Transcript ROLE OF CITIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

ROLE OF CITIES IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
by Hady Mody SALL
from Bamako
Climate change a challenge for all of us
• Climate change has become a major
subject in the debate on environmental
issues. In this, no nation in the world must
feel less concerned. By the way, our
municipalities which are growing to key
actors in the social and economic
development in southern countries are as
challenged as their northern counterparts.
Climate change a challenge for all of us
• The question is not who is responsible for
the climate change? We all have our share
of responsibility. The challenge is: what
can we do to limit the damage and reach a
reversal of the current trend?
Since the 1970s
• Since the 1970s, drought has made
ravages in the Sahel countries.
• As our country's economy is essentially
pastoral and dependent on rain, this
calamity caused therefore a mass exodus
of rural populations to cities, including
Bamako.
Negative impact on cities
• Drought continues to hit our country and its
system of agrarian production in a cyclic way.
• The population of Bamako has tripled in 30
years, between 1976 and 2006.
• This high population growth causes other
problems in the organization and management
of the city.
New effects of climate change
• Nowadays we witness great disturbances
that result in heavy rain on a very short
time duration.
• Then it follows damage on collective works
and floods.
What we do in Bamako
• What do we do to address climate change?
• I must say that Bamako has not yet developed
its own plan in this area. However the city has
programs designed to combat certain effects of
climate change.
• Each year it runs actions of reforestation in
August.
• The City Council has also prepared an urban
forestry and green spaces development project
in Bamako. A project not yet funded.
The challenge of funding
• That is also a major challenge which we all face.
• Consequences of climate change have no
borders. Earth warming which threatens the
survival of the Sahelian band populations as well
as the rise of water in coastal areas is due to
effects of combined actions of the population of
our planet.
• To meet them we need joint actions in an
international solidarity framework. If mechanisms
of funding are in place, the actions delay to take
shape.
Our interest in the question
• There is no doubt that we are interested in Bamako, to
develop a climate plan and strive to mobilize resources
for its financing. To do so we will need various supports,
including expertise.
• There is no shortage of ideas but we will work in the
continuity of the already initiated actions which is the
reforestation of hills bordering the city.
• Only the hill of Koulouba, the President’s Palace, has
current interventions.
Our interest in the question
• This hill side benefited of tree planting operations led by
the six mayors of our municipalities and the mayor of
Bamako.
• There are many other hill sides in the suburbs of
Bamako that would be very useful for several reasons if
we could replant them.
• Among different advantages we can educate youth and
children for the sustainability of efforts against climate
change
• We can also develop a model initiative for rural
populations of the entire country.
The end
• Here is summarized the situation with regard to what we
do and also what we are planning to combat climate
change.
• Thank you for your attention.