Amidst the Congo’s bid to augment oil drilling, local farmers grapple with the detrimental effects on their land and livelihoods.
Sam Mednick reports for Associated Press.
In short:
- The Congolese government’s plans to auction oil and gas blocks nationwide have sparked fears of exacerbated environmental and health issues.
- Oil company Perenco’s operations have been linked by locals to soil degradation and health complications, despite the firm’s claims of adhering to international standards.
- Protected ecological zones, including the world’s second-largest rainforest and largest tropical peatland, are at risk due to potential overlap with the auctioned oil blocks.
Key quote:
“Any new oil and gas project, anywhere in the world, is fueling the climate and nature crisis that we’re in.”
— Mbong Akiy Fokwa Tsafak, program director for Greenpeace Africa
Why this matters:
The expansion of drilling in Congo not only threatens local agriculture and public health but also poses a significant risk to global climate efforts, as it involves carbon-rich ecosystems critical for mitigating climate change.
Ruth Greenspan Bell: Developing countries that increase their fossil fuel production are at a crossroads: securing their own long-term well-being or earning revenue to finance programs to support immediate economic growth.
