A Bigger Picture: My Fight to bring a new African voice to the climate crisis by Vanessa Nakate

Thank you Pan McMillan for this review copy.

I first heard of Vanessa Nakate when news of the Associated Press (AP) cropping out her photo hit social media. In January 2020, a group of young climate change activists including Nakate met in Davos, Switzerland. After a press conference at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Nakate along with four other activists (Luisa Neubauer, Greata Thunberg, Isabelle Axelsson and Loukina Tille) posed for cameras yet the article that featured one of the photos showed Nakate cropped out leaving the other four other activists. The four other young activists left in the picture were all white. That unfortunate event led to the elevation of her activism in Uganda. The Bigger Picture presents a new vision for the climate movement based on resilience, sustainability, and genuine equity, as well as telling the inspiring personal story of how woman found her voice.

I am impressed by Nakate’s passion to speak out about the climate crisis in Africa. Vanessa begins the book with how she first got into activism and why it matters for people in Africa.

Africa is the least emitter of carbons, but we are the most affected by the climate crisis

The Bigger Picture teaches critical lessons about the climate crisis and what can be done to push for systematic change in government policies, private sector behaviour and investment. Through this book, I have learnt so much about the climate crisis in East Africa and several African climate change activists. It didn’t end there. I further researched the climate crisis as well as climate activists in Ghana. There is so much that needs to be said and done yet Africa has been completely taken out of the conversation.

The book doesn’t only talk about activism. It also talks about how patriarchy undermines the role of (young) women in activism.

The way your entire life is mapped out as a woman is very annoying, and I try not to give it much attention. And I definitely don’t let it distract me from my activism

The book also discusses themes such as racism and speaking out against gender bias.

The last chapter of the book highlights the role individuals must play to help resolve the climate crisis.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.