Colonialism not only disrupted societies—it devastated ecosystems. European colonial powers extracted natural resources from colonized regions like Kenya with little concern for sustainability or the long-term well-being of local communities. These practices were driven by the needs of industrial growth in Europe, often resulting in deforestation, ecosystem destruction, and other environmental damage.
ICYE Kenya, as part of its youth-led environmental awareness efforts, highlights how these colonial-era practices laid the groundwork for many of today’s climate challenges, especially the excessive use of fossil fuels, a major contributor to global warming.
A photo shared by ICYE Kenya depicts ongoing rock mining, with stripped land and endangered trees in the background. This image serves as a powerful symbol of how profit continues to overshadow environmental care. These rocks, commonly used in construction, are being extracted in ways that weaken the land’s integrity, increasing the risk of landslides and further degrading the ecosystem.
“This mining threatens both the land and the people. The rush for profit disregards the environmental cost—and it’s time to change that.”
By documenting and sharing these realities, ICYE Kenya calls for climate justice that recognizes both historical harm and current environmental threats. The organization urges a shift toward sustainable practices that put people and planet over profit.