Africa is not responsible for climate crisis: Activist Vanessa Nakate

What the report says

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate says African countries are bearing the effects of climate change despite contributing little to the crisis. In an Al Jazeera video published on 28 September 2026, she argues that global warming is hitting communities across Africa especially hard and that the continent is too often excluded from climate discussions.

The report says Nakate has moved from protests in Kampala to speaking in international forums and has used her platform to press world leaders to take stronger action. She is also identified as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, which has given her direct exposure to how climate impacts are affecting local communities. According to the interview, she believes major polluters should face accountability for emissions and the damage linked to them.

Nakate told Al Jazeera that progress on climate action has been limited, even as she continues to push for more attention to Africa’s experience. The piece also notes that she sometimes feels discouraged by the scale of the crisis, but remains motivated by grassroots efforts that are already producing change. The broader significance is that her message reflects a common demand from African climate advocates: that climate policy and funding should better reflect the realities facing vulnerable countries.