Congo’s community concerns over pollution amid oil expansion efforts – GWC Mag

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.

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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.