Evidence-Based Report | Data Talks: What data do local governments really need to plan effectively for climate change?

Climate change is a global phenomenon that is already affecting every inhabited region across the globe with cities and local municipalities experiencing these effects severely. Climate change has costly impacts on infrastructure, service delivery, community livelihoods, and human health. At the same time, urban areas are a key contributor to climate change, with estimates suggesting they are responsible for 75% of global CO₂ emissions, predominantly as a result of the transport and building sectors. Local governments, therefore, must play an integral role in combating climate change, both through reducing emissions through renewable energy use, cleaner production techniques and regulations to limit industrial emissions, but also through adaptation initiatives to build the resilience of urban populations.

The aim of this report is to review and summarise what data are needed for local governments to effectively plan for climate change, how these data are used and for what purpose, highlight the challenges faced in data-scarce regions across Africa, and showcase some innovative solutions to these challenges.

This publication is produced by ICLEI Africa under the framework of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), an initiative co-funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).