By John Baimba Sesay
In my role supporting Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE in her capacity as Co-Chair of C40 Cities, I have had the privilege of joining her in high-level national and global engagements. In every forum, she has been a consistent and powerful advocate for increasing access to climate finance particularly for cities in the Global South, emphasising that without adequate funding, cities cannot effectively pursue mitigation, adaptation, or resilience strategies.
As Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities (alongside the Mayor of London), Yvonne plays a pivotal role in a global network of nearly 100 mayors committed to urgent, inclusive, and science-driven climate action. These cities are collectively working to halve global emissions by 2030, while building healthier, more equitable, and climate-resilient communities.
This leadership is rooted in an urgent reality: climate change is not a future threat; it is already reshaping lives across African cities. From rising sea levels and flash floods to extreme heat and food insecurity, Africa is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, African cities disproportionately bear the brunt of climate-related disasters, underscoring the need for equity in climate financing.
As Co-Chair of C40, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr is focused on four key priorities:
- Advancing multilateral climate action;
- Elevating the influence of city leaders on the global stage;
- Securing increased and direct climate finance for cities in the Global South;
- Actively engaging young people to shape a more sustainable future.
Her recent visit to Liberia illustrates this approach. In meetings with national leaders, including the President of Liberia, she championed deeper cooperation between sister cities and urged alignment between national and local climate strategies. At the heart of her message was a powerful call for increased, localized climate financing, a necessary foundation for meaningful, lasting action.
Another core focus of Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s advocacy has been investment in heat resilience, which is vital to protect communities, economies, and ecosystems from intensifying heatwaves. Funding is urgently needed for infrastructure upgrades, early warning systems, and public education. While proactive investment can save lives and reduce economic losses, inaction could cost billions in lost productivity, health crises, and infrastructure damage.
This message is one she has consistently shared whether on the global stage at UN summits or in bilateral meetings with national governments. At the 2024 Inclusive Climate Action event in Quezon City, Philippines, hosted by Mayor Joy Belmonte, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr highlighted the urgent need for equitable climate finance and shared tangible examples from cities around the world especially Freetown.
As she rightly noted during her Liberia trip: “African cities are the engines of economic growth, contributing 70% of the continent’s GDP. Yet by 2050, Africa’s urban population will triple to 1.5 billion people. Already, 92% of Africa’s fastest-growing cities face extreme climate risk.” The stakes for urban climate resilience could not be higher.
In Freetown, one of the most successful examples of locally led action is the ‘Freetown-The -Treetown’ initiative. Over one million trees have been planted through this citizen-driven program. The initiative not only restores lost urban greenery but also enhances heat resilience, reduces flood risks, and improves public health demonstrating how nature-based solutions can deliver real impact. It also addresses an urgent city felt crisis- job creation.
However, climate leadership cannot rest with mayors alone. It must be collective driven by cross-sector partnerships and intergenerational cooperation. Young people, in particular, are central to this fight. Having inherited the consequences of climate inaction, they continue to raise their voices and challenge decision-makers to act boldly. Their courage and foresight deserve recognition and support.
That’s why initiatives like the Youth Climate Action Fund, a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, C40 Cities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and Freetown City Council are so important. Through this fund, young people in Freetown are leading innovative, practical climate solutions. To scale such solutions, cities must forge strong public-private partnerships. Large-scale sustainability efforts such as green public transport systems or smart city technologies require significant private capital.
In all these efforts, whether planting trees, investing in youth, or advocating for finance on the global stage, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr exemplifies what determined, visionary climate leadership looks like. She not only represents Freetown, but also speaks for hundreds of climate-vulnerable cities in the Global South, demanding that their voices be heard and their needs met.
