The African continent is undergoing a process of rapid urbanization that is expected to continue in the coming decades. Its population is expected to reach 2.4 billion people by 20501, including 1.34 billion urban citizens versus 455 million at present2. All African cities, whether large or intermediate sized cities or small towns, will face the same demographic, social and economic challenges in the coming decades. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change on a particularly vulnerable continent.
UCLG Africa’s Climate Task Force was launched at COP 23 in 2017 and is committed to the synergy of different stakeholders around the Climate Agenda bringing together various stakeholders working on climate change issues. Stakeholders include local governments, development banks, institutions specializing in the financing of local governments, technical support agencies for local governments, academic and research institutions, associations of local governments and NGOs active in the field of climate.
As the role of territories has now been recognized as essential for the realization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) the Task Force has been positioned to support local and subnational governments and cities, which will have a significant impact on the levels of engagement of African local governments in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The multi-stakeholder members of the Task Force will be able to support local governments in Africa implement their NDCs and build their capacity to access climate finance, most notably the Green Climate Fund.
Different stakeholders from the private sector and civil society working in the field of climate change that can support and build the capacity of our members are encouraged to join our Climate Change Task Force. Please click here and contact us at the General Secretariat of UCLG Africa