DAKAR, Senegal — Gathering at the heart of Dakar this past Saturday, around 50 Senegalese women climate activists took to the streets, voicing their urgent demand for climate justice. Their march, held annually since 2021, carried heightened significance as it precedes the upcoming 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), scheduled for November 11. The protesters were resolute, chanting slogans like “Down with capitalism! Down with polluting countries!” as they navigated through the Medina neighborhood, brandishing banners urging the protection of Senegal’s resources and advocating for a decarbonized future.
Among the crowd was Cheikh Niange Faye, a former tour guide from Senegal’s Thiès region, who expressed frustration over the lack of tangible changes following years of activism. “It’s been four years since we’ve been marching, and nothing’s changed. They’re spending billions to host their conferences, but they owe us billions in compensation,” she lamented, pointing fingers at countries responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions. The growing climate crisis is starkly evident to the women, especially those from rural areas, where this year has seen unprecedented flooding. Faye added, “Us in the rural world, women from the rural world, this year we have seen a lot of floods.”
This year marked record-breaking floods throughout the Sahel region, with Senegal not spared from the devastation. Recent statistics indicate tens of thousands of Senegalese affected and over 1,000 hectares of crops damaged, particularly in the northern and eastern segments of the country. Activists assert vehemently, backed by data from the Carbon Disclosure Project, which highlights Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions—just 3.8%—while bearing the brunt of climate impacts.
Khady Camara, the main organizer of the Senegal women’s climate march, reiterated the collective hope for action as the COP29 summit approaches. She called upon global leaders to adhere to the Paris Agreement, highlighting the urgent need for those polluting countries to significantly cut down their greenhouse gas emissions. Camara stated, “It’s time for polluting countries to agree to reduce their emissions because that's what's at the heart of the catastrophes Africa is suffering from.”
Another passionate activist, Khady Faye, traveled from her home adjacent to Senegal’s Saloum Delta—a region grappling with severe coastal erosion. She, too, conveyed frustration over the exploitation of Senegal’s rich natural resources. The commencement of production at the Sangomar oil fields, Senegal’s inaugural offshore drilling site, has stirred concern within local communities. Australian company Woodside Energy holds the majority stake—82%—in this project. “Think about the suffering of these communities, think about the suffering of these women. Try to leave our delta alone; try to keep the gas at Sangomar underground to let us live normally,” she urged.
The activists march not just to spotlight the plight of Senegal but to stress the interconnectedness of their struggles with the broader climate crisis. The march serves to remind those at COP29 of the urgent need for equitable climate action and accountability for environmental degradation. “Climate justice is not just about emissions,” stated Camara. “It’s about acknowledging the historical injustices faced by communities like ours.”
This is not just rhetoric for these women; it’s about survival. The Sahel’s changing climate threatens food security, livelihoods, and health. The faith they place in international negotiations and treaties is weighed against the daily realities of their lives. Many of them have witnessed neighbors losing homes and farmland due to floods, compounding existing challenges typical of rural life. The calls made during the march resonate beyond Senegal, echoing sentiments of solidarity within the African continent and with environmental movements worldwide.
For activists like Faye, each march signifies both hope and persistence amid systemic neglect. Each step forward is laden with history, marked by the determination of women who refuse to remain silent about the climate injustices they face. The necessity for change is palpable. The march is but one chapter in their long struggle for recognition and respect. “We’re not just victims of climate change; we are agents of change,” Faye proclaimed, her voice slicing through the noise of the city streets.
The juxtaposition of the march's urgency with the upcoming global conference emphasizes the dire need for sincere and responsive actions from industrialized nations. While the conversations continue to shift within international forums, the message from Dakar remains clear: time's ticking, and the consequences of neglect are felt most acutely by those on the frontlines, like the women uniting for climate justice.
Moving forward from the streets of Dakar, the questions remain: Will global leaders hear their cries? And will they take concrete actions to address the climate crisis?
