Africa urged to press for environment funds to boost urban life

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) Thursday urged cities across Africa to push harder to access a growing range of global environment funds able to assist in the financing of sustainable public transport systems, up to cleaner, less polluting energy supplies.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the investments, which are so far benefiting some five cities in Latin America, including Mexico City and Panama City and others underway or in the pipeline in Jakarta and Hanoi in Asia, are being catalyzed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

"An increasing number of cities in the developing countries of Asia and Latin America are starting to introduce modern 21st century rapid bus transit systems, alongside measures to boost safer cycling and walking," said Steiner in Nairobi.

The GEF was established in the early 1990s to assist developing countries to achieve sustainable development and was only some weeks ago replenished to the tune of just over 3 billion U.S. dollars.

Steiner, speaking at the Africities 4th Summit underway in Nairobi, urged other cities in the continent to follow suit.

"The streets and infrastructure of far too many of Africa's cities are being overwhelmed by traffic, leading to rising levels of hazardous air pollution and impacts on the economy.

"Africa should consider the mistakes made on continents like Europe which indicate that trying to build your way out of the problem by constructing more and more roads can be expensive and deliver only short-term benefits," he said.

He said while the GEF funding is aimed at reducing pollution linked with climate change, the wider benefits could transform the daily lives of Africa's urban citizens, reduce poverty and help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, developed countries can offset some of the emissions through renewable energy projects in developing countries via the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change estimated this week that projects under the CDM could "over the long term" generate up to 100 billion dollars worth of funds for developing countries.

The UNEP chief cited the huge potential for solar power and for wind energy with one study alone indicating significant potential for wind power of up to 50 megawatts on the Ngong Hills near Nairobi.

Steiner highlighted large municipal landfills and refuse sites as another potential source of funds and clean energy development possible as a result of the CDM.

He said UNEP stood ready to assist Africa's cities in pressing their case for a greater slice of these global funds.

He urged Africa's national and civic leaders to make it one of their priorities at the next climate change conference scheduled to take place in Nairobi in November this year.

Source: Xinhua