December 2015: Participants at two conferences in Africa discussed the importance of sustainable urbanization for the continent. The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Africa Transport Forum 2015 stressed the role of green, inclusive transport in stimulating Africa’s sustainable development and ensuring sustainable urbanization. Participants at the Africities Summit presented a common urban agenda ahead of the Third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), making Africa the first region to do so.
The AfDB organized the two-day Transport Forum, which convened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 26-27 November 2015. The Forum discussed requirements for “green transport,” including ensuring cleaner, more efficient vehicles, adequate infrastructure for non-motorized transport, and increased public transport. “Green transport means less air pollution, less congestion, and green jobs – public transport addressing poverty through affordable transport,” said Jane Akumu, UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Participants supported the use of energy efficient vehicles and recognized the importance of reducing fuel consumption from road transport, but stressed that incentives and regulations are necessary for Africa to transition to greener, more efficient forms of transport.
Participants also called for improving inclusive transport structures, such as creating pedestrian paths and cyclist lanes and promoting safer road designs to facilitate transport systems for cars, motorcyclist, cyclists and pedestrians. Participants supported designing climate-resilient infrastructure and improving existing infrastructure maintenance. Aage Jorgensen, Nordic Development Fund, recommended considering the impact of climate change, mapping the most vulnerable areas, and “prioritizing the kind of interventions – which roads are most suitable for which areas.”
A session on ‘Sustainability: Inclusive and Resilient Transport’ stressed the importance of roads to political stability, institution building, social cohesion and reduction of fragility. Panelists discussed ways in which roads can reduce state fragility by promoting road investments that enable governments to provide equal access to public services and make government services more equitable and inclusive across distances, promote less concentrated development and growth social cohesion, and promote connectivity and social cohesion.
The Africities Summit was organized by United Cities and the Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), and took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 29 November to 3 December 2015, under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Africa with the People: The Contribution of African Local Authorities to Agenda 2063 of the African Union.’ Participants agreed on Africa’s draft common urban agenda for Habitat III. The draft agenda focuses on eight key pillars, and explains Africa’s vision for empowering local governance and involving “intermediary cities.” It also serves as a platform for local governments to express their views and address critical urban issues, including climate change, according to the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).
Inequality is the greatest threat to sustainable urbanization in Africa, cautioned Aisa Kacyira Kirabo, UN-HABITAT. The Summit also discussed inequality at a session on empowering youth. UN-HABITAT and partners launched the African Forum for Urban Safety (AFUS). Alioune Badiane, UN-HABITAT, said rapid urbanization in Africa is contributing to “a sharp escalation in the incidence and severity of various forms of urban crime, violence and insecurity,” including in public transport systems and open spaces.
Also on Africa urbanization issues, the World Bank launched a report, ‘Stocktaking of the Housing Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa,’ which analyzes regional housing and urbanization trends. The report stresses the importance of affordable, adequate housing for economic growth and social inclusion. [SLoCaT Press Release] [AfDB Press Release on Green, Inclusive Transport] [AfDB Press Release on Transport and Fragility] [AfDB Press Release Day 2] [AfDB Press Release on Opening] [Africities2015 Website] [World Bank Press Release] [UN-HABITAT Press Release on Inequality, Habitat III] [UN-HABITAT Press Release on Inequality, Habitat III] [UN-HABITAT Press Release on Youth] [UN-HABITAT Press Release on AFUS]