4 December 2012: Participants at the Doha Climate Change Conference celebrated the accomplishments of nine public-private “Lighthouse Activities,” pioneering initiatives curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while yielding benefits for the urban poor. The concept behind the activities is to highlight inspiring mitigation and adaptation activities, and to spur innovation and increase capacity for future initiatives.

Lighthouse Activities are concrete examples of work being done to address climate change, selected by an advisory panel coordinated by the UNFCCC Secretariat. The criteria for selection were based on the activity’s proven effectiveness and replicability in different countries and communities. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remarked that the activities were part of an emerging phenomenon of public-private partnerships with the potential for greater climate resilience.

The nine Lighthouse Activities include: two adaptation projects in Namibia and Senegal; two rapid transit system projects in India and China; a waste reduction project in Nepal; an energy efficiency in artisanal brick kilns project in Peru; a project on carbon for water purification in Kenya; the Lanka Electric Vehicle Association in Sri Lanka; and Solar Sister, a door-to-door green (solar) energy social enterprise in Uganda. The activities demonstrated multiple benefits of addressing climate change and transforming misperceptions about taking action on climate change.

At the UNFCCC Momentum for Change event in Doha, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commended UNFCCC on its efforts; urged moving ahead quickly on a low-carbon pathway; and declared that there is momentum behind Momentum for Change.

The celebration was followed by three side events where interested stakeholders and Doha conference participants met with activity partners of the Lighthouse Activities. These events followed similar themes on sustainable transport, building resilience against climate change, and mitigating climate change in urban communities. Participants and external observers were invited to join in via Twitter using the hashtag #m4c2012. The Lighthouse Activities are linked to the Momentum for Change initiative, which was launched last year at the Climate Change Conference held in Durban, South Africa. [UNFCCC Press Release] [2012 Lighthouse Activities Interactive Map Webpage] [UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Remarks]