Local governments and climate change thought leaders met in Durban, South Africa in March 2013. The aim was to ensure a concrete implementation path for the The Durban Adaptation Charter (DAC) signed by mayors and elected officials representing 950 local governments in 2011.
Local governments face enormous challenges in the context of global change, particularly in the global South, where rapid urbanization continues. Local governments are at the front line of climate change, they are the ones who must respond to civil society and civil society organisations when disasters happen.
By signing the DAC, local leaders pledge their political commitment to strengthen adaptive capacity to respond to climate change, and undertake to become champions for the local government adaptation agenda.
Workshop with global presence
EThekwini Municipality (Durban, South Africa), under the leadership of Mayor James Nxumalo, ICLEI Vice President and head of the ICLEI resilience portfolio hosted the Implementation Guidance Workshop in Durban from the 20 to 23 March 2013. The event was funded by USAID through their ICMA-implemented CityLinks program, and organised by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – Africa.
The workshop gathered local government leaders from around the world, including representatives from Bulawayo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Gorakphur, Hanoi, Lagos, London, Mandurah, Quintana Roo, and Thimphu.
ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin said during the opening plenary: "Our hope would be that this workshop would trigger the potential for further funding, fostering a multi-regional approach that will multiply these experiences to other DAC cities, serving to strengthen implementation of adaptation actions and foster the recruitment of new cities to the DAC."
Workshop outcomes
Among the outcomes of the workshop were specific recommendations on the implementation of the principles of the Charter at local level; governance, including the creation of a secretariat; and assessment of progress toward adaptation on the part of signatory local governments.
Important findings that relate to local government needs included:
i) national support for incorporating DAC principles into local plans and programmes;
ii) visionary local leadership that is able to advocate for local adaptation measures;
iii) local institutions empowered, capable and committed to provide technical support;
iv) resources for specific adaptation investments;
v) consistent and committed input from stakeholders in adaptation planning and implementation.
More specific measures that could be developed into programming and support for signatories to the DAC included inter alia:
i) enhancing the communications and visibility of the DAC and DAC signatory local governments;
ii) engaging mayors, governors and leaders directly in DAC governance and DAC-sponsored activities;
iii) recognizing notable actions by local governments in furthering the implementation of the DAC principles;
iv) generating funding for adaptation planning and investments;
v) general dissemination of knowledge on adaptation practices.
The outcome of the workshop is a critical tool that allows local governments to pledge their commitment to act on behalf of their local constituents. It is also a policy tool showing that local government and cities are where momentum for change is happening.
Civil society networks are critical partners in this drive! They can advocate for leaders to sign this commitment not only to strengthen local leadership and commitment which will positively benefit local communities and civil society, but also to help join a global movement to change the global climate discourse by 2015.