The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has issued a statement calling on governments and international institutions to prioritize the protection of Africa's natural resources at COP31. As the Catholic Church in Africa, SECAM emphasizes that safeguarding the continent's forests, waters, lands, and biodiversity is crucial for ensuring a just and sustainable future. Africa is home to ecosystems of global significance, including the Congo Basin rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world.
The Congo Basin rainforest plays a vital role in regulating the climate, supporting livelihoods, and fostering food and water security for millions of people. SECAM highlights that protecting the Congo Basin is not solely Africa's responsibility, but a global responsibility. The organization is concerned about the interconnected pressures weighing on Africa's forests and natural resources, including deforestation, unsustainable exploitation of minerals and timber, and climate change. These pressures disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable communities, whose livelihoods and well-being depend directly on healthy ecosystems.
SECAM's statement is guided by the principles of "Laudato Si'" and the Church's commitment to integral human development and ecological conversion. The organization calls for a climate response that prioritizes human dignity, ecological integrity, and intergenerational justice. SECAM emphasizes that African countries and communities must be recognized as essential partners and stewards in the global effort to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Africa must not be viewed merely as a source of natural resources or as a recipient of climate aid.
SECAM outlines several key recommendations for COP31, including enhanced protection of the Congo Basin and Africa's critical ecosystems, increased and predictable climate and biodiversity financing, and recognition and protection of the rights and participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities. The organization also calls for responsible and sustainable management of Africa's natural resources, ensuring that investments respect environmental safeguards, human rights, and community interests.
Furthermore, SECAM emphasizes the importance of protecting Africa's water resources, restoring degraded lands and ecosystems, and promoting a just transition that creates opportunities for young people, women, and vulnerable communities. The organization calls for greater accountability from governments, businesses, and financial institutions, including transparent environmental and social safeguards. SECAM is committed to collaborating with various stakeholders to strengthen advocacy, environmental education, and community mobilization across the continent.
SECAM's commitment to protecting Africa's natural resources is part of a broader effort to promote ecological conversion and integral human development. The organization recognizes that Africa's forests, waters, lands, and biodiversity are not limitless resources, but part of the "common home" entrusted to humanity. On the occasion of COP31, SECAM calls for solidarity expressed through concrete action, funding that reaches local communities, and development that respects Creation.
The statement concludes with a message of urgency, emphasizing that protecting Africa's forests, waters, lands, and biodiversity is essential for protecting the planet. SECAM's call to action is a reminder that the Congo Basin must be protected, not only for the sake of Africa, but also for the generations that will inherit our planet. The organization's efforts aim to promote a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Key points
- Protecting the Congo Basin rainforest is a global responsibility, not just Africa's.
- SECAM calls for increased and predictable climate and biodiversity financing for Africa.
- The organization emphasizes the importance of recognizing and protecting the rights and participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
