African leaders, policymakers, and climate experts have issued a united call for accelerated, Africa-led solutions to address the growing impacts of climate change, following a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice affirming that States have binding legal obligations to protect the climate system. The demand came during a high-level sensitisation conference held in Nairobi, where officials warned that without urgent action, development gains across the continent will continue to reverse.
The ICJ Advisory Opinion, issued on July 23, 2025, marked a turning point in global climate governance. It declares that climate commitments are no longer voluntary but legally binding, and that States may face consequences for climate-related harm. The ruling applies to all nations and carries significant weight for African countries already bearing the brunt of rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, said the ruling fundamentally changes how climate action must be approached.
“This ruling changes the rules of the game. Climate commitments are no longer political choices. They are legal obligations, and states will be held accountable,” Mr. Sing’Oei said.
He added that this means accelerating implementation, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring that climate action is fully integrated into development and economic decisions across the continent.
Legal momentum meets on-the-ground reality
The conference brought together government officials from East Africa and the Horn of Africa, alongside representatives from the East African Community, the African Union Commission, and the United Nations and its agencies. International legal experts, judicial officers, and civil society organisations also participated.
Discussions were informed by the stark reality facing African communities. Climate change continues to pose a serious threat to livelihoods, with prolonged droughts worsening food insecurity while heavy rains trigger floods that displace families and damage infrastructure. Without urgent action, these impacts will constrain economic growth and place increasing pressure on food systems, water resources, and rural livelihoods.
The event was convened by the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in partnership with the Government of Kenya, Queen Mary University of London, Kabarak University, and the Technical University of Kenya.
Africa positioned as leader, not victim
Building on the ICJ ruling, leaders at the Nairobi conference called for turning legal momentum into practical, Africa-led solutions for frontline communities. They emphasised that the ruling positions Africa not as a victim of climate change but as a leader driving solutions and demanding accountability from developed nations and high-emission States.
CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Éliane Ubalijoro framed the challenge as broader than environmental policy or legal technicalities.
“Climate change is not only an environmental issue or a legal issue. It is fundamentally a human and development issue. Addressing it requires science, law and policy to work together so that we can move from principle to action and deliver real solutions for communities,” Ms. Ubalijoro said.
Next steps for implementation
Conference participants called for mainstreaming the ICJ advisory opinion into national legal frameworks across Africa. Specific recommendations included strengthening judicial capacity to handle climate-related cases, increasing funding for adaptation measures, and ensuring that communities most affected by climate impacts have access to legal remedies.
The meeting also underscored the need for African negotiators to enter international climate talks armed with the legal weight of the ICJ opinion. Leaders argued that the ruling gives African nations a stronger platform to demand compensation for loss and damage caused by historical emissions from industrialised countries.
For now, the Nairobi conference has set in motion a push to translate a global legal landmark into tangible outcomes for farmers, pastoralists, and coastal communities who face the harshest realities of a warming planet.
