UN-Habitat, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa (KAS), and the University of Michigan (United States of America), through the project on Urban Law for Resilient and Low Carbon Urban Development in Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, were able to assess the capacity of climate laws and policies in Zimbabwe to adapt to climate change. The assessment was done through the UN-Habitat Urban Law Module of the Law and Climate Change Toolkit – an innovative online tool designed to help countries establish legal frameworks necessary for effective domestic implementation of the Paris Agreement. The assessment was based on the five key performance indicators namely: i) governance framework for urban and climate planning; ii) urban and territorial planning; iii) urban planning and design for adaptation; iv) urban planning and design for mitigation; and v) economic and non-economic instruments for climate friendly urban planning. It is hoped that this assessment and the impending climate law reform will be instrumental in fulfilling the potential of urban areas in Zimbabwe to lead the way and be truly transformative spaces for climate action. In addition to this full report, UN-Habitat has produced a shorter version of the full report (summary report) that contains key points and recommendations from the sections mentioned above.

This issue of the Urban-LEDS II Newsletter February 2021 features:

• Successful virtual peer to peer learning for climate action
• City in focus: Recife, Brazil: An example of the fight against climate change
• Urban champion: The Mayor of Envigado, Colombia
• Project synergies: UN-Habitat’s Cities Investment Forum

The Apia, Samoa - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (Abridged Report) is an output of the Cities and Climate Change Initiative activities in Apia, Samoa. This abridged report is based on the report titled: “Apia, Samoa – Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment” funded by the United Nations Development Account, and the Cities and Climate Change Initiative. Starting with a brief background of the city, this report addresses Apia’s climate change situation from a climate risk perspective that focuses on exposure to climate change hazards, socio-economic sensitivities and the adaptive capacities of the city and its stakeholders. Following the insights gained from clarifying the climate change challenges, the report proposes the key sectors for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in Apia. It finally recommends key actions to be undertaken as part of a comprehensive Apia responsestrategy, reinforcing priority adaptation options.