World Green Economy Summit hosts a high-level panel on advancing the Tangier Declaration

His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), inaugurated the high-level panel organised by WGEO titled ‘Advancing the Tangier Declaration: A Road Map for Carbon Neutral Cities in Africa’ on the second day of the 11th World Green Economy Summit (WGES).

The opening was attended by HE James Opiyo Wandaye, Minister of Energy and Petroleum of Kenya; HE Omar Moro, President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council; and a large number of ministers and officials from African countries. The session highlighted the importance of integrating decarbonisation pathways into urban plans and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), mobilising large-scale climate finance, and developing bankable projects in priority sectors.

In his speech, Al Tayer emphasised that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, strengthens efforts towards a more sustainable future for us and generations to come.

“In July 2025, a landmark moment unfolded in Tangier, in the Kingdom of Morrocco. Ministers, mayors and partners from across the continent united behind a shared vision: that African cities – dynamic, diverse and rapidly expanding – can become global benchmarks of climate resilience, just and inclusive growth. The Tangier Declaration is more than a pledge; it is a framework for integrating carbon neutrality into the heart of urban planning. Today, at the World Green Economy Summit, we move from vision to implementation. The Tangier Declaration commits to integrating carbon neutrality into urban development plans through 11 pilot cities – living laboratories that will model decarbonisation pathways aligned with nationally determined contributions. These cities will be supported by structured climate plans and a pipeline of replicable projects in priority sectors like renewable energy, sustainable transport and water and waste management,” said Al Tayer.

“We are now confronted with a set of pressing and practical imperatives that include embedding decarbonisation into local urban plans while ensuring coherence with regional and national climate strategies; establishing technical and financial support mechanisms to help cities develop bankable low-carbon projects; and unlocking investment through innovative tools such as green bonds, blended finance, public-private partnerships. This is where WGEO plays a critical role. Through the Global Alliance for Green Economy (GAGE), WGEO is uniquely positioned to convene stakeholders, facilitate knowledge exchange and catalyse investment. But success will depend on our ability to build inclusive coalitions that bring together governments, development banks, private investors and civil society,” said Al Tayer.

“We must also ensure that the transition is just and socially inclusive. How do we guarantee that nature-based solutions and technological innovation generate meaningful employment for youth and women? And, finally, we must ask: what best practices exist for harmonised monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems that enable replication across Africa? How can we build continental architecture for learning and scaling? The Tangier Declaration has given us a compass. It is now our collective responsibility to chart the course and deliver results. WGEO stands ready, with its partners, to ensure that the path to carbon-neutral cities in Africa is not a distant aspiration but a reality we begin building today. Let us use this session to forge practical solutions, mobilise resources and reaffirm Africa’s lead in the global climate transition,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer concluded by stating that the Tangier Declaration includes developing project pipelines in renewable energy, sustainable mobility, housing, water and waste management that are bankable and ready for investment; Mobilising partnerships between national governments, city leaders, development banks and the private sector to unlock finance and technology at scale; ensuring inclusivity so that the benefits – jobs, services, resilience – reach all communities, especially the most vulnerable; track and report progress against clear milestones, ensuring accountability and transparency.

“James Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya, said: “I commend the World Green Economy Organization, the UAE government and the Global Alliance on Green Economy for convening this important dialogue. Today's gathering could not be more timely. We meet at a decisive moment when the World must move from commitments to action-translating our Nationally Determined Contributions and green strategies into tangible outcomes that protect people, economies and ecosystems. Climate ambition is not an option; it is a necessity. The science is clear, and the urgency is real. We must accelerate policy reforms, unlock sustainable finance, and foster innovation that drives resilience and inclusive growth. This requires stronger collaboration across governments, the private sector, development partners and communities.”

HE Omar Moro, President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, said: “In response to the shared vision of the leaders of the two sister countries, the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, the Regional Green Economy Forum was organised in Tangier last July in close partnership between the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Energy Transition, and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-AFRICA). From this collaboration, the Tangier Declaration was born, a pioneering African document that placed net zero at the heart of urban planning. Through it, eleven African cities, including Chefchaouen, pledged to be a living laboratory for a just and equitable climate transition. The Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, as a bridge between Africa and Europe, chose to be at the forefront of this transformation by investing in clean energy, developing sustainable infrastructure, promoting innovation, engaging youths and women, and devoting itself to South-South co-operation. What was achieved in Tangier was not an isolated event but, rather, a continuous process that we are strengthening today from Dubai, with a horizon that culminates in COP30.”