Together with the Connective Cities, the Association of German Cities organized a side event in the German Pavilion at the COP28 World Climate Conference in Dubai on the question of "What solutions are there for sustainable and decentralized energy generation and supply at local level". On 6 December at 2 p.m. local time, representatives from German and African cities (Cologne, Bonn, eThekwini and Abuja) discussed their local innovations for climate-friendly energy solutions.

In her keynote speech, Katja Dörner, Vice-President of the German Association of Cities, Mayor of Bonn, and ICLEI Co-Chair for Climate Action, emphasized the importance of a socially just and participatory approach to a climate and energy transition. She emphasized that the voice of cities in climate negotiations is essential to achieve global goals.

She showed how the city of Bonn can achieve climate neutrality by 2035 and called on the federal level to make swift changes to support the local level. The EU and the German federal level must create the framework for a climate-friendly energy transition. She again emphasized the importance of making climate protection and adaptation a mandatory task for local authorities.

Ms Dörner will be joined on the panel by Cologne council politician Christian Achtelik, South African council politician Madlala from eThekwini and Nigerian energy expert Barka Sajou.

All participants emphasized the importance of international exchange and opportunities such as Connective Cities to promote the global transfer of knowledge.  Mr Achtelik pointed out that the energy transition is not only a challenge but also brings many opportunities.

 

Mr Barka Sajou supported this position and made it clear that renewable energies will connect many people in Nigeria to mini and medium grids who previously had no access to electricity.

The event at COP28 is part of a longer series of events on decentralized energy supply by Connective Cities in the regional network in Sub-Saharan Africa and was flanked by a workshop on renewable energies in Nairobi

Recording of the side event

Watch video at YouTube: https://youtu.be/UtacLcHk6Ek

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