Cotonou is Benin's largest city. It is governed by the Cotonou municipality and forms the core of the Cotonou agglomeration, which also includes the coastal towns of Abomey-Calavi and Sèmè Podji. These municipalities collaborate through the Urban Development Strategy for the Cotonou Agglomeration, initiated in 2011 to address rapid urban growth and socio-spatial challenges. This strategic alliance between the three cities, along with the support from the national government and international partners, focuses on coordinated urban planning and infrastructure development to improve metropolitan cohesion. While fostering inter-municipal cooperation, it does not function as a formal metropolitan entity.
Although Cotonou's CO₂ emissions per capita increased from between 1975 and 2020, they remain well below the regional and global average. The city most recently recorded a 6% decrease in NO₂ levels since 2000, with levels that outperform the regional average.
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