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CoM SSA Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) course

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  1. MODULE 1: Setting the scene
  2. Lesson 1.1: Introduction to the CoM SSA initiative
    2 Topics
  3. Lesson 1.2: Introduction to the SEACAP
    3 Topics
  4. Lesson 1.3: Climate change and cities in Africa
    2 Topics
  5. MODULE 2: SEACAP mitigation pillar
  6. Lesson 2.1: Key concepts in climate change mitigation
    1 Topic
  7. Lesson 2.2: Introduction to the mitigation pillar
    2 Topics
  8. Lesson 2.3: The SEACAP development process for the mitigation pillar
    1 Topic
  9. Lesson 2.4: Emissions inventories: GHG emissions
    4 Topics
  10. Lesson 2.5: Developing a Baseline Emissions Inventory (BEI)
    3 Topics
  11. Lesson 2.6: Tools for BEI development
    2 Topics
  12. Lesson 2.7: Setting mitigation targets
    2 Topics
  13. Lesson 2.8: Planning mitigation actions
    1 Topic
  14. MODULE 3: SEACAP access to energy pillar
  15. Lesson 3.1: Key concepts in access to energy
  16. Lesson 3.2: Introduction to the access to energy pillar
    2 Topics
  17. Lesson 3.3: The SEACAP development process for the access to energy pillar
    1 Topic
  18. Lesson 3.4: Data collection
    3 Topics
  19. Lesson 3.5: Developing an Access to Energy Assessment (AEA)
    2 Topics
  20. Lesson 3.6: Setting an energy vision and targets
    3 Topics
  21. Module 3.7: Planning energy actions
    3 Topics
  22. MODULE 4: SEACAP adaptation pillar
  23. Lesson 4.1: Key Concepts in climate change adaptation
  24. Lesson 4.2: Introduction to the adaptation pillar
    2 Topics
  25. Lesson 4.3: The SEACAP development process for the adaptation pillar
    1 Topic
  26. Lesson 4.4: Developing a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA)
  27. Lesson 4.5: Setting an adaptation vision and sectoral targets
    2 Topics
  28. Lesson 4.6: Planning adaptation actions
    2 Topics
  29. MODULE 5: Steps to take before you implement your SEACAP
  30. Lesson 5.1: Next steps for prioritised actions
  31. Lesson 5.2: Categorising actions to access external finance
    2 Topics
  32. MODULE 6: Communicating your SEACAP
  33. Lesson 6.1: Designing your SEACAP
    3 Topics
  34. Lesson 6.2: Communicating your SEACAP to key stakeholders
    1 Topic
  35. MODULE 7: Reporting your SEACAP
  36. Lesson 7.1: Introduction to reporting your SEACAP
    3 Topics
  37. Lesson 7.2: Introduction to reporting the mitigation pillar
    4 Topics
  38. Lesson 7.3: Introduction to reporting the adaptation pillar
    3 Topics
  39. Lesson 7.4: Introduction to reporting the access to energy pillar
    3 Topics
  40. MODULE 8: Integrating your SEACAP into existing planning processes
  41. Lesson 8.1: Integrating your SEACAP actions into local level plans
    1 Topic
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Ecological risks in Africa include:

  • Increased water stress
  • Reduction in fish shoals and a negative impact on fisheries
  • Shrinkage in croplands by as much as 90% which affects what crops can be cultivated and leading to a reduction in crop yields 

Economic risks in Africa include:

  • Sharp drop in GDPs
  • Strain in access to goods and services
  • Job losses
  • Negative impact on ability to generate income and on livelihoods
  • Economic collapse

Societal risks in Africa include:

  • Health risks due to increases in certain airborne and waterborne diseases (e.g. cholera, malaria)
  • Increased hunger and malnutrition
  • Climate migration
  • Governance instability
  • Increased risk to vulnerable communities, particularly women and children.

What are the impacts of climate change on gender equality?

Along with the economic costs of the climate crisis, a rise in displacement, and forced migration, poverty and insecurity will have a disproportionate impact on women and girls.

~ UN Report on Gender Equality: Women’s Rights in Review 25 Years After Beijing

Women and girls in the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities have contributed the least to the climate emergency but are suffering the brunt of its catastrophic effects...Food and water shortages, polluted air and increasingly severe climate-related disasters such as droughts, floods or wildfires are taking a disproportionate toll on their health and rights.

~ Gender Equality: Women’s Rights in Review 25 Years After Beijing

Gender equality is integral for climate resilience

Women’s and girls’ systemic marginalistion can be worsened by climate change hazards and risks. 

Climate risks can be addressed by measures that empower women

How are cities critical to addressing climate change?

*Click on the red dots on the image below for more information

As a result of rural–urban migration and population growth, more than 50% of the African population will live in African cities by 2030.

Cities account for the highest proportion of emissions within a country.

Cities concentrate demography-linked challenges, which will be increasingly more difficult to handle in the face of climate change. As the population is growing and the resource needs are increasing, the resources themselves are diminishing. Urban planning is critical to manage cross-sectoral resource allocation.

Residents of informal settlements are particularly vulnerable

  • Residents of informal settlements are disproportionately affected by climate hazards due to a lack of infrastructure and their location (typically they live in unplanned houses which are sub-optimally located, e.g. in a floodplain).
  • Informal settlements are challenging contexts for local governments. The environmental risks faced by informal-settlement dwellers intersect with social drivers of vulnerability, such as low income and gender discrimination. Informal-settlement residents usually have difficulties engaging with the local governments whose support they need.

Urban factors leading to enhanced climate vulnerability

Exposure:

  • Example: settlements located near wetlands/bodies of water; mudslide-prone hills; eroding coastal areas

Sensitivity:

  • Example: Lack of access to adequate water or sanitation

Capacity:

  • Example: Lack of access to adequate financial resources, employment, human capital, information and healthcare

Cities provide an opportunity to address climate change challenges and capitalise on potential co-benefits

  • Cities are home to significant proportions of the population compared to rural areas.
  • Cities are hubs of innovation where new solutions to climate challenges can be created.
  • Revenue to address climate challenges can more easily be generated in cities.
  • Making decisions for increased climate resilience in cities can have a significant impact locally as well as nationally. 
  • Climate action at the city level offers opportunities to address inequality, poverty, housing and sanitation challenges and gender inequality.
  • It has been shown that by actively engaging women in disaster risk management, it can be beneficial in climate project implementation (e.g. more effective community mobilisation).

Cities provide an opportunity to address climate change challenges and capitalise on potential co-benefits

  • Cities are home to significant proportions of the population compared to rural areas.
  • Cities are hubs of innovation where new solutions to climate challenges can be created.
  • Revenue to address climate challenges can more easily be generated in cities.
  • Making decisions for increased climate resilience in cities can have a significant impact locally as well as nationally. 
  • Climate action at the city level offers opportunities to address inequality, poverty, housing and sanitation challenges and gender inequality.
  • It has been shown that by actively engaging women in disaster risk management, it can be beneficial in climate project implementation (e.g. more effective community mobilisation).

“...It is in metropolitan areas that the battle for human rights, and for many of the principles enshrined in the Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City, is being fought. These principles include combatting inequalities and marginalization, universal access to decent housing, basic services and culture, and the protection of human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities for all.”

~ Co-Creating the Urban Future: the Agenda of Metropolises, Cities and Territories

Responding to climate change is urgent for African cities

As key actors in the fight against climate change, cities’ contribution is crucial to reduce the impacts of climate change both locally and nationally. For this reason, there is the need for cities to undertake climate action planning within a flexible framework, in which local authorities can develop and build their strategy according to distinctive opportunities and challenges.