Tag Archive for: COP23

Publication of the Report of UCLG Africa & ENERGIES 2050: “Challenges and Opportunities for the Territorialization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa.”

 

The Pan-African Organization, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the French, NGO ENERGIES 2050, have announced the publication of their report “Challenges and Opportunities for the Territorialization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa.” A first draft was presented at the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bonn, Germany, November 6-17, 2017.

The report highlights the essential role of Africa’s cities and local governments in the implementation of national strategies for the fight against climate change, and the attainment of the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. At both the international and African level, the involvement of the sub-national authorities is inescapable if they are to contribute to transforming the “commitments” into concrete actions on the ground. This is all the more important as scientific studies emphasize that, even if the commitments made in all the NDCs as formulated were met, this would not be sufficient to maintain, at the global level, the level of temperature rise below 2°C (and not even at 1.5°C) by 2100, compared to the pre-industrial levels. It is therefore time not only for the implementation but also for raising the ambition of the commitments. In both cases, cities and territories have a key role to fulfil.

The role of local governments and other sub-national authorities is considered crucial, particularly with regard to their greenhouse gas emissions (notably in the cities), their vulnerability to the impact of climate change, and also their knowledge of the specificities of their territories as well as of the opportunities for potential actions to be undertaken in the area of ​​both mitigation and adaptation.

The report addresses five (5) dimensions that help to anchor the role of cities and territories in the implementation of NDCs. These are (i) governance that is reminiscent of both vertical and horizontal governance, (ii) issues related to awareness and information, (iii) the dimension of the development of territorial integrated and compatible climate plans, (iv) funding issues, and (v) issues pertaining to measuring the fight against climate change at the local level, MRV (measurement, reporting and verification) monitoring systems.

UCLG Africa and ENERGIES 2050 have been pleading for several years for a ‘territorialization’ of the commitments of Central Governments. This report was produced to contribute to the attainment of this goal. It is structured around two major parts. The first aims to provide a non-exhaustive analysis of the involvement of local governments in climate policies, with special emphasis on the role reserved for cities and territories in the NDCs of African States; on the growing role of non-state stakeholders in international climate negotiations or experiences conducted by various African local and regional governments in the field of climate.

The second part of the report is intended to be more “operational” and proposes an analysis of the levers for potential actions that could enable African local and regional governments to strengthen the design and implementation of territorial policies and strategies integrated into the NDC processes. These areas of action include significantly improved governance processes, the need to involve all stakeholders, the setting up of integrated climate strategies that meet the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requirements of UNFCCC, and access to international funding to support implementation at the territorial level.

The report is also an invitation for a greater involvement of local and regional governments in the implementation of the climate agenda in African countries. It highlights the pressing need to build the capacities of local and regional governments and to provide them with technical and financial assistance, notably through climate finance, and more specifically, the Green Climate Fund, necessary to enable them to fulfil their role in mitigating GHG emissions as well as in adapting to climate change.

Finally, the report highlights the existing window of opportunity for African local and regional governments to join the NDC processes in order to redefine their operation models and promote economic and social development strategies, which are both sustainable and low carbon, and that effectively meet the development challenges of their territories.

The report is accessible on the UCLG Africa website  and the Report of ENERGIES 2050 website.

Its English version will be available in the forthcoming months on the same platforms.

 

Beyond Declarations: The contribution of Local and Regional Governments of Africa to the Climate Change Agenda

“Beyond Declarations – A Question of Localization”       

2017 is ending with a flurry of activities across key global agendas, none more important than new models for action that integrate issues of Climate Change with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

The mobilization of global climate actions in Bonn, Germany, which hosted the COP23, November 6th – 17th, provided a unique opportunity for UCLG Africa to highlight activities that have made African local governments, cities and territories an important global partner in the drive to achieve long term goals set by the Paris Agreement. During COP23 we took stock of our achievements and contributions, which included headline declarations that clearly laid out our commitment to climate action and partnerships that have showcased and provided real solutions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

 

“UCLG Africa has a responsibility to its members to report on climate change issues across the continent to help local and subnational governments understand the immediacy of the threat and how to localize, adapt and mitigate.

The Cotonou Declaration set in Benin, September 8-10, 2016, which laid out the common position of local governments of Africa towards Climate Change, was further cemented at the Climate Chance World Summit held September 11-13 in Agadir, Morocco. UCLG Africa hosted the Africa Day deliberations on September 12, which saw Mayors and Presidents of African regions present the Declaration of Local and Subnational Leaders of Africa: Fighting against climate change in Africa together. The call-to-action launched at COP22 in Marrakesh, highlighted the need to localize Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and ensure the effective engagement and contributions of local and regional authorities in the development of National Adaption plans. In addition to this, a road map defining a global framework for action towards localizing climate finance was also achieved.

Photo-Beyond-Declarations2

“To date, commitments of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to fight global warming remain insufficient to meet the target set by the Paris Agreement.”

Beyond these declarations there are a wealth of activities taking place at the grass roots level across the continent, which we are showcasing in this Special Climate Change Newsletter.  We want to raise awareness and engage with all our key stakeholders, non-state actors and civil society partners to showcase and celebrate local action, beginning with our support for Mayors to highlight grass roots adaptions introduced by their communities. Read in our Top Stories how UCLG Africa has supported Mayors from Benin and Niger who were recipients of awards at the Climate Initiative Awards at COP23.

Whilst declarations are important and can be significant for local and regional governments in demonstrating their stance and showing their commitment to the Paris Agreement, it is important to determine what real impact is being made on the ground. Where is the practical support for adaption that can be shared with others? What support is available to develop capacity stakeholders to access finance for innovative bankable solutions for some of the most vulnerable communities in the world?

“UCLG Africa Climate Taskforce … Accompanying the climate transition of African cities and territories by mobilizing climate finance”

The ambition of these declarations must be inclusive and matched with practical support. It is with this in mind that UCLG Africa has established partnerships that bring together non-state actors – that is, cities and other subnational authorities, civil society, private sector, financial institutions, local communities and indigenous peoples, to play a critical role in implementing these commitments made by the international community. The mobilization of this wider group and their capacity to contribute to the process is the focal point of the UCLG Africa Climate Taskforce, which was launched in Bonn on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Barnabé Dassigli, Minister of Decentralization and Local Governance of Benin and Chairman of the Specialized Technical Committee N° 8 of the African Union.

On the subject of capacity, UCLG Africa’s Local Government Academy – ALGA, in partnership with the IHS (Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies), Erasmus University, Rotterdam and Coursera, have launched a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Planning for Climate Change in African Cities. 

UCLG Africa’s vision to create an ecosystem for sharing, training and giving support whilst strengthening the lobbying capacities of African cities requires a real change of approach in order to scale up, mobilize key stakeholders and access climate finance so that no one is left behind. By working closely with cities and territories, financial institutions, the private sector, major international institutions and civil society, UCLG Africa will position itself as the go to network to develop climate-compatible actions that will ultimately contribute practically to the realization of the Nationally Determined Contributions of African States.

UCLG Africa at COP23: Don’t miss our Events!

The 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Bonn, Germany, from the 6th to the 17th of November 2017 will see UCLG Africa and ENERGIES 2050 organize and participate in following events:

Thursday 9 November -Pavilion ENERGIES 2050 / UCLG Africa (C.06 – Zone Bonn)

11.00 to 12.30: Challenges and Opportunities of Territorializing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa and Presentation of the UCLG Africa /ENEGIES 2050 Report.

Organisation: UCLG Africa & ENERGIES 2050

Friday 10 November – Pavilion ENERGIES 2050/UCLG Africa (C.06 – Zone Bonn)

15.00 to 16.30: Organizing Support for the Decentralized Actions of African Cities and Territories in the Fight Against Climate Change

Organisation: UCLG Africa & ENEGIES 2050

Monday 13 November

9 am to 10.30 am: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Planning for Climate Change in African Cities – Pavilion ENERGIES 2050/UCLG Africa (C.06 – Zone Bonn)

Organisation: UCLG Africa – African Local Government Academy (ALGA), ENERGIES 2050, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam.

13.00 to 14.45: African Cities and Territories at the Heart of Implementing NDCs & Testimony of the City of Grand Bassam– Pavilion OIF/IFDD – (C.07- Zone Bonn)

Organisation: UCLG Africa & ENEGIES 2050, IFDD

Tuesday 14 November -Pavilion ENERGIES 2050/ UCLG Africa (C.06 – Zone Bonn)

11.00 to 12.30: Task Force on the Access of African Cities and Territories to Climate Finance – Roadmap and Call for Action

Organisation: UCLG Africa & ENERGIES 2050

15.00 to 16.30: The Role of the Professional Network of African Cities and Territories in the Fight against Climate Change

Organisation: UCLG Africa & Energies 2050, The African Local Government Academy (ALGA), The Center of Competences on Climate Change (4C) Morocco, Cadi Ayyad University – Marrakech

Thursday, 16 November- Pavilion OIF/IFDD – (C.07- Zone Bonn)

9.00 – 10.30 am: Working in Favour of Climate in Africa: The Commitment of Local Authorities

Organisation:  Trophées Initiative Climat Afrique Francophone ( ICAF), UCLG Africa

You are cordially invited to attend these events as well as to come and meet us at our pavilion from November 6th  to 17th . The pavilion’s full program of activities is available at http://energies2050.org/cop23/  .

For more information, you can contact us at the following addresses:

 

• UCLG Africa: gyomi@uclga.org

• Energies 2050: info@energies2050.org