More than 300 African mayors, city officials, national policymakers, investors and business leaders have stepped up efforts to build the resilience of African cities through more finance and better planning.
The leaders gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility, hosted by C40 Cities, and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Resources Institute and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
The forum saw the launch of the Roadmap on Sustainable Finance for Global South Cities, a partnership to help cities cut emissions and an open letter from African mayors calling for national governments to create the enabling conditions to finance sustainable urban development and increase resilience to the climate emergency.
Africa’s cities are expanding at an unprecedented pace. The continent’s urban population is expected to hit 1.5 billion people by 2050. However, over 90 per cent of the fastest-growing cities are already facing extreme climate risks.
With concern growing, the forum aimed to create a decisive moment for resilient urban planning, sustainable investment and climate action. Given Africa’s young population, youth climate leaders also joined discussions to ensure the voices and expertise of young Africans are at the center of future climate action.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone and Co-chair of C40 Cities, said: “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.
“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.”
Outcomes of the forum
The open letter, endorsed by the governors and mayors of some of the continent’s largest cities, aimed to unlock much-needed funding for resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban growth.
The governors and mayors urged African national governments to prioritize investments in the green economy and climate resilience, create good green jobs, strengthen municipal finance and remove barriers to public-private partnerships.
They further stressed that African nations are already losing an estimated 2-5 per cent of gross domestic product to extreme weather each year but that every US$1 spent on climate adaptation could return US$4 in avoided losses and damages, finds UN Habitat.
The Roadmap on Sustainable Finance for Global South Cities outlined the practical steps that mayors and their teams can take to act and advocate for climate action. It highlighted two key strategies: (1) prioritize and identify actions that can be taken at the city level to support local climate action; and (2) engage in partnerships and advocate with national, regional and global stakeholders, including national governments, international financial Institutions, private financiers, global climate funds and institutional investors, to achieve global climate goals.
The roadmap, developed by #UrbanShift, C40 and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, will help mayors access affordable financing for important projects like clean energy and public transport. The roadmap also recommends giving cities more financial independence, creating national platforms to coordinate efforts and grouping projects together to attract greater investment.
UNEP invited stakeholders to return to Nairobi in December this year to participate in the Seventh UN Environment Assembly (Nairobi, 8-12 December) and its Cities and Regions Summit on 5 December. The Assembly will feature a review of the subnational government engagement in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and will discuss local financing and funding for cities to support achieving global climate goals.
Additional quotes
Sakaja Johnson, Governor of Nairobi, said: “I am really excited that C40 made the decision to host the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum, which brought 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 of 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 US$4 for every US$1 initially invested, this is a unique opportunity for global investors to deliver much-needed impact on the ground and address these challenges.”
Martin Krause, Director, Climate Change Division, UNEP said:
“African cities are increasingly vulnerable to extreme climate events, some facing devastating floods and others extreme drought. National climate action plans which are co-developed with sub-national governments can empower cities to facilitate resources and funding. This allows plans to be implemented more effectively, protecting urban residents and promoting low-carbon, resilient development."
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “Many African cities are already on the frontline of the climate crisis, facing record-breaking temperatures, food insecurity and significant levels of climate migration. African mayors are showing considerable leadership but they need the financial power to match their ambition.
“Mayors are ready, communities are mobilizing, and the solutions exist – now it’s time for governments and investors to step up. Unlocking finance for cities isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smartest possible investment in Africa’s future. Every dollar invested in sustainable urban development today will pay back in resilient economies, thriving communities and a healthier planet for generations to come."
Asma Jhina, Senior Advisor at the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, said: “While cities in the Global South have bold climate ambitions, transforming ideas into bankable, implementable projects remains a challenge. The urgency is undeniable.
“Yet, without significant financial reform and a shift in investment flows, cities will remain unable to finance the climate solutions their communities desperately need.
“The Roadmap on Sustainable Finance for Global South Cities comes as a decisive step towards equipping mayors with the tools to access funding, advocate for fiscal decentralization and create viable pathways for green investments.”
Mohamed Bakarr, Manager of the Integration and Knowledge Division of the Global Environment Facility Secretariat, said: “Sustainable urban development in Africa relies on the vital collaboration between cities and national governments.
“This partnership is key to creating an enabling environment for directing finance where it can most impact climate, nature and people in cities. Investing in sustainable cities enhances urban resilience, protects nature and boosts national prosperity, securing a thriving future for all.”
Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, African Development Bank Group, said: "The economic case for unlocking climate finance for African cities is undeniable.
“Cities are the engines of our continent’s growth, and every dollar invested in resilient urban infrastructure yields multiple returns –lower costs from climate shocks, increased private sector confidence and a more dynamic local economy. National governments are key to unlocking the fiscal barriers cities face and empowering cities to invest in climate resilience, setting the foundation for stronger, more competitive economies across Africa."
For further information, contact Elsa Lefevre, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, elsa.lefevre@un.org
About UrbanShift
UrbanShift is funded by the Global Environment Facility, led by the UN Environment Programme and implemented in partnership with the World Resources Institute, C40 Cities, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, the UN Development Programme, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. UrbanShift works to transform cities for people and planet through sustainable, integrated, zero-carbon urban development.
