City Attends First World Congress on Adaptation to Climate Change | Western Cape Government

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City Attends First World Congress on Adaptation to Climate Change

31 May 2010
The City of Cape Town attended the first World Congress on Cities and Adaptation to Climate Change held in Bonn, Germany from 28 - 30 May 2010.

The congress culminated in the adoption of the Bonn Declaration of the Mayors Adaptation Forum 2010, putting cities at the coal face of adaptation to climate change.

This document was compiled by stakeholders from different sectors, including Local, Provincial and National Government, non-government organisations, academic and donor institutions, as well as United Nations agencies. This ten (10) point plan aims to enhance global advocacy to improve the resilience of local governments to climate change. This is significant considering that climate change related severe weather events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity.

The City of Cape Town participated in the conference by presenting the City's adaptation work and research, which forms part of the City's overall energy and climate strategy.

The City's Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environmental, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt, who attended the conference, commented that the City is at the forefront of this emerging field within the government sector.

The conference provided an important platform of debate in terms of adaptation approaches. There have been many lessons learnt and best practices shared. As this sector is relatively new, the conference also provided the opportunity to discuss, compare and share Cape Town's adaptation work with other practices internationally.

Cape Town also met with its partner city, Aachen, and shared the outcomes of the conference, as well as its own approach to adaptation. The City of Cape Town has a city-to-city partnership with the City of Aachen and this year celebrates the 10th anniversary of this partnership. One of the conference indications would be that future funding of adaptation work internationally would be directed through city-to-city partnership agreements. Aachen and Cape Town will explore adaptation and energy and climate change as potential areas for further collaboration.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town

Media Enquiries: 


Gregg Oelofse
Manager
Environmental Policy and Strategy
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 487 2239
Cell: 083 940 8143