Mayors, governors and metropolitan areas from 12 African cities have reiterated their pledge to promote impactful climate initiatives.

They are also urging global leaders to assist them in fostering environmentally friendly employment opportunities and hastening the shift towards a sustainable economy.

The appeal was made during the first-ever Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, which revolves around the themes of advancing eco-friendly economic growth and devising climate funding solutions for Africa and the global community.

They expressed their intent to capitalize on the chance to execute far-reaching climate measures, boost eco-friendly economies and employment opportunities, and nurture sustainable progress not only within Africa but also on a broader scale.

Their goal is to establish secure, inclusive, and thriving nations and urban centres.

Their call to action states, “Together, we can forge a resilient future and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

Those who have endorsed the initiative encompass leaders from cities such as Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Bangui, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Freetown, Johannesburg, Kloto 1, Lusaka, Nairobi, Quelimane, and Tshwane. They have come together at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, an event championed by Kenyan President, William Ruto.

This summit serves as a forum for shaping, guiding, and impacting climate commitments and promises. It is anticipated that the summit will conclude today, Thursday, September 6, with the publication of the Nairobi Declaration.

During the summit, African urban leaders demonstrated effective, community-driven climate initiatives that are contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing people's quality of life.

The City of Nairobi, in partnership with Governor Sakaja Arthur Johnson, worked together with Abidjan to host a discussion on climate action and environmentally friendly employment opportunities.

Among its various objectives, this roundtable reaffirmed the dedication of C40 member cities to promote the establishment of 50 million high-quality, eco-friendly jobs by 2030, a commitment previously announced during last year's C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires.

The summit also united young climate advocates who stressed the importance of cities investing in developing the skills of the youth. They called for increased international collaboration and financial support for the benefit of the younger generation.

In a joint statement, African members of the C40 Youth Hub expressed their backing for the commitment of C40 member cities to promote the establishment of environmentally friendly jobs that benefit young people.

Sakaja Arthur Johnson, who serves as the Governor of Nairobi City County and C40 Vice Chair for Africa, pointed out that in just a few months, government and civil society leaders will gather at COP. During this event, African mayors will communicate a powerful message to global leaders, urging them to amplify climate funding for African cities and enhance capacity to combat climate change.

“The Africa Mayors’ Roundtable on Financing Climate Action For Green Jobs is an opportunity for city leaders to track progress on climate action and showcase how we are investing in good, green jobs in our cities.”

Robert Beugré Mambé, the Governor of Abidjan and C40 Vice Chair for Africa, stressed that the challenge of climate change is already upon us, and a swift response is imperative.

He pointed out that while Africa contributes the least to greenhouse gas emissions, urban pollution has a disproportionately high impact on health, resulting in double the number of casualties compared to other regions.

Mr Mambe emphasised that despite this vulnerability, Africa holds a unique advantage – it is home to the world's youngest population. This demographic presents an opportunity for development, particularly in terms of fostering innovation and driving social transformation.

“Our young people, who are very open to the world, are the present and the future of the fight against the effects of climate change in Africa. We need to seize this opportunity, as Africa has an impressive, talented and creative pool of talent at its disposal.”

Nairobi alone has generated 3,500 green jobs through the revitalization of the Nairobi River. Additionally, the Autonomous District of Abidjan has placed a strong emphasis on job creation, which includes the establishment of an incubator for green entrepreneurs and the implementation of a circular economy strategy expected to generate up to 35,000 jobs.

During the summit, the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF) introduced new support for climate adaptation projects in Mbombela and Johannesburg, South Africa. CFF's current project portfolio in Africa encompasses initiatives in Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Freetown, Sierra Leone, as well as Cape Town and Drakenstein, South Africa.

This portfolio of African projects is anticipated to mobilize over US$150 million in climate finance by 2025. The CFF facilitates access to funding for climate change mitigation and resilience projects in urban areas.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has become the latest donor to support CFF, announcing a formal commitment of US$1.25 million during an event dedicated to mobilizing finance for equitable and just climate adaptation projects in African cities.

With the launch of this new investment and partnership, the United States joins the United Kingdom, French, and German governments in contributing to CFF's budget, which has reached US$49 million to date.

This funding is projected to leverage a total of US$1 billion in investment worldwide by 2025, prevent the emission of 7.5 million tons of CO2 by 2050, and create thousands of jobs.