STORY: Kenyan forum charts pathway for green urbanization in Africa
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 17, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 18, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:10
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of UN office in Nairobi
2. various of the conference
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YVONNE AKI-SAWYERR, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOHNSON SAKAJA, Governor of Nairobi

STORYLINE:

A forum held in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Monday called for Sub-Saharan African countries to adopt a bold vision, forward-looking leadership, and new policies to foster green and resilient urbanization amid the escalating climate crisis.
   
The Green and Resilient UrbanShift Africa 2025 Forum, running from Feb. 17 to 21 under the theme "Green and Resilient Urban Development," has brought together more than 250 delegates, including city mayors, policymakers, investors, environmental advocates, and innovators.
   
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, noted that African cities have prioritized climate action by leveraging youth-led innovations.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YVONNE AKI-SAWYERR, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
"Africa, as we've heard from various speakers, is home to the world's fastest-growing cities with a very youthful population. Mean age of 19 is quite striking and with that youthful population, we have young people who are bursting with potential but whose lives and livelihoods are currently under threat and being jeopardized by the climate breakdown."

"With approximately 70 percent of Africa's population under the age of 35, young people are leveraging technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship to drive the shift towards sustainability," said Aki-Sawyerr, who is also the co-chair of C40 Cities, an international green lobby.
   
Johnson Sakaja, governor of Nairobi, said it is possible to convert African cities into green oasis, subject to ramping up investments in people-centric climate solutions such as clean energy and mobility.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOHNSON SAKAJA, Governor of Nairobi
"Climate action is real across most of our cities in the continent, so is the opportunity to invest in a better future for our people on the continent of Africa, for our countries and for our cities. The future of African cities is being decided now. We cannot afford to wait. We must act."

Delegates at the five-day forum are expected to endorse a new roadmap for greening African cities through sustainable finance, advocacy, policy reforms, and the adoption of carbon-free mobility.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)