African Conference on Environmental Justice - Call for papers

Submission deadline: 30 april 2026 - See details below -  rencontresafricainesje@gmail.com

The world is experiencing a multidimensional ecological crisis that extends beyond environmental issues, affecting economic and socio-political systems (IPCC, 2023). In the face of this complex crisis, societies, groups, and individuals are looking to the future with hope, seeking to move beyond this climate of anxiety. However, as Larrère and Larrère (2020) remind us, 'the worst is not certain.' Some envision radical transformations that break away from current systems, while others propose gradual changes that preserve existing power structures—both among humans and in relation to nature (Mbembe, 2020; Nubukpo, 2022; Sarr, 2016). At the core of these discussions lies a crucial question: How can Africans rethink their relationship with nature and their ways of life to balance social justice and environmental protection?

Although Africa has historically contributed less to the ecological crisis than other continents, it is among the most vulnerable regions (IPCC, 2023). Despite its low carbon footprint, its rich biodiversity, agricultural ecosystems, and ancestral lifestyles of African populations are under threat (Daré & Ba, 2023). Every day, Africa faces the compounded ecological, political, and economic impacts of climate change—largely driven by the development choices of the Global North (Renou et al., 2021; Sarr, 2021)."

In today’s context of multiple crises, two competing visions of Africa’s future frequently emerge. The first, optimistic perspective argues that Africa possesses the natural, human, and cultural resources—as well as strong organizational and solidarity mechanisms—to address these challenges (Mbembe, 2020; Sarr, 2016). The second, more pessimistic view contends that despite its abundant resources, Africa remains behind in economic development (Ayittey, 1992; Kabou, 2009; Moyo, 2010). However, these binary narratives fail to capture the continent’s complexity, the diverse realities on the ground, and the dynamic contributions of various actors—farmers, urban populations, civil society, and those in political, artistic, and scientific spheres. More importantly, they remain tied to a development framework shaped by external perspectives. As Frantz Fanon urged in 1961, formerly colonized nations must break free from the Western paradigm: “Come on, comrades, the European game is definitively over. We must find something else. We can do anything today, provided we do not mimic Europe or become obsessed with catching up to it” (Fanon, [1961] 2010). Yet, the transformative moment Fanon envisioned never fully materialized. Now, amid deepening socio-ecological crises and rising inequalities, does Africa have a renewed opportunity to redefine its path? Can Africans seize this moment to shape their own future, drawing strength from within rather than following external models?

Environmental justice as an alternative for desirable futures?

Demands for social justice in environmental struggles provide a platform for African populations to express their needs, desires, and hopes—not only to their leaders but also to the broader global system, which often keeps them in a position of subservience (Nkrumah, 2021). The deep attachment connections people have with their environment manifest in various ways: a herder’s bond with their animals, a farmer’s attachment to their land, an urban dweller’s connection to their neighborhood, or an individual’s ties to their ancestors and social groups. For many, these relationships are fundamental to their very existence. Unlike in many Western perspectives, where humans and non-humans are often viewed as separate, some worldviews see them as inseparable—just as past and present, spirit and matter, are intertwined. However, these perspectives are often overlooked by dominant political, economic, and epistemic forces. Recognizing these ontological connections is essential, as it highlights both the unity and diversity of our world.

Given the diverse challenges African populations face, environmental justice offers both a conceptual and practical framework to address their aspirations. While widely recognized in English-speaking contexts, it remains less visible in French-speaking regions (Coolsaet & Deldrève, 2024). Bridging this linguistic gap is essential. Environmental justice provides a historical lens to reconsider power imbalances inherited from North-South domination while incorporating distributive, procedural, and recognition-based dimensions (Deldrève, 2015; Diaw, 2024). The collective work coordinated by Daré and Ba (2023) explores the specificities of environmental justice in Africa’s rural areas, increasing visibility for research conducted on the continent and within the African diaspora. However, this work primarily focuses on local community struggles over natural resource management in response to external interventions, such as mining, land protection, and large-scale irrigation projects. It also briefly addresses the asymmetrical recognition of knowledge. Due to editorial constraints, the book was unable to include a broader range of contributors beyond the French-speaking sphere or fully explore the social justice challenges African populations face in their relationship with the environment. Issues such as access to public services—including healthcare, education, administration, digital technology, and recreational spaces—remain underexamined.

Structuring a Field of Scientific and Civic Research

Recent exchanges in various scientific and civic dialogue spaces(AISLF Congress in Ottawa in 2024, AFS Congress in Toulouse in 2025, EJJE - Environmental Justice/Justice environnementale) have helped revive discussions that gained momentum in 2019 with the Dakar Colloquium on "low-noise mobilizations" or more recently in work published in the journal Naaj, an African journal on climate change and renewable energies, in 2021 before its publication was discontinued. These discussions have highlighted the need to bring together diverse perspectives on environmental justice, spanning different languages, analytical approaches, and modes of expression. They also emphasize the importance of defining justice and injustice in context, both from scientific and citizen viewpoints. Most importantly, they underscore a critical gap: the need to establish a structured field of environmental justice research in Africa, led from within the continent. This is the gap that we, as organizers of the 1st African Conference on Environmental Justice, see today on the African continent as an urgent priority.

This event will bring together experts, activists, artists, and civil society members from diverse backgrounds. What sets this gathering apart is its inclusive and innovative approach—moving beyond a traditional academic conference to ensure participation from all segments of African society, making justice itself a core principle. At the intersection of science and society, these meetings will explore environmental issues from multiple perspectives, fostering solutions tailored to African realities and strengthening communities’ resilience to ecological challenges.

 Accordingly, several themes are proposed to gather feedback and perspectives from a wide range of audiences across the continent.

• Transition? Africa is facing multiple calls for transition—whether demographic, agro-ecological, environmental, energy-related, or democratic. These transitions are often framed as necessary steps along a predetermined path. But is there room for a more radical reimagining of Africa’s future? Could alternative ways of living together be envisioned, grounded in Africa’s natural resources and cultural identities? Some advocate for strengthening existing commons or creating new ones, but how should we navigate the diverse definitions of justice and injustice? How can Africa avoid the imposition of external principles and the risk of hegemonic models? Furthermore, how do social, economic, and environmental justice demands, expressed through local conflicts, contribute to shaping and articulating new futures?
• Commitment and Environmental Justice ? Many conflicts related to the environment, broadly defined, have been documented in the Atlas of Environmental Justice. However, not all affected groups have the means to express their opposition. How should we account for situations that an external observer—whether a scientist or not—perceives as unjust? What legitimacy does this observer have to denounce them? Environmental justice involves scientists, activists, and even artists. How can we assess their commitment to affected communities, particularly those who remain silent? Do "low-noise" mobilization strategies (Hayem, 2020) in Africa follow specific patterns? Can we identify the forms of collective demands and the processes that escalate into large-scale protests—whether against a development project, a nature reserve, a mining operation, or land confiscation? And how are these dynamics unique to African societies?
• Situating oneself in plural networks? How do we position ourselves within diverse networks? Who are the key players fighting environmental injustices? What arguments do they use to support their different views on justice? If we acknowledge that these actors are part of varied, multi-level, and often geographically dispersed networks, does the simple division between "actors from above" (such as state authorities) and "actors from below" (such as grassroots groups) still apply in Africa? How legitimate is the perspective of state actors, who base their decisions on the general interest of managing territory, compared to that of grassroots actors? And what role do intermediaries—such as companies, NGOs, donors, and shareholders—play in shaping justice and injustice through their actions?
• Playing with time and space? The concept of time is closely tied to discussions of environmental justice for several reasons. One key factor is how our relationship with history helps explain the power dynamics that emerged through colonization. Historical research shows that the relationship between the West and Africa has dramatically changed since the slave trade, especially when compared to earlier, more balanced interactions. Europe has imposed its ideas, knowledge, and worldview on the rest of the world, including Africa, to the point where these views are often seen as the only truth by many Africans. Can we challenge these ingrained ways of thinking about time in order to create new perspectives and reimagine the future of Africa? This raises the question of epistemic justice—fairness in knowledge and understanding—given how colonial history has shaped our ideas of time and space. But can manipulating time and space in art open up creative ways to explore alternative concepts of justice?

How to submit proposals

Proposals for presentations (oral, poster, artistic performance) must include:

• Title;
• Full contact details of the author(s): surname, first name, laboratory or institution, postal address, and email address;
• Abstract of the presentation (originality of the subject, theoretical and methodological aspects, any results obtained) (maximum 500 words; Times New Roman 12 font; single spacing);
• Keywords (maximum 5);
• Any bibliographical references that help to contextualize the subject (maximum 3 to 4 entries).

Proposals must be submitted electronically before April 30, 2026, to the following address: rencontresafricainesje@gmail.com