Congress 2017, Local Climate Solutions for Africa

The Congress 2017, Local Climate Solutions for Africa, held from 22 to 24 March 2017, welcomed more than 400 registered delegates from 53 cities and 40 countries. More than 40 mayors and local authorities took part in the event with the interactive sessions attended by 150 speakers.

Organized by the city of Ekurhuleni, South Africa, in partnership with ICLEI Africa, the congress resulted saw the adoption of the Ekurhuleni declaration on water and sanitation for cities.

Indeed, the first day of the meeting, which coincided with the celebration of world water day 22 March, witnessed participants voice the concerns of African local authorities on the current situation of water.

They highlighted the link between urban development in Africa with respect to water and climate resilience, and drew attention to some of the existing solutions and new opportunities for funding, access to technology and the construction of more resilient urban communities.

The declaration, which was adopted unanimously, is a step towards Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) and Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) of the SDGs in Africa. It especially calls for funding for cities to improve access to water and sanitation and the construction of a strong leadership through integrated partnerships on the continent.

 

UCLG Africa was represented by the Rev. Mpho Moruakgomo, President of the Botswana Association of Local Authorities, (BALA), and Dr. Abdoulaye Salifou, UCLG Africa’s Director of the Southern Africa regional office.

 

Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General of UCLG Africa at the opening ceremony, the Rev. Mpho emphasized the need for inclusivity and collaboration with stakeholders for the implementation of Global Agendas (the Agenda 2030, Paris agreement, Agenda 2063, etc).

 

Dr. Abdoulaye Salifou, presided over a sub-plenary on 23 March 2017, under the theme: “Water, Cities & the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” a presentation on the integrated management of water in the context of the SDGS and climate change. It raised the question of the necessary interactions between SDG 6: water and the 16 other SDGs, as well as the relationship between water and climate that could be achieved through an integrated management approach to water resources.

 

The Congress series LOCS4Africa is Africa’s leading platform on local climate action for cities and other sub-national governments. The congress offers the opportunity for direct engagement and strategic discussions around current local climate solutions and emerging trends relating to urban climate resilience and low carbon development in Africa.

 

Read the Ekurhuleni declaration on water and sanitation for cities here.

 

Read the speech of the Rev. Mpho. Available here

 

For more information on the Congress, click here: day 1day 2 and day 3