Cities Can Be Part of the Solution #AfricaClimateHope

This ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) occurs during a time of global conflict and severe environmental instability. The Russia-Ukraine war, natural disasters and humanitarian crises have exacerbated concerns over energy security, emissions, and long-term sustainability. The world is running out of time to take effective action to address the situation as the destructive impacts of climate change become more severe.

To combat the worst effects of the climate crisis, partnerships have been formed, some, aimed at forest management and conservation. Others aimed at channeling funds towards urban water resilience solutions and more.

HICGI News Agency is covering COP27 as part of the 2022 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

If Cities Are a Part of the Climate Crisis, They Should Also Be Part of the Solution

Sharm el-Sheikh — Cities around the world are some of the biggest polluters and drivers of planet-warming emissions. Despite this, they can also offer a part of the solution to reducing the harmful greenhouse gases that are causing global temperatures to rise. Many cities have already started to take steps to make themselves more environmentally friendly.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report found urban infrastructure and activities caused about two-thirds of today’s emissions. But failing to act could instead see urban emissions double.

Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, and this is likely to increase to over two-thirds by 2030. Cities use a large proportion of the world’s energy supply and are responsible for around 70% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions which trap heat and result in the warming of the earth. Levels of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, are at the highest levels ever, mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels for energy, reports the UN.