Accelerating Local Climate Action and Urban Green Transition for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Cities

The event will provide insights into government-led actions that have driven local climate action, including renewable energy and energy efficiency, nature-based solutions, waste and water management, circular economy, and sustainable mobility.

Mohammed Elewa

Facilitator

November 6, 2024 | 17:00 - 18:30

Multipurpose room 01

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

United States of America

English

Reference:

NE 01-06

WUF12

Networking Events

Summary

Cities are home to over half of the world’s population, generating more than 80% of global GDP, two-thirds of global energy consumption, and 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, a 2°C rise in global temperatures and rapid urbanization are expected to place 2.7 billion people, predominantly in urban settings, at moderate or high risk of climate-related impacts, with 1.7-2.4 billion people facing water scarcity by 2050, and 800 million people in cities being vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surges, and coastal flooding.

At the forefront of climate impacts, cities, and local actors are well-positioned to lead global and local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and strengthen the resilience of urban residents to leave no one behind. Increasingly, cities are utilizing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, from mangroves to green roofs and urban parks, for urban cooling, flood protection, food and water security, biodiversity and forest conservation, health and well-being, and adaptation to sea level rise and climate disasters.

The Green Sharm El Sheikh project represents a pioneering effort by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with UNDP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and other stakeholders, to transform the city into one of the first green tourist destinations in Egypt and the region. Initiated as part of Egypt's broader commitment to sustainable development, the project was conceived to address multiple environmental challenges, including waste management, energy transition and renewable energy integration, water conservation, sustainable mobility, and biodiversity protection. Sharm El Sheikh's transformation was further accelerated by its role as the host city for COP27, where it showcased its ambitious sustainability strategies on the global stage.

By presenting Sharm El Sheikh’s journey, this event at WUF12 will provide valuable insights into how cities in developing regions, can implement comprehensive sustainability strategies. The lessons learned from the project illustrate the importance of building local capacity, fostering public-private partnerships, and leveraging international support to overcome the technical, financial, and operational barriers to sustainable urban development. The event will be an opportunity to share success stories and recommendations to transition towards sustainable and green cities, especially for tourist destinations, around the world.

Objectives

This event seeks to achieve the following objectives:
1) Showcase Government Leadership and Policy Frameworks in Green City Initiatives: Highlight how the Ministry of Environment’s leadership facilitated the transformation of Sharm El Sheikh into a green city, demonstrating how strategic policies can drive urban sustainability. The session will explore specific policies that promote renewable energy, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, providing a model for other urban centers to follow globally.
2) Explore how megatrends (such as rapid urbanization, technological change, environmental degradation, and accelerating climate impacts) are shaping local climate action, challenges, opportunities, and priorities around the world.
3) Spotlight approaches from various cities and local communities to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development to align with the SDGs’ triple bottom-line approach for people, planet, and prosperity.
4) Promote Public-Private Partnerships and Multi-Sectoral Collaboration by demonstrating the importance of multi-sectoral cooperation, as exemplified by the Green Sharm El Sheikh project, where Egypt's Ministry of Environment facilitated collaborations between government entities, private enterprises, international organizations, and local communities. These partnerships were key to overcoming technical, financial, and logistical challenges, showcasing the benefits of collaborative approaches to urban sustainability.
5) Share Practical Solutions for Urban Sustainability and Climate Mitigation: Provide practical insights into the integrated waste management systems, renewable energy solutions, water conservation methods, and sustainable tourism practices implemented in Sharm El Sheikh. The event will use case studies to show how these initiatives can be adapted, replicated, and scaled in other cities, particularly in developing regions facing similar environmental challenges.
6) Identify innovative initiatives, solutions, and policy recommendations, ranging from nature-based solutions, urban circular economy, sustainable transportation, renewable energy, and green jobs to facilitate inclusion and resilient pathways towards urban climate action and sustainability.
7) Feature perspectives and experiences from across regions, as well as insights from the civil society and the private sector on how to ensure cities become not only hubs of prosperity and sustainability but are people-centred (ensuring no places or no people are left behind).
8) Highlight partnerships, governance, financing mechanisms, tools, methodologies, resource mobilization strategies, and technologies that are contributing towards a just, inclusive, and resilient transformation in urban areas across the world.