
But why does Africa need its own summit on climate change? The answer lies in the unique challenges the continent faces. African countries have made binding commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, including a pledge to cut emissions by 43% by 2030, as stated in the Nairobi Declaration at the first Africa Climate Summit in 2023. Achieving this will require a massive shift to renewable energy and a fair phase-down of unabated coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Yet, the continent’s transition is hampered by daunting financial needs—between $1.6 trillion and $1.9 trillion by 2030—and a climate finance system that often saddles nations with debt rather than grants. About 751 million Africans are negatively affected as their governments divert funds to repay high-interest external debt instead of investing in climate resilience and sustainable development.
Global initiatives have so far fallen short. The World Bank and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 project, aiming to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, is a step forward but will still leave another 300 million in the dark. Meanwhile, Africa receives only about 4% of global climate investment. Even the COP28 climate conference’s pledge to triple global renewable energy investment may not be enough to close the gap.
In response, African leaders and civil society are pushing for solutions that combine modern technologies with traditional practices. Decentralised renewable energy systems, for instance, are already bringing reliable power to rural communities, reducing emissions, creating jobs, and improving health outcomes. The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative and the recently launched Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (2024–2034) are laying the groundwork for green jobs, youth and women’s empowerment, and a more inclusive, climate-resilient economy.
Still, the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground execution remains a persistent challenge. The 2025 summit’s focus on advancing regional implementation mechanisms speaks to the need for better alignment between lofty commitments and tangible results.
As the protest in Rosebank demonstrated, civil society is not waiting on the sidelines. Organizations like the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank are working to ensure that local voices are heard and that climate action is inclusive. This bottom-up approach, which draws on indigenous knowledge and community participation, is increasingly seen as essential for both effective mitigation and adaptation.
Meanwhile, the legal landscape is also shifting. Activists in Rosebank welcomed a Western Cape High Court ruling that set aside TotalEnergies’ offshore exploration rights along South Africa’s southwest coast, calling it a victory for coastal communities and small-scale fishers. They urged TotalEnergies to halt further fossil fuel projects and invest instead in clean, equitable alternatives.
Despite the clear calls for action, both Standard Bank and TotalEnergies have yet to publicly respond to the protesters’ memorandums. For many, the silence is telling—and only adds urgency to the demands for transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to a just energy transition.
With the Africa Climate Summit on the horizon and grassroots movements growing in strength, the continent stands at a pivotal moment. The choices made in boardrooms and summits, in courtrooms and on the streets, will shape not only Africa’s energy future but also its role as a global leader in climate-resilient, inclusive growth.
As the dust settles in Rosebank and anticipation builds for the summit in Ethiopia, one thing is clear: Africa’s fight for climate justice is far from over, and its outcome will reverberate well beyond the continent’s borders.
