International negotiations on climate change began almost three decades ago, when many were still reluctant to accept that human activities were changing the planet. Now it scientific evidence it is undeniable. Climate change is a major threat to our well-being, the health of the planet and the ecosystems we rely on.
But there is a very wide gap between what science requires and the actions that have been taken to date. The window of opportunity to secure a sustainable, just and sustainable future for all is closing fast.
For those working on the sustainability of African cities, the mountain to climb is particularly high. Seventy percent of African cities have high vulnerability to climate shocks.
Africa is the faster urbanization region in the world. This rapidly growing and highly vulnerable urban population is experiencing the effects of climate change first hand. We are all too aware of the devastation caused by climate-related disasters such as Cyclone Idaithat hit southern Africa in 2019. This cyclone alone resulted in over 1,000 deaths and affected over 3 million people.
Recently the catastrophic floods in Libya claimed close to 4,000 lives.
Except drastic changes The way energy is produced and consumed in African cities, carbon emissions will increase as these cities grow and build infrastructure. This is already happening. The Report of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2022 revealed that Africa contributed 11% increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990;
It is therefore not surprising that the world’s eyes are on Africa’s urban areas. The question is whether they will grow in emissions-heavy ways that undermine natural systems and increase inequality, or in low-carbon ways that are nature-positive and reduce inequality.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global greenhouse gas emissions must begin to decline within the next three years on paths that limit warming to 1.5°C. These pathways require immediate action. Rapid and deep reductions in emissions must take place over the next three decades.
Without curbing carbon emissions, securing climate finance and allowing the free flow of knowledge and technology to Africa, the opportunity to build climate-resilient African cities may be lost. And fossil fuels will continue to fuel growth for years to come.
There are some signs of progress. The 8.5 billion US dollars pledged by the US, UK, Germany, France and the EU to help South Africa transition away from coal is one example. But this is far below what is required to effect such a change.
Us work in the interface of science and practice in African cities for more than three decades has revealed that:
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African cities play a central role in the global fight against climate change
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More resources needed for African cities to mitigate and adapt to climate change and associated crises
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Africans must reimagine what climate-resilient development means within unique African urban environments and use resources accordingly.
Here we outline the calls to action that, if heeded, will bring the continent closer to a climate-resilient future.
Reduce carbon emissions while adapting to climate change
Our view is that Africa should act ambitiously, aiming to reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°Cwhile adapting to a potential global warming level of 3°C.
Many African cities are already making great strides. Through the initiative of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa Over 360 subnational governments have committed to these critical issues. Specifically, 107 of these cities have formulated specific goals and plans to address climate change. What is needed now is funding to bring these plans to scale.
Not enough funding is flowing to African urban areas. Only in 2020 $30 billion flowed into Africa, which is about 12% of what is needed. And in 2017/2018 sub-Saharan Africa received only approx US$3 billion or 0.8% of global urban climate finance.
In June 2023, heads of state met in Paris to discuss a new global finance pact, and many African countries expressed their frustration that international pledges on climate finance had not been fulfilled. Solutions were also offered, such as African Development Bank initiative to channel Special Drawing Rights to multilateral development banks to help rebuild livelihoods affected by climate change and other global challenges. However, big questions remain about how cities themselves will be able to access – immediately – the climate finance needed to enable climate-resilient growth.
The ICLEI Africa Network Center for Sustainable Finance tackles this issue head-on by providing the knowledge brokering services needed to bridge the gaps and fill the gaps that prevent city-scale projects from moving from concept to financial closure and implementation.
Create climate-resilient urban areas in appropriate ways
Africa’s urban areas must respond to the urgent need to develop in a way that is equitable and minimizes emissions, but also builds climate resilience to inevitable loss and damage and minimizes maladaptation.
This resilience building will look different in different locations and there is a growing database of good practices that inspire change. For example, in Freetown and Kampala, ICLEI Africa works to develop clean cooking solutions to approximately 3,000 households and businesses in targeted informal settlements. This is to reduce the exposure of these communities to household air pollution, reduce deforestation for firewood and reduce the time burdens borne mainly by women who collect firewood or charcoal for cooking.
Re-envision what a resilient African city is
Given the continent’s unique context and the broad challenges and opportunities it presents, African policymakers need to pause and reimagine what resilient, low-carbon African cities would look like.
African cities must respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population. Policy makers must direct resources, solutions and funding in ways that allow the continent to thrive.
Climate change requires a response from the whole of society. Without a thriving urban Africa, global climate change ambitions will never be met. This is the time to rethink the African city.