Over the past few years racial inequality has found itself once again in the headlines. Former students of residential schools run by the Catholic church across Canada have been speaking out on the decades long abuse experienced by indigenous pupils. The shocking murder of George Floyd electrified the world to action for Black Lives Matter. The hate crimes against people of Asian heritage rocketed with the outbreak of Covid-19. The conflict in Syria brought thousands of migrants to the gates of Europe and the US leading to far right backlash and scenes of racial hatred not seen since Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech. The once bright image of a cosmopolitan, globalised and egalitarian society almost appeared to be disintegrating as inequality, the Covid-19 pandemic, a shaky economy and government parties dividing faster than bacteria began to jeopardise the harmony that communities across the globe have been striving to achieve. Yet, race-based inequality continues to reach its bony fingers into the structural inequalities we see and hear about in education, employment and general standard of living. Hidden away in plain view are the environmental inequalities that numerous minority ethnic and Indigenous communities are now experiencing as climate change lands on their doorstep and large polluting companies set up shop in their back yard.

Women have been the strength and stay of many African Nations throughout history as warriors, mothers, matriarchs, freedom fighters and now politicians, NGO workers and climate activists. The disenfranchised, poor, and repressed image of African women and girls often portrayed in global media could not be further from the truth for many amazing women who are taking their place in what was and to some extent remains a patriarchal society in almost every nation across the continent. The strength of these women to defy traditional gender roles and seek a career and voice outside of the home evidences at least in part the importance of their role in politics and in particular their steering of the climate policies to come. In a region which is already experiencing the grave impacts of climate change in the form of drought, desertification, forced migration, etc. the inevitable loss of life, livelihoods and futures are often felt most deeply by women due to the systemic gender inequalities which are so deeply rooted in African society. This does not mean however that these women are either powerless or vulnerable as many have weathered far greater storms and when given the opportunity will exhibit far greater resilience to disasters and crises than their male counterparts.