How can African cities mitigate climate impact? The answer in Nairobi

Africa is expected to be one of the continents hardest hit by climate change. With this in mind, it is more important than ever to move towards greener towns and cities in the continent. But the question everyone wants answered is: “how?”

The answer will be provided at our debate organised in the framework of the project ‘Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa’ (CoM SSA), on 8 May in Nairobi, Kenya, at UN-Habitat headquarters.

During the event, towns and cities from Africa and Europe will present how, through peer-to-peer exchanges and decentralised cooperation, they share and work together to become more sustainable. A good example to show the advantages of decentralised cooperation is the partnership between the Congolese city of Lubumbashi and the Belgian city of Liège, which will be strengthened through CoM SSA.

Thanks to this partnership and the city’s determination, Lubumbashi is on the right track to a sustainable future through an action plan and a series of actions, for instance, reforestation, developing renewable energy sources (biomass and hydroelectricity), or preserving safe drinking water. For Liège, this is also a great opportunity to exchange their experience and strengthen strategic ties with Lubumbashi in different sectors.

At the event, speakers will explain how to draw up and implement a climate and an energy action plan. Experts and representatives from both European and African cities will be there, as well as the secretary general of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Frédéric Vallier. This event will also be the opportunity to show how CoM SSA is a driving force in implementing the New Urban Agenda, the roadmap to sustainable urban development.

The projects mentioned are financed by the European Commission. The event is organised by CoM SSA and PLATFORMA, with CEMR’s support, in the framework of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

For more information or to register, please contact CEMR Junior Project Officer – Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa, Iliyana Arnaudova.

Make sure you follow @ComOSSAfrica and use the hashtag #NewUrbanAgenda to join the conversation during the event on 8 May.