Floods devastate Accra yearly, yet blame is endlessly recycled among citizens, planners, and politicians. Weak enforcement, chaotic land processes, and public indifference fuel the crisis. Ghana doesn't lack plans—it lacks discipline and coordinated action. From enforcing controls to rethinking drainage, we must move beyond finger-pointing and co-create resilient solutions before the next storm makes excuses our only infrastructure.

Climate action in the Global South may not stem from global ideals, but from local, tangible benefits. Instead of moral appeals, effective advocacy must focus on personal gains like lower energy costs or better air quality. Gain framing, not fear of loss, drives cooperation. To engage sceptics and unlock climate action, understand context, identify individual incentives, and show how action serves self-interest as well as the planet.

Inter-municipal cooperation is key to reducing CO2 emissions in metropolitan areas. Our study of 229 cities across 16 OECD countries shows that when local governments collaborate on transport, environmental outcomes improve. Fragmented or consolidated governance structures alone are not enough. Policy coherence, enforcement, and incentives for cooperation are critical to achieving climate goals at the city-regional scale.