Leaders at the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum in Nairobi will issue an open letter calling on national governments to unlock sustainable investment for cities. Leaders from more than 250 African cities meeting in Nairobi today (17 February) for the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum will issue an open letter urging national governments on the continent to help drive a green and resilient urban future.
The UrbanShift Africa Forum will also see the release of a Roadmap on Sustainable Finance Action and Advocacy for Global South cities, which outlines the practical steps that mayors and their teams can take to start acting and advocating for climate action.
Resilient urban planning
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), hosted by C40 Cities, and supported by UN Environment Programme (Unep) the World Resources Institute (WRI), and ICLEI, the forum will bring together mayors, city officials, national policymakers, investors, and business leaders.
As Africa’s cities expand at an unprecedented pace, and with 92 per cent already classified as being at extreme climate risk, the UrbanShift Africa Forum marks a decisive moment for resilient urban planning, sustainable investment, and climate action.
Bringing together stakeholders from countries across Africa – including Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania – the UrbanShift Africa Forum will allow national and local governments officials, investors and civil society organisations to exchange best practices, foster partnerships, and advance climate ambition.
A delegation of youth climate leaders will also join discussions to ensure the voices and expertise of young Africans remain at the centre of future climate action.
With Africa projected to drive the majority of global urban growth in the coming decades, the forum’s sessions are set to focus on resilience, urban planning, and securing the financing required to build thriving, resilient cities for future generations.
The open letter, signed by the mayors of some of the continent’s largest cities, will urge African national governments to:
- Prioritise investments in the green economy and climate resilience
- Create good green jobs
- Strengthen municipal finance
- Remove barriers to public-private partnerships to accelerate climate action projects.
The mayors’ letter aims to unlock funding for green infrastructure and sustainable urban growth.
This new roadmap from C40, UrbanShift and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) will help mayors access affordable financing for projects like clean energy and public transport. It also recommends giving cities more financial independence, creating national platforms to coordinate efforts, and grouping projects together to attract greater investment.
“African cities are already at the vanguard of climate action and innovation. Our youth populations are already championing climate action and investing in their own futures,” said Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown and co-chair of C40 Cities.
“With approximately 70 per cent of Africa’s population under the age of 35, young people are leveraging technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship to drive the shift toward sustainability. It is time for the international finance community to invest in their energy and ideas.
“We know the next generation is ready to lead the charge for a greener, fairer future, it is now the duty of city leaders to access the resources they need to create a greener, fairer future for all of us.”
Sakaja Johnson, governor of Nairobi, added: “I am really excited that C40 made the decision to host the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum which will bring representatives from some of the continent’s biggest and leading cities to Nairobi.
“Africa’s young population means there is ample opportunity to transform the reality for many cities and many residents. We will continue leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to develop clean energy solutions which must be accompanied by the development of a greener, fairer economic model for all.
“Investing in climate solutions in Africa works: with a projected return of $4 for every $1 initially invested, this is a unique opportunity for global investors to deliver the much-needed impact on the ground and address these challenges.”
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Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 17.02.2025
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