Politics of turbulent waters: reflections on ecological, environmental and climate crises in Africa

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Notes

1 Nnimmo Bassey, architect and poet, is one of Africa’s leading advocates for environmental justice who has made significant contributions to global sustainability efforts. He co-founded the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) in Nigeria in the early 1990s, focusing on combating corporate and state injustices in resource extraction areas. A pivotal figure in establishing Oilwatch International, Bassey championed the ‘Keep oil in the ground’ campaign, a key movement in global climate activism to curb fossil fuel expansion in the global South. His efforts have been instrumental in integrating environmental justice into global discourse, often challenging dominant Euro-Western narratives. Bassey also founded the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), advocating for decolonised environmental approaches and uniting groups like the FishNet Alliance to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. His leadership and activism have garnered international acclaim, earning him prestigious awards such as the Right Livelihood Award and the Rafto Prize. Time magazine recognised him as a Hero of the Environment in 2009.

2 REDD is the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), while REDD+ indicates an additional framework adopted under the Paris Agreement – the ‘+’ stands for additional forest-related activities defined in the framework.