At the Africa Climate Week and Africa Climate Summit 2023, both held next week at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, UNEP and the Global Adaptation Network will be (co-) organizing the following climate adaptation events. Registration is now closed, but for those attending, come and join us:
Cool Africa: Accelerating Sustainable Cooling Solutions for a Climate-Resilient Continent
When: Wednesday 6th September at 10am-11am (East Africa Time)
Room: Kenya House
Africa is experiencing the adverse effects of climate change, including rising temperatures and an increased frequency of heatwaves. Access to sustainable cooling solutions is crucial for ensuring the well-being, productivity, and resilience of communities and economies across the continent. This session aims to showcase leadership of African countries' innovative and sustainable cooling technologies, policies, and initiatives, while fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
Unlocking Sustainable Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Climate Action in Africa
When: Wednesday 6th September at 2pm-3:30pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Taifa Hall
Africa is home to 670 mha of forests and 40 mha of peatlands. Climate and nature actors must continue to come together, build momentum and advance the 2030 Land and Water Breakthroughs to raise ambition and protect these valuable ecosystems. Yet, low emission reduction commitments and low carbon prices in voluntary markets are hindering this progress. This event will highlight ways to unlock sustainable investment for nature-based solutions, by producing high-integrity carbon credits, increasing carbon credit pricing and accounting for the multiple benefits of nature.
A Stocktake: From Technology Needs to Implementation
When: Wednesday 6th September at 3:30pm-4:30pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Atlas Mountain
Developing countries’ efforts to conduct effective Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) and implement their prioritized technologies have become instrumental to implementing technology solutions to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. Since 2009, the UNEP-GEF Global TNA project has supported more than 30 countries in the African region to assess countries’ technology needs in relation to both climate change adaptation and mitigation. During this event, country representatives will discuss the TNAs and their ability to generate information about the potential, ability, and scale of climate change technologies, with a special focus on energy systems transformations.
Unlocking Nature-based Solutions for Transformative Climate Adaptation in Africa
When: Thursday 7th September at 12pm-1pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Taifa Hall
The recent findings from the IPCC’s Working Group II shed light on the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NbS) to reduce vulnerability and build resilience to climate change. The objectives of this session, led by WWF, are to provide evidence and share lessons, practices and experiences on how NbS initiatives have contributed to strengthening climate resilience in Africa and what transformative actions and funding mechanisms are needed to accelerate adaptation.
Climate Action for African Livelihoods: Bridging Gaps and Fostering Collaboration
When: Thursday 7th September at 12pm-1pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Karre Mountain Room
Climate-related disasters are disproportionately impacting vulnerable groups and posing significant risks for millions of livelihoods in Africa. This session is a conversation with UN agencies - including UNCDF, UNEP and UNU - on ways to scale up actions to address these challenges by connecting African stakeholders and closing adaptation knowledge gaps. The session will feature interactive discussions that showcase successful initiatives and practices that foster collaboration and inclusivity among stakeholders. Crucially, the session will contribute to the Global Stocktake (GST) process by identifying region-specific initiatives that scale up support and preparedness for the 1.5°C trajectory and beyond, offering methodologies and financing approaches that are already delivering results.
Nature as the Backbone for Climate and Biodiversity Solution
When: Thursday 7th September at 1:30pm-2:30pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Taifa Hall
This side event is co-organized with the African Informal Biodiversity Support Group, with inputs from the Africa Group of Negotiators on Biodiversity. Solving climate change, biodiversity loss and development in Africa cannot be addressed separately. Healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems are the foundations for natural systems in regulating climate including mitigation and adaptation. This side event seeks to build momentum and promote nature-based solutions as a means for co-implementing the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to address the planetary crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Building a Sustainable Future: Unlocking Africa's potential in the Construction Industry
When: Thursday 7th September at 2pm-3:15pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Aberdares Hall
In Africa, buildings contribute to 61% of final energy consumption and 32% of CO2 emissions. Additionally, the current resilience of buildings against the impacts of climate change is low, as more than 50% of African citizens are living in informal housing. This event aims to provide the keys to transformative change in Africa’s construction sector, highlighting that while there is no one-size-fits-all answer when addressing the future building demands in the continent, traditional sustainable construction practices should be preserved and further developed to enable affordable and climate-resilient housing.
Inclusive Climate Adaptation Solutions: Shaping Action, Finance and Policies For Youth
When: Thursday 7th September at 4:45pm-6pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Lenana Hall
This side event aims to spotlight the demands, and entrepreneurship of youth leaders, as well as real examples of how climate finance must be used to increase climate adaptation resources for youth in the Global South. The event will delve into the significance of amplifying youth perspectives in climate-related initiatives and discuss effective strategies for fostering their active participation, bringing together diverse stakeholders to exchange knowledge, collaborate, and provide actionable recommendations. The session is co-organized by UNEP, the Green Africa Youth Organization, and the Peoples Forest Partnership.
Leveraging National Adaptation Plans to Accelerate Adaptation in Water Resources
When: Friday 8th September at 1:30pm-2:30pm (East Africa Time)
Room: River Limpopo
This side event, co-organized by UNEP and UNDP, will take the form of an interactive panel discussion on National Adaptation Plan (NAP) actions related to water in four African countries. The event will take the form of a moderated chat show-style discussion. By the end of the event, the audience will have a greater understanding of the complexities of identifying, prioritizing and implementing NAP/NDC priority adaptation actions related to water. A secondary outcome is to increase the understanding of moving from incremental, one-off actions to planning for transformational adaptation.
Sustainable Cities, Thriving Communities: Transforming African Cities Through Climate Action
When: Friday 8th September at 9am-10am (East Africa Time)
Room: Atlas Mountain
This event, led by UN Habitat, demonstrates how Africa’s cities can become the center of a sustainable and resilient future, if integrated climate solutions at the local level are accelerated, including scaling up renewable energy, sustainable building materials, nature-based solutions and low carbon mobility solutions. African city leaders, national governments and climate experts will discuss what it takes to accelerate climate solutions in cities through multilevel governance and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Climate, Peace, and Food Systems: Empowering Africa’s Resilient Solutions
When: Friday 8th September at 4:30pm-5:30pm (East Africa Time)
Room: Mount Nimba
In Africa, prolonged droughts, extreme weather events, and rising temperatures have significant repercussions on food security, livelihoods, and peace. Additionally, competition over scarce resources can exacerbate existing conflicts, leading to heightened tensions and insecurity. Despite these challenges, local communities across Africa have been demonstrating remarkable resilience and ingenuity in adapting to climate change, promoting sustainable agriculture, and fostering peace within their regions. This session aims to showcase the success stories of African communities that have embraced sustainable practices, climate adaptation strategies, and peacebuilding efforts.
Explore UNEP's full list of activities during Africa Climate Week/Africa Climate Summit 2023.
