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Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2025 C40 World Mayors Summit.
The event, co-hosted by Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, London Mayor Sadiq Khan (also C40 Co-Chair), and Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, brings together leaders from nearly 100 C40 cities, along with business executives and philanthropists, to accelerate global climate action ahead of COP30.
Held from 3rd to 5th November 2025, the Summit represents a pivotal moment for city-led climate action. Building on two decades of C40 Cities’ leadership, it will showcase innovative solutions from around the world, highlight the impact of results-driven collaboration, and build momentum toward COP30.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will represent Global South cities in a series of high-level engagements, including the C40 Steering Committee Meeting, where she will reflect on the network’s 20-year journey and advocate for stronger city-national partnerships and direct access to climate finance.
She is also expected to speak at sessions on climate finance, resilience, migration, and just transitions, emphasizing that equitable access to climate funding and inclusive green jobs are essential for building a fair and sustainable future. Her interventions will spotlight some of Freetown’s innovative climate solutions, positioning the city as a model for other Global South urban centers tackling climate challenges.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s engagements will culminate in the World Mayors Summit Closing Plenary, where she will join global leaders in charting a unified path for city-led action toward COP30.
The Summit will also launch the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the COP30 Presidency, underscoring the critical role of local leadership in global climate negotiations and ensuring that city-level priorities influence COP30 outcomes.
