Kenyan Activist Advocates for Climate Justice in Africa

Joyce Koech, a climate and environment justice activist from Kenya, is gaining recognition within African climate action circles for her involvement in global and regional climate initiatives. Her work focuses on climate justice, mangrove conservation, and empowering vulnerable communities.

Mangrove Conservation and Community Empowerment

Koech co-founded Blue Earth, a Mombasa-based organization led by women and youth, to address the impact of plastics on the ocean and raise climate change awareness. The organization prioritizes empowering women, particularly those in the fishing sector, by providing them with resources to improve their livelihoods. Blue Earth also educates young people about climate change and encourages community-level action. A key activity of Blue Earth is mangrove conservation, recognizing the significant carbon sequestration capabilities of mangroves, which absorb five to ten times more carbon than terrestrial forests. Since 2021, the organization has planted approximately 54,000 to 96,000 mangroves.

Climate Advocacy at UN Spaces

Koech has participated in the last three United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COPs), initially using these events as learning experiences. She now confidently utilizes these platforms to advocate for climate justice, emphasizing the role of mangroves in carbon sequestration. She highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and calls for climate justice, reparations, and funding for loss and damage, particularly for communities in Africa and the Global South.

Role in the Loss and Damage Fund

Following the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 and its operationalization at COP28, Koech has become involved with the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition. She advocates for leaders to provide funding to address loss and damage, emphasizing the urgency of responding to the displacement of communities and the need to protect ecosystems like mangroves. Koech’s participation in the Youth Coalition aims to amplify voices from the Global South and ensure that climate responses recognize the full scale of community losses. The coalition recently acknowledged Koech’s efforts in bringing youth demands to the forefront of the process, emphasizing that climate justice requires centering people and protecting ways of life.