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Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has launched the third cohort of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund 2.0, encouraging young people to develop locally driven solutions to the growing impacts of climate change.
The initiative was launched on International Youth Day and is being implemented through a partnership involving Freetown City Council, Bloomberg Philanthropies and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
The fund was first introduced in 2024 following discussions in 2023 on the need to increase investment and support for young people across the Global South, particularly in Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said young people are demonstrating that practical climate action can begin within local communities. She highlighted activities such as tree planting, recycling and composting as examples of interventions that can contribute to addressing environmental challenges.
Officials noted that although Africa contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent continues to experience some of the most severe consequences of climate change.
The programme has since expanded to reach young people in 300 cities worldwide. In Sierra Leone, participating cities include Freetown, Kenema, Karene, Bombali, Pujehun, Bonthe, Kambia and Kailahun.
The initiative is open to young people between the ages of 15 and 24, who are invited to submit projects addressing specific environmental challenges in their communities.
Selected youth-led organisations will receive microgrants ranging from US$1,000 to US$5,000 to implement innovative climate-action projects with measurable community impact.
Young people across Freetown have been encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity, submit practical ideas and play a leading role in building greener and more climate-resilient communities.
