In this episode, we speak with the mayor of the municipality of Kloto I in Togo, Monsieur Winny Yawo Dogbatsè.  Mayor Dogbatse also serves as GCoM Board Member and the Chair of the Regional Mayors Forum of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA).  He is joined by Monsieur Koffi Alowonou, Director of Community Technical Services for Kloto I.  They have taken time to outline some of the details involved in rolling out the Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) across the unique, multifaceted jurisdictions of Kloto from their current positions in Kloto I.

“The cities of Kloto are located in a geographical area with particularly favourable climatic conditions, which give their territory major assets, especially flourishing agriculture and important forestry resources. These assets favour the economic development of the region, while ensuring food security and carbon sequestration in the country. The Minister of the Environment and Forest Resources, Foli-Bazi Katari, described the Grand Kloto and Plateaux regions as "the lungs of Togo".”

The city of Kloto I , is the seat of Kloto Prefecture, home to approximately half the population of the area, and the challenge Mayor Dogbatse has recognized is one of the, “question of creating urban forests within the populations to mitigate the heat, to sow plants that can resist global warming and to bring sustainable added value to the coffee and cocoa sector,” providing appropriately considered livelihood opportunities for one of the more populous regions of Togo.

Mayor Dogbatse also recognized the leadership displayed by Kloto I sets precedent not only for National Committee for Sustainable Development (CNDD), but as a representative of Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Covenant of Mayors, and Climate Talks is grateful to have these perspectives to share in this latest episode of the City Leaders series.