By zainab.joaque@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Freetown’s skyline tells a story of resilience – from the lush canopy of the Tree Town initiative to the blueprint cables of an ambitious urban transit system. At the center of this transformation stands Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, whose leadership has turned this coastal capital into a laboratory for climate solutions that bridge local needs with global ambitions.
During a pivotal press conference with C40 Cities’ Mark Watts, Aki-Sawyerr revealed how Freetown’s seat at the global table translates to real impact:
- $1 million cable car feasibility study funded through C40’s Finance Facility
- $150,000 in youth climate grants via the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund
- Peer learning with megacities from Jakarta to Los Angeles
“This isn’t about token representation,” the mayor stressed. “When a youth group in Kroo Bay gets funding to combat flooding, or when our cool roof experiments inform projects in Mumbai – that’s the power of this network.”
As C40’s first Global South Co-Chair, Aki-Sawyerr is reshaping the climate agenda:
- Breaking Finance Barriers – “The $100 billion climate finance promise remains ink on paper for most African cities.”
- Governments Working Together – “My environment minister sits beside me at COP summits – that alignment changes everything.”
- Youth As Change-Makers – “Our young people aren’t just future leaders – they’re testing solutions today with micro-grants.”
- Beating Extreme Heat – “When zinc roofs hit 60°C, school attendance drops. This is a health and education crisis.”
The mayor didn’t shy from sharing hard lessons:
- Cool roofs in informal settlements destroyed by fires
- Replanted trees lost to drought
- Cable car skeptics questioning priorities
“Failure? No – data,” she countered. “Each attempt teaches us how to adapt. That rooftop garden that failed in Susan’s Bay? It’s now a model in Hill Station.”
Aki-Sawyerr’s influence extends beyond city limits:
- National Policy: Instrumental in Sierra Leone’s improved NDC commitments
- Global Stage: Key negotiator at COP28 representing urban voices
- Media Mobilization: “When journalists amplify local stories, they become global case studies”
The mayor’s closing challenge resonated like a drumbeat:
“Climate action isn’t a menu where we pick one solution. It’s a symphony needing every instrument – mayors tuning policies, youths planting trees, journalists holding power accountable, grandmothers teaching rainwater harvesting.”
As Freetown prepares to showcase its climate innovations at COP28, Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership offers a masterclass in turning constraints into creativity. The message is clear: in the climate crisis, there are no sidelines – only collaborators. ZIJ/3/4/2025
