Shifting the Climate Narrative: Dakar to Host the 1st African Meetings on Environmental Justice

​As global climate discourse increasingly grapples with the limitations of top-down, crisis-driven frameworks, a definitive paradigm shift is taking root on the African continent. This November, Dakar, Senegal, will become the epicenter of this transformation. From November 24 to 26, 2026, Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) will host the landmark 1st African Meetings on Environmental Justice (Premières Rencontres Africaines sur la Justice Environnementale).

​Moving far beyond the boundaries of traditional, insular academic symposia, this milestone event is structured as an open, intersectional forum. It marks a deliberate effort to bridge the historical gap between rigorous scientific research and grassroots civic action, cultivating a uniquely African definition of ecological equity and territorial resilience.

​Rooting Justice in African Realities

​The foundational vision of the meetings is to establish a permanent, continent-wide space for intellectual and practical exchange. The initiative builds directly upon momentum generated by the EJJE network (Environmental and Food Justice / Justice Environnementale et Justice Alimentaire), an established collaboration of French-speaking researchers across Africa and Europe. The ultimate objective of the Dakar gathering is to solidify these efforts into a robust, interconnected, and self-sustaining African research network.

​Crucially, the conference marks a philosophical refusal to succumb to "eco-anxiety" or environmental defeatism. While acknowledging that ecological degradation profoundly threatens African economic, socio-political, and agricultural systems, the organizers explicitly invoke a perspective of agency: the worst is not certain. Rather than documenting damage in isolation, the sessions are designed to spotlight radical systemic transformations, local adaptations, and the reclamation of community sovereignty over natural resources.

​Core Thematic Pillars

​The scientific and civic framework of the meetings approaches environmental and agricultural challenges through a multi-disciplinary lens, organized around three intersecting pillars:

• ​Socio-Ecological Resilience: Shifting the focus toward strengthening the capacity of territories to absorb climate shocks. Discussions will center on gradual, community-led adaptations that protect local economies and cultural continuity without relying on external, paternalistic interventions.
• ​Agricultural and Food Justice: Grounding the environmental debate in tangible realities—such as soil health, agroecology, biodiversity restoration, and equitable land management. The forum treats food sovereignty not merely as a production goal, but as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of environmental justice.
• ​Inclusive Citizenship as a Catalyst: Rejecting the elite academic model, the structure of the meetings intentionally elevates the participation of everyday citizens, youth movements, and marginalized communities. By centering these voices, the event positions local populations not as passive victims of climate change, but as the primary architects and co-authors of their regional solutions.

​A Convergence of Science and Grassroots Action

​By hosting the event at Cheikh Anta Diop University—a historic center of African intellectual leadership—the organizers are anchoring the concept of environmental justice in rigorous scholarship while keeping it thoroughly accessible to public debate.

​As West Africa navigates the complexities of a changing climate, the 1st African Meetings on Environmental Justice offer a vital blueprint for the future. The event underscores a growing continental consensus: true climate justice cannot be decoupled from social equity, historical context, and the profound, traditional stewardship of the land.