Tue 16 November 2021 View all news

Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day

On the final day prior to Friday's closure of negotiations, the focus was on how urban areas and regions can contribute to tackling the climate challenge. The UK announced £27.5m of new funding for the Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) to support cities targeting net zero. Funded through International Climate Finance, the programme will support cities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to take climate action, helping them implement innovative climate action plans to become carbon neutral by 2050. 

The programme will help cities like Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and Bogotá develop low emission public transport systems, renewable energy generation, sustainable waste management, new climate-smart buildings codes and climate risk planning. By showcasing what is possible, the programme aims to create 'exemplar' city and regional authorities which can demonstrate to other cities and national governments the opportunities available to drive action.

The programme will be delivered in partnership with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a global network of cities focused on climate action, and GIZ, the German development agency.

Up to now,  over 1,000 cities and regions across the world – over a fifth of the global urban population - have committed to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Speaking at theCOP26 press conference on 11 November COP President Alok Sharma said: "Whilst we have made progress, and I want to acknowledge the spirit of cooperation and civility that’s been demonstrated throughout the negotiations, by negotiators and ministers, we are not there yet on the most critical issues.

"There is still a lot more work to be done. And COP26 is scheduled to close at the end of tomorrow. So time is running out...

"Having engaged extensively with parties over the past year, and at COP, I know everyone understands what is at stake for the future of our planet here in Glasgow. We still have a monumental challenge ahead of us. Collectively we have no choice but to rise to that challenge.

"And strain every sinew to achieve a timely outcome that we can all be proud of, because ultimately this outcome, whatever it is, will belong to all of us."

 

Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@andreasbruecker

 


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