Celebrating 400 signatories: CoM SSA reaches a milestone in urban climate action

 

The Republic of the Congo is among Africa’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing overlapping risks including flooding, drought, rising temperatures and forest degradation. Flooding alone leads to climate-induced displacement and causes an estimated USD 20 million in economic losses every year. Yet the momentum for resilience is strong: the country is investing in climate-smart urban planning, strengthening early warning systems, restoring degraded landscapes and promoting sustainable agriculture to protect communities and livelihoods.

In the same vein, the capital city, Brazzaville, is actively implementing local resilience measures, including developing a robust climate action plan. The process has been highly participatory, engaging local communities, women, youth, universities and relevant associations to ensure the reflects lived realities. The plan tackles flooding and heavy rains, erosion, extreme heat, sand silting and air pollution, which is currently five times higher than WHO recommended levels.

 

Cameroon and Togo stand out as regional leaders in local climate commitment. Cameroon now counts 90 CoM SSA signatories, representing 25% of all municipal councils in the country. Togo follows closely with 84 signatories, an impressive 70% of all its municipalities.

Together, these countries demonstrate strong political will and exemplary leadership, showing how local action can accelerate climate resilience across the region.

 

 CoM SSA’s 400 signatories represent over 166,041,206 million people, around 10.7% of the continent's population. See the full list of CoM SSA signatories here. Each signatory city strengthens a growing wave of African leadership committed to safeguarding the environment and improving quality of life for millions.

 

In the past ten years, CoM SSA has evolved into a transformative force, empowering cities to implement ambitious climate action plans and resilience strategies. Reaching 400 signatories is a testament to the growing momentum and collective determination of cities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

See a snapshot of CoM SSA achievements over the past five years here.

 

As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing our journey towards a sustainable, resilient future for all. Stronger partnerships, deeper investment, and bolder action will continue driving a just, resilient, and low-carbon future for cities in sub-Saharan Africa.