NAIROBI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Sub-Saharan African countries are committed to the speedy transition from fossil fuels to green energy in their quest to promote the resilience of cities bearing the brunt of climate emergencies, senior officials said Thursday.
The officials who spoke at a forum held in a hybrid format in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, stressed that greater adoption of renewable energy in the rapidly growing cities will be key to generating jobs and strengthening the response to climate change.
Monica Juma, Kenya's cabinet secretary for Energy, said that a new green energy agenda for African cities was imperative, to help them cope with the unfolding climate crisis.
"Sustainable urban energy solutions will unleash inclusive growth, generate new jobs, promote social inclusion and greater ecological protection in the continent," said Juma.
Convened by the Nairobi-based green lobby, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and Chatham House, a London-based policy think-tank, the one-day forum aimed to explore innovative ways to realize a just, green, and resilient transition for African cities.
Nnena Lily Nwabufo, the Director-General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office at African Development Bank (AfDB), said that multilateral lenders have prioritized financing of green projects in the continent, to hasten low-carbon and resilient growth.
According to Nnena, investments in climate resilient infrastructure projects like roads, power grids, water, sanitation, and housing, have ensured that African cities are able to withstand shocks like floods, heatwaves, and rising sea-water levels.
Nwabufo said the Pan African lender has set aside special funds that municipal authorities in the continent can tap into and implement green projects that generate jobs besides strengthening the protection of natural habitats.
She added that the Nairobi forum under the theme, "Towards just transition in Africa: Green financing for urban energy solutions and job creation", will inject vitality into efforts to renew African cities through green mobility, clean lighting, and cooking alongside circularity.
Philip Kilonzo, the Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Communication at PACJA said that new policy and legislative tools should be enacted to support the creation of green and resilient urban centers across the Sub-Saharan African region.
Investing in sustainable energy systems, low carbon mobility, and waste management should inform efforts to promote the resilience of African cities in the face of climatic shocks, said Kilonzo.
Grace Kibuthu-Ogola, a financial sector specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank, said that structured green investments are required to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation for African cities. ■