The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a long and significant history with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which plays a crucial socio-economic role in the country (Delve Database, 2023; IMPACT, 2022). ASM has historically been important in regions like Katanga, with artisanal miners focusing initially on diamonds in the 1980s and later diversifying to include tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold, cobalt, and copper by the 1990s onward (Glencore, 2025). This sector is highly labour-intensive, employing many people—estimates suggest around 10 million Congolese depend on ASM for their livelihoods, with about 200,000 artisanal miners working specifically in cobalt and copper in Katanga and Lualaba provinces (World Bank, 2020; Delve Database, 2023).

Since its emergence in the late 1960s, the environmental justice movement has become a very important social effort to deal with climate change and its effects on both our environment and human civilisation (Schlosberg & Carruthers 2010; Opperman, 2019). This movement has historically been perceived as focusing on the protection of wildlife and the environment (Taylor, 2000). However, now the environmental justice movement has become part of mainstream social justice conversation as more people realise that environmental justice must also address the impacts of climate change on people and their livelihoods. In the past, the notion of environmental justice as social justice did not track. This is evident in how different social markers, such as race, gender, and class were not taken into consideration as to their effect on how people experience climate change and its impacts.

Artisanal mining is an important economic activity in Masvingo Province, Bhuka community, where young artisanal miners face several challenges, such as limited access to financial resources and equipment, environmental degradation, and exacerbating the impacts of climate change. The study aims to address the research questions: How can artisanal miners’ resilience to climate change be enhanced? What sustainable practices can be implemented by artisanal miners? The aim of this study is to investigate the empowerment of young miners through sustainable practices and to identify ways that can upgrade their socio-economic conditions.

At the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi in September 2023, discussions about carbon trading dominated many conversations. Kenyan President William Ruto said Africa’s carbon sinks provide an “unparalleled economic goldmine” and called for “a new way of doing business.” Many commentators, however, believe the real winners of the carbon trading markets are the financial brokers in the developed countries who operate these controversial global markets. LIZ MWANGI elaborates on this perspective.

South Africa, one of the most diverse economies in Africa, faces a unique blend of climatic challenges due to its varied geography, from the hot Kalahari Desert to subtropical and temperate climates. However, these environmental conditions are increasingly impacted by climate change, which is exacerbating existing socio-economic issues. The country has been grappling with high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment, which are all made worse by the impacts of climate change.

Everyday we are reminded of the hard work you put out there, effortlessly working tirelessly in the ground and making it seem easy, you are Unsang Heroine and heroes making kir shopping stores look wholesome colourful and fun. These orange carrots, Green peppers those head shaped cabbages, arghh the list is endless. When we eat a hamburger or drink that mango juice, you are constantly reminded that the food we eat and the drinks we enjoy started in the soil somewhere. It was put there and protected from drought, disease and pests by the hands of your highly skilled agriculturists.

Responsible for only 3% of historical greenhouse gas emissions, the African continent is set to bear the brunt of climate impacts, which will further jeopardise the continent’s chances to achieve sustainable development, worsening food security, livelihoods, population displacement, health and education, and halting and regressing development. MUHAMMED PATEL AND GAYLOR MONTMASSON-CLAIR argue the need to ramp up climate adaptation on the continent is urgent – in fact, it is a matter of life and death.

Residents of eThekwini municipality (which encompasses Durban and surrounding areas) in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa shall remember the month of April 2022 for a long time. Starting on Saturday April 9, heavy rain pummelled the city and, a few days later, on the night of Sunday 10 April 2022, eThekwini received over 300 millimetres (30cm) of rainfall in the space of 24 hours. In other words, it received more than a month’s worth of rain in one day.