Africa

Nigeria is currently experiencing severe flooding that has destroyed homes and farmlands, especially in communities along the floodplains of two major rivers — the Niger and the Benue.

As world leaders gathered at COP27, the U.N. climate conference, to figure out how to deal with climate change, faith organizations found their voices through protests.

Nigeria's Catholic bishops urge the federal government to devise a plan to fight flooding that affects Nigerians each year. This year's extensive flooding has affected about 1.4 million people in 27 states, with thousands of homes destroyed and several communities totally submerged.

Pope Francis on Nov. 1 participated in a virtual online dialogue with students from across Africa, telling them that African youth should be unafraid to organize together to fight for their future. 

Bishops in Eastern Africa concluded a nine-day meeting, saying the region's environmental concerns can be attributed to human behavior, and suggesting actions to increase awareness of how the climate crisis affects local communities.

Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 10–18 under the shadow of some of the worst recorded ecological disasters in the region, the bishops from the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa are examining ways to help communities that are struggling to adapt to the effects of a changing climate.

Recent events brought together Catholic organizations and leaders in an effort to shine a light on the dangers facing oceans and biodiversity around the globe and to outline church positions in defense of both.

Catholic environmental activists participating in the Laudato Si' Movement in Africa matched their words with actions, mounting cleanup efforts and educational programs as part of the observance of World Environment Day.