In the face of the growing climate crisis, 1,500 non-state actors from 40 countries gathered in Marseille for the Climate Chance 2025 Summit. The result was the Marseille Declaration, a concrete commitment that redefines cooperation between Europe and Africa on climate adaptation. Between local solutions and global goals, this pact promises to transform the two continents' response to environmental challenges ahead of COP30 in Belém.
On 26-27 March, Marseille was the epicentre of an unprecedented mobilisation. More than 1,500 representatives of local governments, NGOs, businesses, researchers, activists, indigenous peoples and political leaders participated in this event organised in partnership with the city of Marseille.
The consensus is clear: global warming already exceeds the projections of the Paris Agreement, making it urgent to combine mitigation and adaptation. According to Ronan Dantec, president of Climate Chance: "This meeting marks a shift in priorities for the climate community. Being realistic about global warming means acting immediately to adapt, without neglecting emissions reductions".
The Marseille Declaration highlights an obvious injustice: Africa, the continent that has contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, is the one most affected by climate change.
The paper therefore urges industrialised countries to strengthen financial support for adaptation in the Global South, especially in a context of declining official development assistance. It also calls for innovative financing mechanisms that respect human rights, integrate indigenous knowledge and promote social justice.
Proposals from the event will be integrated into a European Action Plan for Adaptation, which will be submitted to the European Commission and Member States in May, just before the review of the adaptation strategy in 2026.
Key measures include:
- Strengthen scientific cooperation between Europe and Africa.
- Create a shared climate data platform.
- Include climate adaptation in urban, food and health policies.
Africa's growing cities will play a crucial role. The Declaration emphasises that urbanism must drive the ecological and social transition, without leaving informal neighbourhoods and vulnerable populations behind.
Nature-based solutions - such as ecosystem restoration, sustainable water management and bioclimatic architecture - are highlighted as pillars of the strategy. In addition, the need to boost local knowledge and the development of sustainable sectors is highlighted.
Local governments, on the frontline of climate change, require more resources, autonomy and direct access to international funding. Decentralised cooperation is also a key driver for change.
The Marseille Declaration will be taken to international fora, notably COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The challenge now is to transform this momentum into concrete and sustainable actions for future generations.
Source: afrik.com 02/04/2025