African cities adopt new declaration to drive carbon-neutral development

African cities have united behind a new roadmap to accelerate low emission and climate-resilient urban development.

At the just-concluded 2025 Regional Green Economy Forum in Tangier, Morocco, over 500 delegates adopted the Tangier Declaration on accelerating green economy and carbon neutrality in African cities.

The declaration is a united call to scale up climate action in African cities, which remain disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

It positions urban areas as pivotal to climate solutions, highlighting their influence on land use planning, community mobilisation, and attracting green investments.

It also frames the shift to carbon-neutral cities as both a climate necessity and an opportunity to enhance public services, drive local innovation and strengthen long-term economic resilience.

The declaration commits cities to integrating carbon neutrality into their development plans in line with their countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

It also expressed support for 11 African pilot cities under the World Green Economy Organisation’s Carbon-Neutral Cities Initiative, including Chefchaouen in Morocco, Nouakchott in Mauritania, and Jinja in Uganda.

The delegates harped on the importance of inclusive public-private partnerships to support this transition, while calling for increased investments in green jobs and digital innovation.

They also underscored the urgent need to improve access to climate finance, strengthen local capacities, and foster regional platforms for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

The declaration also highlighted nature-based solutions such as urban tree planting and coastal protection, and urged that climate considerations be integrated into all aspects of urban planning.

The momentum from Tangier is expected to feed directly into discussions at the upcoming Africa Climate Week (ACW) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, scheduled for September 1 to 6.

At the event, African leaders are expected to translate global climate commitments into action tailored to local needs.