LeipzigWhile Germany has built its prosperity at the expense of fossil fuel industries and colonial exploitation, Cameroon continues to bear the consequences of this injustice. Despite minimal historical emissions, the country is suffering massively from the climate crisis – in the form of droughts, floods, and growing social inequality. It is time for Germany to live up to its responsibility. Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie publishes the dossier today "What Germany owes Cameroon – on the necessity of climate reparations", which calls for comprehensive measures for financial and structural compensation.
Colonial environmental destruction and climate debt
“German colonial practices in Cameroon not only destroyed the environment but also caused long-term social and economic damage. Deforestation and the introduction of monocultures led the country into a dependency that continues to have negative consequences today,” explains Oumarou F. Mfochivé, author of the dossier.
Cameroon is already suffering massively from the climate crisis – with an infrastructure that is unable to cope with the challenges. “Germany, as a former colonial power and historical emitter, bears a moral responsibility for the climate damage affecting Cameroon. It is time to acknowledge this responsibility and provide climate reparations,” demands Oumarou F. Mfochivé.
Climate reparations: More than financial compensation
The Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie Germany is demanding that it pay Cameroon at least 38 billion euros in climate reparations. But it's about more than just money: "Climate reparations include a guarantee of non-recurrence – this requires a profound transformation of the political and economic system," emphasizes Carolina Hoffmann, a staff member of the concept development agency.
International climate funds and development aid are insufficient to acknowledge Germany's guilt. The dossier "What Germany owes Cameroon" It highlights the connections between colonial rule and climate destruction and makes it clear: Without a consistent reckoning with the past, climate justice remains an empty promise.
The Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie invites you to a panel discussion with postcolonial and climate experts and activists on April 24, 2025 at 7 pm at Aquarium Berlin, Skalitzer Straße 6, to mark the publication of the dossier.
The dossier is available for download:
What Germany owes Cameroon – on the necessity of climate reparations