By Benard Mulwa
NAIROBI, Kenya — Interfaith leaders and climate justice stakeholders are calling on industrialised nations to honour their climate finance commitments to Africa, demanding grants rather than loans to support adaptation, address loss and damage, and strengthen the continent’s response to the climate crisis.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, 22 October 2026, the faith leaders said Africa could no longer afford to wait for promises made by wealthy nations to translate into tangible financial support for communities bearing the brunt of climate change.
Under the theme “Africa Can’t Wait,” the gathering brought together representatives of faith communities, governments and climate justice stakeholders to push for increased climate finance, adaptation funding and support for loss and damage ahead of upcoming international climate negotiations.
The leaders said their intervention was driven by the need to amplify the voices of Africa’s religious communities, which they described as influential actors in the continent’s social and public life.
“We are seeking to amplify our voices as a faith community because Africa, as it is, is a religious continent influenced by all our faiths. We are oriented around our faith, and our faith invites us to speak out,” one of the leaders said.
No More Promises Without Action
The faith leaders called for an end to unfulfilled climate finance pledges, insisting that adaptation programmes must be backed by adequate and accessible funding.
They argued that industrialised nations, which have contributed significantly to historical greenhouse gas emissions, have a responsibility to provide financial resources to African countries facing increasingly severe climate impacts.
“No more pledges without fulfilling them. No adaptation without commensurate finances,” the leaders declared.
They stressed that the support should come in the form of grants rather than loans, warning that borrowing to address a crisis largely driven by emissions from wealthier nations could further burden African economies already facing financial constraints.
The leaders called on developed countries to fulfil their obligations and ensure that climate finance reaches communities affected by droughts, floods and other climate-related disasters.
Faith Leaders Pledge to Hold Governments Accountable
While demanding accountability from industrialised nations, the faith leaders also pledged to hold African governments accountable for the management and distribution of climate finance once the resources become available.
They proposed the establishment of country coordinating mechanisms that would bring together different stakeholders to oversee the use of climate funds and ensure resources are distributed equitably.
The proposed mechanisms would include women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and other groups whose needs and perspectives are often overlooked in policy and funding decisions.
The leaders said inclusive participation would be essential to ensuring that climate finance benefits communities most in need rather than being concentrated among a few institutions or groups.
They emphasised that accountability must extend beyond securing funding to ensuring transparency, fairness and measurable benefits for affected populations.
Africa Bears the Brunt Despite Low Emissions
The gathering highlighted what the leaders described as a climate injustice: Africa contributes a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions but faces severe consequences from a warming planet.
Communities across the continent are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related hazards that threaten livelihoods, food security, water supplies and economic development.
The leaders said the situation required urgent action from the international community, arguing that the impacts of climate change should not be treated merely as political or commercial issues when human lives and livelihoods are at stake.
They condemned what they described as the politicisation and commercialisation of issues affecting humanity, insisting that the needs of vulnerable communities must remain central to climate negotiations and financing decisions.
“It is sad that Africa contributes the least to greenhouse gas emissions, yet Africa suffers the brunt of climate catastrophes. That is why we are here—not to remain silent in the face of catastrophe and injustice,” a leader said.
Faith Communities Take a Stand for Climate Justice
The interfaith leaders said religious communities have a responsibility to speak out against injustice and advocate for policies that protect people and the environment.
They argued that faith institutions can help mobilise communities, raise awareness and strengthen public accountability on climate action, given their influence across African societies.
The leaders called for stronger collaboration among governments, religious institutions, civil society organisations and affected communities to ensure climate policies respond to the realities on the ground.
They also urged decision-makers to prioritise equitable access to climate finance, meaningful participation in decision-making and practical support for adaptation and recovery from climate-related losses and damage.
“We are here to say no to any form of injustice that impacts the people of Africa,” the leaders said.
A Call for Climate Justice Ahead of COP
As preparations for future climate negotiations continue, the Nairobi gathering adds to growing calls from African faith communities and civil society for international climate commitments to be matched by concrete action.
The leaders maintained that Africa cannot continue to shoulder the consequences of a crisis it has contributed comparatively little to creating while waiting for financial commitments to be fulfilled.
Their message was clear: climate finance must move beyond pledges, adaptation must be adequately funded, and communities affected by climate change must have a meaningful role in decisions about the resources intended to support them.
For the interfaith community, “Africa Can’t Wait” is both a demand for international responsibility and a commitment to domestic accountability, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that climate finance delivers fair and tangible benefits for the people who need it most.