The African Union (AU) is commemorating Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day today, marking 13 years since the decision to jointly observe these two significant occasions annually.
The dual commemoration pays homage to the late Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel laureate Professor Wangari Maathai, whose lifetime crusade sought to tackle deforestation, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation across the African continent.
“In January 2012, the African Union (AU) adopted a decision calling for the joint commemoration of Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day in recognition of the work and life of the late Professor Wangari Maathai who dedicated her life to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Africa and the first African Woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,” the AU said in a statement.
Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, a grassroots organization that went on to plant over 51 million trees across Kenya while advocating for women’s rights, better environmental management, and equitable access to resources.
Her pioneering work in promoting participatory environmental conservation, coupled with civic accountability and democratic principles, earned Maathai a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 – the first for an African woman.
Across AU member states, a range of activities and policy discussions are underway to commemorate the day, from tree planting drives to high-level panels on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for vulnerable communities.
As the continent grapples with rising sea levels, droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss from human activity, Maathai’s rallying cry of “unbowed” resilience in the face of environmental injustice rings truer than ever.
