“Dangerous for biodiversity”: Faith Leader in Kenya Highlights Environmental Risks as Deep-sea Mining Debate Continues

The one-day event that the Laudato Si Movement (LSM) organized alongside the December 8–12 UNEA 7 assembly focused on the theme, “Faith in Action for an Accelerated and Inclusive Renewable Energy Transition.”

Bringing together delegates from various faith groups across the African continent, the event sought to reiterate and bolster the stance of the faith groups on the need to act swiftly on the transition to clean energy in Africa.

The event was built on the faith groups’ commitment that calls for an energy transition grounded in the principles of integral ecology and inclusive participation.

Other topics deliberated at the event included the implications of the COP30 outcomes for the continent's renewable energy transition, setting the stage to hold decision-makers accountable for translating COP30 commitments into tangible action during and after UNEA-7 discussions.

In her December 9 presentation, Rev. Mash said that the environment is under threat, and emphasized, “I want to ask you to pray.” She urged faith actors to stand in solidarity with communities at risk if deep-sea mining is pursued.

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“We are going to see people in the name of renewable energy. They are going to come and want to take those transition minerals from our countries, and we need to stand in solidarity with the people who are under threat,” she said.

Rev. Mash called for a joint effort to advance the transition to renewable energy in Africa, noting that the paradigm in contemporary society has shifted from nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to personally determined contributions (PDCs).

She said that everyone should push for the renewable energy transition. She underlined the need for places of worship to lead the renewable energy transition by removing their money and resources from fossil fuels.

“We need, as churches and as individuals, to take our money out of the banks that are funding fossil fuel projects,” she said, and added, “In small ways we can put solar panels onto our churches, we can put them in our homes, we can show people that we can make a difference.”

During the Christmas Season, Rev. Mash urged faith groups to illustrate the shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy by purchasing solar lamps as Christmas presents for young people.

“I love to see ancient cathedrals that now have solar panels. It's not easy to get all that paperwork through for a historic building, but we are now seeing that urban, peri-urban township churches can put solar panels,” she said.

For the Anglican community, she said, “We are working with the South African Council of Churches to try and get solar panels onto our seminary. How amazing it would be if every priest who is trained in the Anglican Church in Southern Africa would grow up seeing solar panels every day and see that as part of their theological formation.”

She, however, said that a transition to renewable energy must be just and devoid of what she termed as neo-colonialism that may be witnessed through land-grabbing incidents.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.