Kenya has commenced hosting the Green and Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum, a pivotal event addressing the future of Africa’s cities.
As economic powerhouses contributing up to 70% of the continent’s GDP, the forum underscores the critical role cities play in sustainable development.
With Africa’s population projected to triple to over 1.5 billion by 2050, the continent faces escalating climate risks. Notably, 92% of the world’s fastest-growing cities, many in Africa, are susceptible to extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, highlighting the urgent need for resilient urban planning.
Organized by C40 Cities and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the forum is supported by prominent organizations including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), World Resources Institute (WRI), and ICLEI. This collaboration brings together African mayors, policymakers, investors, and business leaders to foster climate-resilient infrastructure and green investments.
Mark Watts, the Executive Director of C40 Cities, spoke with urgency about the challenges facing African cities. “Many cities across Africa are already bearing the brunt of the climate crisis,” he said.
“They’re grappling with soaring temperatures, food shortages, and the growing reality of climate-induced migration. Despite these immense challenges, African mayors are stepping up, demonstrating remarkable leadership and vision. But ambition alone isn’t enough—they need the financial resources to turn their plans into action.“
Martin Krause, Director of UNEP’s Climate Change Division, highlighted the vulnerability of African cities to climate extremes. African countries already lose 2-5% of their GDP annually to extreme weather events, according to a letter from African mayors and governors.
City leaders have committed to making cities more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. This gesture is ascertained by the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum which has representatives coming from all over the continent.
Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson praised the forum’s focus on leveraging technology and entrepreneurship for clean energy solutions. He emphasized that investing in climate solutions in Africa presents a unique opportunity for global investors to drive impactful change.
The forum will release a Roadmap on Sustainable Finance Action and Advocacy for Global South Cities, developed by C40, UrbanShift, and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM).
The roadmap aims to enhance cities’ financial independence, create national coordination platforms, and bundle projects to attract larger investments. Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of GCoM, noted that the roadmap equips mayors with tools to access funding and advocate for fiscal decentralization.
They stress the importance of improving creditworthiness, transparency, and integrating climate risk assessments into decision-making. Youth climate leaders are also participating to ensure young voices shape future climate action.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown and Co-chair of C40 Cities emphasized that African cities are already at the vanguard of climate action and innovation and reflected that the youth populations are already championing climate action and investing in their futures.
“With approximately 70% of Africa’s population under the age of 35, young people are leveraging technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship to drive the shift toward sustainability. It is time for the international finance community to invest in their energy and ideas,” said Yvonne.
Financing Green and Resilient Cities
Financing remains a critical challenge. Sub-Saharan African cities require an estimated $155 billion annually for climate resilience but attracted only 5.5 billion in 2021/22 less than 4% of the needed amount.
Meanwhile, fossil fuel projects in Africa received an average of $24 billion annually from 2017 to 2021, according to Oil Change International. Redirecting these funds to renewable energy could enable decentralized, affordable energy solutions for those most in need.
Investments in nature-based solutions, such as managing extreme heat and flooding, are essential. These measures aim to protect vulnerable populations, provide sustainable housing, and ensure reliable energy access.
Pablo Lazo of WRI highlighted that nearly 300 nature-based projects in sub-Saharan Africa have secured over $21 billion in funding since 2012. “While this is encouraging, more than 80 percent of these projects relied on grants alone or in combination with other funding instruments to be fully implemented. African cities and leaders will need access to new NBS funding sources and financing instruments to mitigate the growing climate challenges in the region,” said Pablo.
The World Bank estimates that every $1 invested in climate resilience today could save up to $4 in future climate-related damages. The UrbanShift Africa Forum accentuates the urgent need for collective action to unlock funding, build resilient cities, and ensure a sustainable future for Africa’s growing urban populations.
