Delivered by Ngendahimana Ladislas, Secretary General of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities.
The Presidency,
Distinguished Participants,
The Local Government and Municipal Authorities Constituency to UNFCCC welcomes the outcomes of this COP particularly new references to multilevel and cooperative action, Local and regional governments and constituencies, as well as the Glasgow Climate Pact. LGMA is ready to support implementation in order to accelerate ambitious action to respond to climate emergency and deliver Paris agreement.
However, we are disappointed and concerned on the fact that, this COP26 did not result in a meaningful outcome on loss and damage. The COP27 shall take place in Africa, the youngest and the most urbanising continent. That COP should consider the aspects of demographic dividend, sustainable Urbanization and adaptation to focus on the role of cities in climate change and how they can finance their green plans.
Rwanda has promoted investments in green economies, green infrastructure and green local governments plans with equitable sharing of the available meagre resources for climate finance. The elaboration of the submitted Nationally Determined Contributions has been participatory and that process allows us to localize them, along with the SDGs.
Discussions here at COP26 showed that LGMA in Africa and the Global South are committed, and they can do. However, there is need for partnerships and investments from the Global North, because climate change is a shared responsibility.
I thank you for your kind attention.
