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During the opening ceremony of the Freetown City Council (FCC)’s first-ever African Urban Heat Summit on February 6, 2025, the FCC officially launched the Freetown Heat Action Plan.
Speaking at the summit, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that heat is not a minor issue but a central challenge to Freetown’s urban development. She stressed that the visible effects of climate change are undeniable, making heat adaptation a key priority within the Transform Freetown and Transforming Lives development plan.
She further highlighted that the African Urban Heat Summit 2025 has brought together mayors, vice governors, and local government leaders from across the region, alongside development partners, multilateral organizations, and key climate stakeholders, to discuss solutions for extreme heat resilience in African cities.
The Freetown Heat Action Plan is built on three core elements:
- Engaging, coordinating, and preparing residents for extreme heat exposure.
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Building equitable and sustainable heat adaptation solutions.
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Mobilizing finance and partnerships for effective governance.
Key Actions for 2025
The plan outlines several immediate actions, including:
Conducting comprehensive heat vulnerability mapping, focusing on the link between heat and health.
Procuring 100 mobile sensors and installing two weather stations to support real-time heat risk messaging.
Establishing four cooling zones to provide relief from extreme heat across Freetown.
Expanding heat resilience programs, such as urban gardening, to enhance adaptation in informal settlements and among vulnerable communities.
Rehabilitating market shade covers and expanding cooling infrastructure to outdoor spaces in Freetown.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice President of Sierra Leone emphasized the need for urgent solutions and financing to combat extreme heat and its growing impact on urban communities.
In a symbolic moment, the Vice President, alongside Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and the FCC team, officially launched the Freetown Heat Action Plan, reaffirming the government’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable urban development.
