Antalya, Turkey, 09 November 2026: A team from Natural Justice, including three African environmental defenders from Uganda, Zimbabwe and Senegal, are on the ground at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye from 9–20 November 2026. This year’s climate talks present a key opportunity for Natural Justice to advance a phase out of fossil fuels and fossil free oceans; a human rights-based energy transition; civic space and safeguards for African defenders.
Key policy objectives at COP31:
Natural Justice will be hosting several events at COP31 and has developed a number of policy briefs which will be used as a basis for advocacy during the 2-week negotiations. Natural Justice will:
- Advocate for a phase out of fossil fuels, fossil free oceans, and push for a progressive Blue COP31 Roadmap and Antalya Ocean Declaration.
- Advocate for a Belém-Antalya Mechanism for global just transitions that centers human rights, energy access and justice for Africa’s people.
- Amplify progressive African policy recommendations relating to human rights, defenders, the Just Energy Transition, SLAPP suits and civic space.
You can access the documents here:
- Power, Protection and Remedy: Transition pathways centering rights and justice
- Ensure the plight of African environmental defenders is highlighted, while calling on states to safeguard and expand the civic space and rights of defenders under the UNFCCC and at home, also within the context of the energy transition.
- Advance human rights, gender just language and African perspectives across all negotiating items.
- Support the participation, networking, learning and solidarity building of frontline communities and ocean defenders; and
- Amplify the voices, solutions and perspectives of African frontline and coastal communities to advance a human rights-based transition away from fossil fuels.
“Africa cannot negotiate a just energy transition while turning a blind eye to the expansion of fossil fuels. Offshore oil and gas exploration is accelerating across the continent, threatening marine ecosystems, coastal livelihoods and the future of our oceans. COP31 must confront this contradiction. A truly just transition demands balanced negotiations that put people, nature and a fossil-free future at the centre of climate action.” – Farida Aliwa, Executive Director, Natural Justice
“We urge developed countries to honour their public financial obligations by clearly distinguishing the provision of funds from the mere mobilization of private investment. If Africa is to withstand the climate crisis, we need to triple adaptation finance and ensure the Fund for Loss and Damage is filled.” – Sokhna D’Ka, Director of Dakar Hub, Natural Justice
“COP 31 must prioritize the implementation of the Belem Gender Action plan with clear commitments, defined timelines and a clear pathway to ensure meaningful participation of women environmental defenders in both the implementation framework and broader climate decision making processes.” – Tawonga Chihana, NJ’s African Environmental Defenders Coordinator.
ENDS
Parallel Sessions and Side Events:
Closing the Gap: A Call for Recognition, Participation and Protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Climate Action
Hosted by the Natural Justice, in partnership with the LEAD Initiative, this discussion comes at a pivotal time, when some progress has been made, within the UNFCCC processes in recognizing the essential role of EHRDs and promoting their effective participation in climate decision-making. Significant gaps remain in ensuring their meaningful participation and protection in climate action. NJ will be launching a policy brief on the intersection of Africa’s energy transition and attacks on environmental defenders.
- Date: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026
- Time: 13:15—14:45
- Venue: Side Event Room 9 – SAFRANBOLU, Antalya, Türkiye
Practical Legal and Financial Terms for an Inclusive Just Transition Mechanism: An African Perspective on Risk-Sharing and the Road to COP32
In collaboration with the Government of Uganda, Rabia Transitions, Namati and NJ’s Just Energy Transition for Africa Initiative, this parallel session seeks to find ways of working with private and government stakeholders to risk share and achieve the successful roll-out of clean energy in pursuit of just energy transitions. NJ will be sharing our The Three Ps – principles, policies and practicalities: A just energy transition framework for communities – case studies from Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique.
- Date: Wednesday, 18 Nov 2026
- Time: 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Venue: Uganda Pavillion, Antalya, Türkiye
Connecting the LEAD network: shaping strategies for COP32
This gathering will bring together organizations from across regions that support LEAD (Leaders Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders) to exchange ideas and develop shared strategies for COP32. Led by African organizations, the discussion will centre their perspectives and priorities as we consider how the network can support collective action ahead of the conference. Three African defenders, supported by NJ will be attending and sharing perspectives.
- Date: Thursday, 12 Nov 2026
- Time: Afternoon, TBC
- Venue: Bluezone, exact location TBC
Women, Law, and Climate: Legal Empowerment of Rural and Peri-urban Communities in Senegal.
In collaboration with IFDD (Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable / Institute of the Francophonie for Sustainable Development this session will explore and debate how and to what extent legal empowerment approaches catalyse women’s effective engagement in meaningful participation in Africa’s just energy future. NJ will share findings from our report Enhancing the involvement of rural and peri-urban women in climate change management through legal empowerment in Senegal.
- Date: Monday, 16 November 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Venue: Francophone Pavillion (IFDD)
The People’s COP
Organised by local Turkish activists, movements and civil society groups, Natural Justice is collaborating with allies to host sessions at the People’s COP outside of the Blue Zone. Within this activist space, we will amplify our work and policy papers on advancing fossil free oceans, human rights-based energy transition and defending defenders.
