Namibia is emerging as a new frontier for green hydrogen — a promise of a sustainable future, backed strongly by partners like Germany and the Netherlands. Along the windswept shores of Lüderitz, the colossal $10 billion Hyphen project rises, heralded as a beacon of economic progress and climate hope. Yet beneath this shining vision, whispers of alarm come from Namibian scientists and environmentalists, warning of fragile ecosystems on the brink of irreversible harm.
This land, etched by history and memory, is home to rare life — the elusive Damara tern, African penguins, and plants that awaken once every seven years. The project carves through a biodiversity jewel, set against a landscape marked by colonial scars and the haunting legacy of genocide. It compels us to confront urgent questions: Who truly carries the cost of ‘green’ progress? What does justice mean when nature and history are at stake? And what role does Germany bear in this unfolding story?
Through this photo series, I had the privilege to accompany journalist Daphné Dupont-Nivet, visually exploring the delicate balance between ambition and preservation, between a colonial past and an uncertain future. Intimate portraits, vast landscapes, and quiet moments reveal what lies beneath the surface of political promises — inviting reflection on responsibility, on the true meaning of sustainability, and on the stories too often left untold.
