People of African descent are organizing an international mobilization to advocate for participation in climate governance during COP31
Delegation brings together organizations from different regions and seeks to expand institutional recognition within the UNFCCC
Antalya (Turkey), November 2026 — The Peregum Black Reference Institute and The Chisholm Legacy Project are participating in the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, as stewards of the Global Afro-Descendant Coalition for Climate Justice (GADCJC), to strengthen the participation of Afro-descendant peoples in international climate decision-making forums. The initiative brings together organizations, leaders, and representatives from various countries in the Global South and the African diaspora.
The GADCJC brings together more than 200 organizations from over 50 countries. During COP31, the coalition aims to engage in dialogue with governments, negotiators, observer organizations, and social movements, as well as to strengthen connections between leaders present in Antalya and organizations following the negotiations from their home countries.
One of the agenda’s priorities is to advance the recognition of the Global People(s) of African Descent (GAD) as a constituency of NGOs within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The proposal seeks to ensure that the perspectives, knowledge, priorities, rights, and contributions of people of African descent are taken into account in the formulation and implementation of global climate policies.
This demand stems from a contradiction: communities of African descent are among the populations most exposed to the effects of the climate crisis and the impacts of environmental racism, yet they still lack a specific space for coordination and collective representation within the UNFCCC process.
“Addressing the climate crisis requires acknowledging historical inequalities, ensuring effective participation, and valuing solutions developed at the local level. The call for recognition of the GAD is an important step toward transforming this reality,” says Sara Branco, International Advocacy Coordinator at the Peregum Black Reference Institute.
This initiative is not limited to the diaspora. The proposal includes people of African descent living on the African continent, descendants of populations displaced by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and more recent African migrants, including those living in other countries on the continent. The initiative aims to complement—not replace—the mandates of states and negotiating groups, thereby strengthening civil society participation.
Among the themes guiding this mobilization are climate and racial justice, adaptation, climate finance, a just transition, loss and damage, territorial protection, and meaningful participation in decision-making. The experience of communities of African descent in defending their territories, ecosystems, and ways of life also points to paths and solutions for addressing the climate crisis.
“We don’t want to be recognized merely as populations affected by the climate crisis. We want to participate in the decisions that define the responses to this crisis. We have knowledge, experiences, and contributions that are fundamental to building climate solutions,” says Celine Isimbi, regional anchor of GADCJC.
About the Peregum Black Reference Institute
The Peregum Black Reference Institute is an organization that is part of the political sphere of the Brazilian Black movement. As such, its mission is to strengthen both political leadership and Black organizations and/or collectives in order to enhance political initiatives and coordination aimed at developing public policies that guarantee rights for the Black population and promote racial justice. From a strategic perspective, the Peregum Institute has adopted Education, Climate, and Racial Justice/Security as its priority areas of action.
About the Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative (GADCJC)
GADCJC advances liberation across the Global African diaspora with the goal to build, deepen, and broaden participation through a recognized Afro-Descendent Constituency, racial analysis and action within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
About The Chisholm Legacy Project (TCLP)
TCLP is a Black Liberation and Just Transition organization that serves as a vehicle to connect Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with resources to traverse the path from vision to strategy to action plan to implementation to transformation.
About Generation Green
Generation Green is the founding home of the Environmental Liberation Movement and a global ecosystem of Black climate/environmental organizers and membership organizations. Through popular education, training, activations and convenings, Generation Green prepares activists and organizers from around the African Diaspora to develop strategies that combat global racial capitalism in Black environments.
Keywords #Afrodescendants #UN #UNFCCC #racism #colonialism #climatechange #COP31
For more information, please contact: Luiz Soares | (11) 95991-4623 | and Destiny Hodges | (+1) 2058265838 |