Cocody Green City

Cocody, Ivory Coast

Eco-City Initiative for Cocody

In cooperation with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, ERI's Professor Toure (head of ERI West Africa's office) is working directly with the City of Cocody and its Mayor, Mr. N'GOAN Aka Mathias, to create the first West African eco-city. This city will be fueled by clean green energy and use carbon sequestration projects to reduce CO2 emissions by 28% by 2030.

To achieve this objective (which is an integral part of the strategic plans and priority objectives of the Ivorian Government), the United Nations and the African Union - in tandem with ERI - are targeting the City of Cocody in Abijdan to be the pilot city for building and implementing an Eco-City initiative, entitled "Cocody Cité Verte, Carbon well of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and Africa …."

This pilot city will serve as a business plan and model for addressing climate change and sustainability, and will eventually convert all 13 municipalities in the District of Abidjan and other the cities of Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa into eco-cities.

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR COCODY

As a majority of climate-changing emissions come from cities, it is in these cities where we plan to begin. Cities are in a unique position to lead the reduction of emissions and implement policies and programs that help residents and businesses minimize emissions and maximize sustainable choices.

Our mission has been to support and fund innovative initiatives at the community level that are 7 transforming and transitioning local communities, strengthening sustainability and locally generating economic growth, and building a movement for climate action. With the “Cocody Green City” project, we plan to assist the city of Cocody in greening not just one, but all of the municipalities throughout Abidjan, and later throughout Cote d’Ivoire and other countries in Africa. We already have a commitment from the Mayor of Cocody (Mr. N’GOAN AKA KACOU Mathias) as well as the ministries in Cote d’Ivoire to begin to make “Cocody Green City” a reality and a leading example. Now we need the requisite funding to continue and expand the work that we’ve started. Taking on climate change is not without its challenges, but the opportunities and widespread benefits far outweigh them. Measures for efficient and sustainable energy use will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while positively impacting local businesses and infrastructure, as well as residents. By creating local jobs in renewable energy and safety, we will also combat widespread poverty in the region. Reforestation measures will not only increase carbon sequestration, but they will also beautify city streets and parks, as well as provide clean air and water.

OVERVIEW

Our Green City Initiative for Cocody uses a holistic approach to execute climate and sustainable development projects in the community, with the goal of reducing the EGES of Cocody by 90% before 2030. The initiative addresses the following:

- Lowering of the planet's temperature - Helping to prevent climatic catastrophes - Eradicating pollution - Combating unemployment and poverty - Ensuring a sustainable environment

The initiative will lead to not only environmental sustainability, but also to the creation of thousands of green jobs, training and employment for thousands of young men and women, and economic empowerment for women. The role of US-based NGO Earth Rights Institute (ERI-USA) and its consortium of international partners is to help with the ecological planning and transformation of Cocody, which will be carried out under the office of Mr N'GOAN AKA Mathias, Mayor of Cocody.

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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Here is a summary of our main projects starting April 2017:

I. Solar Energy Program

City solar power plant program - Creation of four central solar plants - Implementation of solar kits to replace wood and coal - Implementation of 400 solar photovoltaic lamps for public lighting - Implementation of 5000 street lights with solar lights - Installation of 1600 solar traffic lights - Installation of 200,000 Attieké photovoltaic solar ovens for low-income families - Installation of 1000 solar food dehydrators for urban organic farming - Replacement fireplaces with bioethanol cookstoves to reduce methanization

II. Reforestation and Carbon Sequestration Program

- Planting a total of 2 million trees, including 1,000 kms of roadside tree planting and 50 km2 of planting trees in parks and gardens of 2 million trees - Creation of a municipal tree nursery - Ecological restoration of 30 kms of lagoon coastline in the Bay of Cocody, including the planting of 2 million mangrove trees - Development of 20 kms of parks and gardens for the city

III. Sustainable Transportation Development Program
- Sustainable Urban Agriculture: enhancement of sustainable urban agriculture - Sustainable Building Project: sustainable housing for all, with a focus on providing for the displaced and deprived - Reducing car pollution by 80% by replacing city taxis with environmentally friendly vehicles - Begin circulation of non-polluting WIB public buses

IV. Climate Sensitisation Program for the General Population

- Initiate a local eco-radio program - Adoption and usage of solar - Adoption of creating a community of eco-citizens - Creation of local citizen groups on climate change and security

VIDEO

Cote d'Ivoire TV News on ERI Cocody EcoCity Initiative 2017