UCLG Africa Participates in the 9th World Green Economy Summit

The UCLG Africa delegation, led by its Secretary General Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, was invited to take part in the 9th edition of the World Green Economy Summit, organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed ben Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, on the theme “Bridging the Gap to the Future: Advancing the Global Green Economy”, on November 28-29, 2023, in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

The summit was attended by heads of state and eminent figures from the UN ecosystem, finance and international organizations.

Apart from the opening session, attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed ben Rashid Al Maktoum, a highlight of the Summit was the signing of an agreement between UCLG Africa, represented by its Secretary General Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, and the Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, on November 29, 2023.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) highlights key areas of collaboration. It underlines the determination to align their initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on SDG7, which aims to ensure sustainable energy for all. The MoU also outlines plans to integrate UCLG Africa into WGEO’s “CITIES” platform, which promotes collaboration between cities for sustainable development. Both organizations are committed to supporting the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE) and the Green Economy Accelerators (GEA) in African countries. The agreement provides for the organization of joint workshops, seminars, conferences and events to enhance the effectiveness of their development efforts through collaborative initiatives.

This agreement places UCLG Africa at the heart of the implementation of green transformation in African cities.

In parallel with these events, the UCLG Africa delegation took part in the various sessions of the summit:

  • Accelerating the Green Economy by Empowering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems
  • COP28 Major Milestone: The Global Stocktake to Promote the Green Economy Transition
  • International Cooperation: Redesigning International Financial Architecture for Green Economy
  • The Energy Transition Journey Towards Net Zero Goals: The Global Outlook to Achieving Sustainable Development