Africa faces the challenge of developing decent housing while respecting the environment

2023-06-05T21:58:13.341Z

Highlights: Africa faces the challenge of developing decent housing while respecting the environment. UN-Habitat estimates that by 2030, 40 per cent of the world's population will be in need of adequate shelter. In sub-Saharan Africa, 56% of people already live in slums. Urban areas are already responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions, according to the UN. The Assembly meets every four years and was officially launched at a ceremony on Monday 5 June in Nairobi. The aim is to achieve a strategic plan for 2024-2027 and respond to the challenges of a growing population.

Monday opened in Nairobi the second session of the Assembly of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Objective: to achieve a strategic plan for 2024-2027....

Africa faces the challenge of developing decent housing while respecting the environment

Monday opened in Nairobi the second session of the Assembly of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Objective: to achieve a strategic plan for 2024-2027. And respond to the challenges of a growing population.

The Kibera slum near Nairobi, Kenya (Illustration image). AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard

The Assembly meets every four years and was officially launched at a ceremony on Monday 5 June in Nairobi. Until Friday, more than 5,000 participants, representatives of UN member states, its specialized agencies, local authorities and civil society will exchange. UN-Habitat estimates that by 2030, 40 per cent of the world's population will be in need of adequate shelter. In sub-Saharan Africa, 56% of people already live in slums.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif stressed the urgency of the situation: "Even in the most developed countries, more and more citizens are finding themselves on the streets. Added to this are those, more than a billion, who reside in precarious and substandard housing. The challenge we face is enormous.

More funding needed to respect the environment

Maimunah Mohd Sharif also recalled that housing development must be environmentally friendly. Urban areas are already responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions, according to the UN. William Ruto, Kenya's president, called for multilateral coordination: "More than half of Kenya's population will live in cities by 2050. But one of the major obstacles in our drive to move towards sustainable urbanization is the same one we face in Africa in our implementation of effective climate action. That barrier is the lack of access to sufficient and affordable financial resources.

There are measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities. Increase green spaces or develop public transport for example. But funding for this remains insufficient.

>> Read also: 8 Billion Neighbors - Are we too many to live in a decent habitat?

Africa faces the challenge of developing decent housing while respecting the environment

Africa faces the challenge of developing decent housing while respecting the environment

More funding needed to respect the environment

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