Book Review by Tina Ndi
Recent floods across northern Nigeria, and indeed across Africa, have yet again reminded us of the increasing dangers of climate change and global heating. Hurricanes in Florida, USA, have also shown that climate change is impacting dreadfully across the world.
But, as Kola argues:
“Despite its human, natural and mineral resources, not to mention its geographical size, Africa contributes very marginally to global emissions, either currently or historically. Yet it shares a disproportionate impact of climate change.” (page xiii)
Whilst this is true, Nigerian governments continue to allow gas flaring in the Nigeria Delta. This is the single largest contribution to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa.
In all countries of the world, it is the poor and working classes who suffer the greatest from global heating. As Kola acknowledges, these same people, acting collectively, can provide the necessary system change that could end the horrors of climate change. Socialists must be part of the fight for climate justice as part of their daily struggles and ultimately for the fight for socialism.
The first part of the book provides a review of global climate change. It explains how emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, primarily from the burning of oil, gas and coal, are leading to small increases in global temperature which are already having such a catastrophic impact. In 2015, the Paris Agreement agreed to keep global temperatures increasing by no more than 1.5 degrees. But that limit will be passed within only 10 years.
The second and third parts of the book look at the climate change regime in Africa. They review current levels of development in the continent as well as its political economy. We look at the state of climate change and global warming in Africa, and the level of impacts (physical economic and social) it is having and will have on the continent. (page xiv)
The problem is that capitalism is tied into economic growth and all governments in the world support growth as an objective. Designing growth that does not involve increased emissions of climate change gasses nor increased climate degradation is not a priority. Millions of people will suffer because the global powers put profits before people – unless we fight to achieve system change.
The book concludes with an alternative socio-economic approach to capitalist economic relations, as a basis for fundamentally changing the course of history for the better for the mass of the people. We cannot just mourn, we have to organize for a better, safer world. So we need the working classes across the world to unite to address this global challenge:
The workers movement in Africa is a powerful force, which with correct leadership and a strong anti-capitalist ideology…, can build pan-national regional and continental movements to fight for a new society and change the course of climate chaos in Africa. (page 166)
According to Kola this should include the following demands:
- massive funding of public infrastructure
- investment in adaption programs for vulnerable sectors, communities and people
- Expansion of social services (health, education, water and sanitation)
- national living income and living wage
- taxing the rich and polluted businesses
- redistribution of wealth.
We can start by encouraging our trade unions to buy this book and use it as the basis for a mass education program on climate change and how we can stop it. The book is available from: https://selar.co/511316
Kola Ibrahim was also one of the main speakers at the Socialist Labour public meeting in October on “Capitalism, Extractivism & the Environmental Destruction of Africa”. The full meeting is now available to watch: https://tinyurl.com/sjkmpp55
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