The African Climate Alliance
Activist Guide
✺ ACA ACTIVIST GUIDE ✺
✺ ACA ACTIVIST GUIDE ✺
About the ACA Activist Guide
WHAT IS THE ACA ACTIVIST GUIDE?
A living document that seeks to help aspiring changemakers of all generations to make a more just world a reality.
It is a guide for activists – particularly in Africa – that aims to offer support on the journey of contributing to that world.
This guide explores the basics of climate change and its associated intersectional struggles. It offers explanations of some of the more complex terms and concepts, as well as how-to-guides for actions, mobilisations, campaigns, advocacy, and much more!
We hope you will use this guide alongside some excellent resources on climate justice that exist for people wanting to make a difference in the world.
This guide was developed to be a truly collaborative process
So as not to speak from only one perspective, activists of all ages, ethnicities, and genders contributed from various African countries, each bringing their unique perspectives in their areas of expertise.
The guide is an open-source document that we encourage you to share far and wide in your communities and on social media.
Inside the Guide
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Browse through the sections and chapters included in the guide.
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What is climate change and why should we care about it?
What is climate justice and why does it matter?
What is intersectionality and why is it important
in climate justice work?What is environmental education and why is it important in the movement?
Important things to consider when creating educational resources
What is climate advocacy and how can we become climate justice advocates in our daily lives?
What is policy and why is it important to engage with policy to drive a climate justice agenda?
What is climate action and what are various types of actions we can engage in?
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Your voice has power!
How to hold an educational workshop
How to use social media for advocacy
Advocating for the future we want
How to write a good op-ed
Art and activism: how to incorporate creativity into climate action
How to start an eco-club
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How to build a successful movement
Why we must organise
What is decolonisation and how does it apply to the climate movement?
What is the difference between climate mitigation and climate adaptation, and how can we aim to achieve both?
What is “loss and damage”, and why should it be included in climate justice activism?
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Examples of youth climate activism across Africa
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD OP-ED
Learn more in Chapter 9
WHAT DOES A CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIVIST LOOK LIKE?
Learn more in Chapter 14
BY NATASHA TSHUMA
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Download the ACA Activist Guide
DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE
Get a free digital copy of the ACA Activist Guide by entering your details below.
This guide is open source but if you find it useful and are able to, please support the guide by providing a donation to:
African Climate Alliance
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62902670787
Branch Code: 250114
Swift: FIRNZAJJ
For digital copies for reprint and distribution, or to purchase hard copies, please email activistguide@africanclimatealliance.org
Posters
DOWNLOADABLE POSTER RESOURCES
Download poster versions of each of the 19 chapters in 8 languages:
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Swahili, Arabic, and African French
Contributors
CONTRIBUTORS
Gabriel is an intersectional justice activist and youth co-ordinator from South Africa who works on capacity building and knowledge development around socio- environmental justice with young individuals across Africa, focusing on action and advocacy. Klaasen works as part of African Climate Alliance and Project 90 by 2030.
GABRIEL KLAASESN
Irfaan is a youth activism programme manager from South Africa who works on training activists, organising,and facilitating mass-based community youth mobilisations across a range of social issues, including education, climate change, service delivery, policy, and democracy building. Mangera works as part of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
IRFAAN MANGERA
Koaile is a climate change and sustainable development researcher from Lesotho who works on corporate climate governance, African political economy, integrated reporting, and environmental and social governance (ESG). Monaheng does this work as part of his master’s candidacy at the University of Cape Town (UCT) through the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI).
KOAILE MONAHENG
Mitchelle is a socio-environmental justice activist and programme coordinator from Zimbabwe and is based in South Africa. Mhaka works on capacity building and knowledge development in socio-environmental justice among young individuals across Africa, with a focus on education and adaptation. Mhaka works as part of the African Climate Alliance.
MITCHELLE MUFARO MHAKA
Mosibudi is a climate justice activist from South Africa who works on artivism and endorsing the Climate Justice Charter at Wits University. Molokomme works as part of the Climate Justice Charter.
MOSIBUDI MOLOKOMME
Natasha is a climate activist from South Africa who is an ambassador of the African Climate Alliance.
NATASHA TSHUMA
Pato is a sustainable development practitioner from Botswana who works on climate justice and gender equity issues. Kelesitse works as part of Sustain267.
PATO KELESITSE
Sarah is a climate justice organiser, musician, and writer. She uses her work and art to contribute to the pursuit of a more just and sustainable world. Farrell works as part of the African Climate Alliance.
SARAH ROBYN FARRELL
Stella is a communications coordinator, writer, and editor from South Africa who works on encouraging an approach to socio-environmental justice that is inclusive, intersectional, accessible, and fun. Hertantyo works as part of the African Climate Alliance, and Conscious Life & Style.
STELLA HERTANTYO
Tyler is a climate activist and researcher from South Africa who advocates for meaningful youth and women’s participation in climate policies. Booth works as part of the Youth Policy Committee Global Change working group.
TYLER BOOTH
Xoli is an environmentalist from South Africa who works on socio-environmental issues, focusing on environmental education and advocacy, and training and mentoring young activists. Fuyani works as part of Black Girls Rising.
XOLI FUYANI
Yola is a young climate activist from South Africa who works on raising awareness, creating learning spaces in marginalised communities, and being a voice for change. Mgogwana works with Black Girls Rising and the African Climate Alliance.
YOLA MGOGWANA
Claire is an artist, writer, and researcher from South Africa who works on agroecology and alternative food systems. Rousell works as an independent practitioner with a number of different organisations.
CLAIRE ROUSELL
Courtney is a climate justice activist and campaigner from South Africa who works on public finance and climate literacy as part of the African Climate Reality Project.