Seventeen Sub-Saharan African municipalities are demonstrating robust commitment to climate action and energy access, frequently surpassing national climate targets through their locally developed Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs). A recent analysis, the first systematic review of SEACAPs under the Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative, reveals that these local governments are implementing integrated strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and energy access, providing critical insights for urban climate governance in a region highly vulnerable to climate impacts.

The study, which assessed plans from diverse cities including Dakar, Abuja, Maputo, and Nakuru County, utilized the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) framework to evaluate efforts. It found that municipalities are crafting tailored adaptation actions that align with specific local risks and national priorities, often exhibiting greater ambition than their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Furthermore, energy access measures are predominantly focused on expanding electricity provision and promoting clean cooking solutions, though some plans still require more ambitious targets to achieve universal access.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces compounded vulnerabilities to climate change, driven by widespread poverty, rapid urbanization, and reliance on climate-sensitive sectors. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report identifies Africa as one of the most vulnerable continents. With rapid urbanization projected to continue, local governments are on the frontline of managing increasing exposure to climate hazards, making their proactive planning crucial. The CoM SSA initiative provides a vital framework for these local authorities to translate their voluntary political commitments into concrete actions, fostering synergies between climate action and socio-economic prosperity, in line with the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The analysis highlights a strong, integrated commitment from these local authorities to tackle the complex, interwoven challenges of climate change and energy poverty. Despite this progress and the ambitious nature of many SEACAPs, the study identifies persistent funding and capacity gaps as critical barriers to scaling up sustainable urban development across the region. Addressing these limitations will be essential to fully realize the potential of these localized climate and energy strategies.