ICLEI Africa, as a partner in the newly launched AfriAlliance project, encourages cities to participate in the below online survey to inform the structure and design of the projects’ working groups. The AfriAlliance project (Network of European and African networks on water and climate) will launch this summer a call for nominations for working groups … Continued

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability – Cities Biodiversity Center, attended the 52nd Meeting of the Standing Committee (SC52) of the RAMSAR Convention, which took place at the RAMSAR Secretariat Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, during the week of 13th – 17th June 2016. The mission of the RAMSAR Convention is “the conservation and wise use of all … Continued

The City of Tshwane hosted the 2nd African Capital Cities’ Sustainability Forum last 31 May 2016. Below is the opening speech by Executive Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa. “Our gathering today and entire initiative of African Capital Cities Sustainability Forum constitute a re-incarnation and a living embodiment of the tribulations that authored the history of our continent.” … Continued

SAVE THE DATE: 20-23 March 2017 The Local Climate Solutions for Africa (LOCS4Africa) Congress series is Africa’s leading platform on local climate action for cities and other sub-national governments across the Continent. LOCS4Africa connects business and industry, investors, scientists, technical experts, development partners, national governments and civil society with Africa’s cities and urban networks. LOCS4Africa offers … Continued

The City of Tshwane has been selected as South Africa’s Earth Hour Capital for 2016 – and this for the second year running – in recognition of the city’s low carbon and sustainability initiatives. It is now one of thirteen cities vying for the Global Earth Hour Capital title, which will be awarded at Habitat … Continued

How Africa urbanises will be critical to the continent’s future growth and development, according to the African Economic Outlook 2016 released today at the African Development Bank Group’s 51st Annual Meetings. Africa’s economic performance held firm in 2015 amid global headwinds and regional shocks. The continent remained the second fastest growing economic region after East Asia. … Continued

According to a report titled ‘The Adaptation Finance Gap Report 2016,’ which was just released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries could rise to between US$280 and US$500 billion per year by 2050, a figure that is four to five times greater than previous estimates. Focusing … Continued

On the 16th of May 2016, ICLEI Secretary General and Mayor Sharif delivered interventions at the 2nd World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments. Sharif highlighted the new and innovative concepts which have emerged around urban development, such as the right-to-the-city and the need for a territorial-approach. The Habitat III Zero Draft of the New Urban … Continued

The Paris Climate Package, including the Paris Agreement and its related decisions on implementation, opens a new era of universal, ambitious and inclusive action to tackle climate change and cope with its effects. Through the Paris Agreement, national governments commit to advance on all aspects of climate change and will strive to limit global warming … Continued

Around 11 million South Africans are food insecure and it is estimated that a further 15 million in other Southern African countries (including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana) also go to bed hungry.   This is being exacerbated by a number of factors including climate change, the current severe drought, water shortages in some regions … Continued