Durban executive Mayor James Nxumalo has been commended for hosting the UN climate change conference at the high level segment last session on the last day of COP 17. He received applause soon after concluding his last address on the climate change conference.
Nxumalo said for 20 years local governments globally have invited the UNFCCC community to benefit from the ambitious climate change actions at the local level to achieve universal goals.
He said at the beginning of COP 17 “we urged nations to ensure that the conference urbanizes the global climate agenda and engages with local and sub-national governments.”
Nxumalo presented the Durban adaptation charter which he called a “historic commitment of local governments on climate change.” The document was signed by 114 mayors and political leaders representing some 900 local governments.
Last Sunday, Nxumalo signed the charter, which commits local government leaders around the world to intensify their mitigation and accelerate adaptation efforts.
The charter is an indication the impacts of climate change can only be addressed through development that promotes human welfare, ensure ecosystem integrity. It also promotes greener economy, especially at the local government level, the mayor said.
The Durban adaptation charter includes:-
• Mainstreaming adaptation as a key informant of all local government development planning
• Preparing and implementing integrated, inclusive and long-term local adaptation strategies designed to reduce vulnerability
• Ensuring that adaptation strategies are aligned with mitigation strategies
• Promoting adaptation that recognises the needs of vulnerable communities and ensures sustainable local economic development
• Promoting partnerships at all levels and city-city cooperation and knowledge exchange.
“It is appropriate that this challenge was taken up on African soil, given the vulnerability of our continent to climate change effects. Durban has become a leader in the field of climate change adaptation.”
The Durban adaptation charter compliments the Cancun pact adopted in 2010 and the carbon cities registry that prepares cities to measure, report and verify their climate actions.
“We expected the significant progress, in particular on financing and setting up a strong, global climate regime.”
– By Thobile Hans, ReportingDNA
