Page 13 - AfrElec Week 45 2021

AfrElec CITIES AfrElec

SA’s beleaguered Eskom insists UK funding to support

stability is crucial, as power outages developing cities and regions

continue to dog the country transition to net zero by 2050

THE UK government has announced transition to net-zero emissions for the world’s
AFRICA
GBP27.5mn ($37.1mn) of seed funding to sup- cities will therefore be vital to achieving the
port the UK Urban Climate Action Programme goal of keeping global warming to close to 1.5
in a bid to tackle climate change and reduce degrees,” he added.
emissions in cities in Africa, Asia and Latin The Urban Climate Action Programme has
America. identified a group of cities across Africa, Asia
The scheme was announced on Cities, and Latin America that will receive support.
Regions and Built Environment Day at the These include: Addis Ababa; Accra; Nairobi;
COP26 summit. Lagos; Johannesburg; Tshwane; Dar es Salaam;
Urban buildings and infrastructure are Jakarta; Kuala Lumpur; Quezon City; Bogotá;
responsible for around 40% of global emissions, Medellín; Guadalajara; Mexico City and Lima.
the UK government said in a statement, and the Joy Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City in the
new funding programme forms part of the UK Philippines, one of the cities that will be sup-
government’s call for cities and regions to com- ported through UCAP, said: “Quezon City’s
mit to net-zero emissions by 2050. Enhanced Local Climate Action Plan was suc-
The funding is part of the UK’s International cessfully developed with the support of the UK
Climate Finance commitment, which will focus government. With the assistance of the C40 Cit-
on such issues as low-emission transport sys- ies Finance Facility, the city is also pioneering the
tems, renewable energy generation, sustainable deployment of solar PV on public schools and on
waste management, new climate-smart building critical public healthcare facilities, contributing
codes and climate risk planning. to a green and just recovery.”
“We are calling on cities, regions, govern- UCAP will follow on from the flagship Cli-
ments and businesses to seize the moment and mate Leadership in Cities programme, which
set bold net-zero targets as we work together as was funded by the UK and supported megacities
a global community to end our contribution to in Latin America and Asia to develop ambitious
climate change,” said UK Business and Energy climate action plans consistent with the Paris
Minister Lord Callanan. Agreement – including developing pathways
“By 2050, 1.6bn people living in cities will to net zero by 2050 and committing to ambi-
be regularly exposed to extremely high temper- tious interim targets by 2030 to keep 1.5 degrees
atures and over 800mn people living in cities within reach.”™
across the world will be vulnerable to sea level
rises and coastal flooding. Accelerating the

Week 45 11•November•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13