A coalition of Gambian organizations, including ActionAid International, The Gambia, Global Platform, and Activista, The Gambia, presented a 13-point petition to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, urging immediate action for environmental protection and climate justice. Under the rallying cry “Fund the Future, Not Crisis,” the groups called for global accountability, indigenous inclusion in climate discussions, and a shift toward sustainable practices to address the escalating climate crisis.
The Petition, delivered to Bubacarr Zaidi Jallow, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, demands that international communities prioritize funding renewable energy over fossil fuels, which exacerbate the climate crisis. “We are asking the international communities to fund renewable energy, instead of funding fossil fuels that are adding to the climate crisis we face every day,” said Ousman Baldeh, Program Coordinator for Global Platform, reading from the Petition.
The coalition emphasized a “just transition” for workers, women, farmers, and communities disproportionately affected by climate change. Baldeh highlighted the damaging effects of chemical fertilizers on Gambian soil, advocating for agroecology—a sustainable farming approach using compost and local materials. “We are tired of using fertilizers that damage our soil. We want the government to support women farmers in adopting agroecology,” he stated.
The Petition also calls for tangible outcomes from COP 30, urging full participation to establish mechanisms for just transitions. It rejects “false solutions” like tree-planting initiatives that fail to address ongoing pollution. “The polluters are still polluting. The more they pollute, the more trees we need to plant. It is not the solution,” Baldeh asserted. Instead, the groups demand increased funding for adaptation and resilience to help communities withstand climate impacts.
Ansumana Camara of Activista The Gambia underscored the Petition’s core message: “Fund our future.” He stressed that polluters must pay, with funds directed to support rural communities. “The voices of the people are simple. Let the polluters pay, and rural people should feel a positive effect,” Camara said.
Saikou Darboe of ActionAid called for Western nations to cancel Africa’s economic debts and address their “climate debt.” “The climate debt supersedes the economic debt. Why is our government busy paying economic debts while they are not paying its climate debts?” Darboe questioned, urging accountability from high-polluting nations.
The Executive Director of ActionAid International, The Gambia, Ndella Faye, delivered a solidarity message, reinforcing the fight against climate change. Deputy Permanent Secretary Jallow received the Petition, assuring its delivery to the Minister of Environment. He highlighted the government’s efforts, noting, “The government has developed a climate change bill, the first binding legislation under climate change in The Gambia.” Jallow emphasized that combating climate change is a collective responsibility.
The Petition, inscribed on a white wrapper with signatures from climate activists, regional authorities, and governors, symbolizes widespread support. The event concluded with the planting of a symbolic tree, signifying the coalition’s commitment to climate action.
The organizations’ demands reflect a broader call for systemic change, urging global and local leaders to prioritize sustainable development and justice for those most affected by the climate crisis.
