Mombasa County joins the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa
Published: 27 Nov 2022
Access to Energy
Adaptation
Events
Mitigation
On 27 October, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the County Government of Mombasa, building on the County becoming a Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) signatory earlier this year. The partnership lays the foundation for future activities to tackle climate change and provide access to sustainable energy.
Mombasa, as a coastal city, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Drastic climate impacts like rising temperatures, increased rainfall and flooding, water salinisation, degradation of coastal vegetation and corals, and even droughts are already affecting the region and present major challenges. The transition to a more sustainable urban development will be crucial to address these issues. Through becoming a member of CoM SSA, Mombasa is the first signatory on the Kenyan coast and joins five other Kenyan counties that have committed to taking ambitious climate action in the face of these challenges.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the GIZ support team to CoM SSA in Kenya and, on behalf of the County, the Department of Environment, Waste Management and Energy, and the Deputy Governor’s office. Both parties agreed on the joint organisation of activities to take up the fight against climate change, underlining the commitment of the newly elected Governor, Hon. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir to make climate action a priority to be addressed through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mombasa County Department of Environment, Waste Management and Energy, and Kruti Munot,
Project Manager for Kenya, GIZ support team to CoM SSA.
During the event, discussions were held on how to address the challenges faced by the County and how CoM SSA can provide a transformative platform for innovative solutions that lead to benefits for the people and a more resilient future for the whole region.
“With increasing urbanisation and population growth, it is imperative upon us as a county government to join hands with international actors to provide effective responses to the difficulties that climate change is creating for Mombasa and the Kenyan population” Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Governor of Mombasa County.
climate change and provide access to sustainable energy in the framework of the CoM SSA initiative.
These may take the form of technical support, exchanges, and trainings.
CoM SSA will provide support and guidance to the County on how to plan effective actions to respond to climate change and ensure access to sustainable energy. This will be done through technical assistance to facilitate the implementation of climate and energy infrastructure projects, knowledge exchange, and city-to-city partnerships. Through the CoM SSA network, the County of Mombasa will strengthen its capacities to promote climate action and achieve the goals of the programme.
As an implementing partner of the initiative, GIZ will support Mombasa through projects with a focus on providing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in public buildings, complementing existing forums to find solutions for specific climate issues in collaboration with the County’s government, local NGOs and academia. In addition, through trainings, workshops and other relevant events, the County will be able to access resources and develop partnerships across the CoM SSA network.
By becoming a part of the Covenant, Mombasa County is joining more than 320 local governments in sub-Saharan Africa currently acting to tackle climate change and improve access to energy needs. CoM SSA will continue to prioritize these actions by showcasing and supporting the work of African municipalities to achieve a green transition. To find out more, refer to the CoM SSA resources in climate and energy here.
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