"Speak truth to power; your world depends on it," Al Gore tells us
Two of our campaigners, Sandrine Mpazayabo and Steph Cookson, have become mentors for former US vice president Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, which grows climate leaders across all levels of society.
They returned from their training in Nairobi last month feeling buoyed up by Gore’s encouragement, impressed by the remarkable progress Kenya has made in adopting renewable energy, and sobered by the huge challenge that our fossil fuel-addicted country still faces in comparison.
As part of their mentorship training, they were addressed by Gore. “Use your voices, your votes, your choices. Speak truth to power like your world depends on it. Your world does depend on it,” he said.
He assured them that the fossil fuel industry’s PR campaign of “climate realism” − claiming that the transition to renewables is impossible and we should ditch it for adaptation alone − is a lie, and that the shift towards renewable energy is unstoppable and part of a “sustainability revolution”.
“I believe we are in the early stages of a global sustainability revolution, with the scale and impact of the industrial revolution, at the speed of the digital revolution. This revolution has the potential to reshape the world, transforming our relationship to businesses, to the environment and to each other.
“We find ourselves at a tipping point in the sustainability revolution. [...] We must embrace this moment as a global epiphany.”
He noted that the fossil fuel industry has used “fraud and falsehoods on an industrial scale, and by using their lavishly funded legacy networks of political and economic power, they have captured the policymaking process in too many countries around the world.”
Kenyans leapfrog over fossil fuels
Kenya, which hosted the leadership training, derives more than 90% of its energy from renewable sources, about 45% of this from geothermal energy in the Great Rift Valley. This was made possible by government policies strongly prioritising renewables.
“We found that Kenyans are not talking about still needing fossil fuels. That’s not even on their radar,” said Steph. “Instead, they’re talking about how to mobilise funding and capacity.
“Meanwhile, when South Africans start the energy conversation, 60% of it is the preamble argument about whether we still need coal and gas for the Just Energy Transition. It was heartening to learn about Kenya, and heartbreaking to realise the huge battle we’re still waging here.
“We don’t always realise, even as activists, how difficult our situation is.”
The mentorship training followed climate leadership training for the project in April. The mentors’ role is to encourage and inspire others in the climate leadership programme: to help them make the most of the training, support them, and give them the resources they need, especially information, Steph said.
The mentors have follow-up check-ins with mentees that want them several more times in the following year.
”Sharing space with climate legends”
”I was honoured and delighted to find out I had been chosen to be a mentor for the Climate Reality Training,” said Sandrine. “It was an amazing experience. I walked away feeling enriched and inspired.
“My mentees, all from the western region of Kenya, are a group of driven, creative, and passionate people from all age groups and walks of life. Besides the engaging sessions with them, some of the highlights from the experience were seeing Al Gore in the flesh − he is such an impressive orator − sharing space with Wanjira Mathai and hearing her speak about the past and future of environmental activism in Kenya, and learning about all of the innovation happening in and around Nairobi around climate adaptation.”
As Al Gore said, every action counts. Take just one minute to add your voice, helping us to encourage the shift towards a more humane and sustainable future:
Sign a letter to your asset manager calling for a fund that supports ethical and sustainable investments, rather than the fossil fuel industry, here.
Support our Fossil Ad Ban’s call for the banning of all fossil fuel industry advertisements, to stop the pervasive greenwashing that gives the industry social credibility, here.
If you would like to give us your thoughts or feedback, we’re keen to hear from you! Please email us at hello@fossilfreesa.org.za and we’ll get back to you soon. We look forward to your mail!
