By George M.O. Williams
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone made history by hosting the first-ever African Urban Heat Summit, bringing together leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address the growing challenge of extreme urban heat. The summit’s highlight was the launch of the Freetown Heat Action Plan, unveiled by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to combat rising temperatures in urban areas.
During the summit, Vice President Jalloh emphasized that extreme heat is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality for millions, particularly in fast-growing cities like Freetown. “For many of our citizens, rising temperatures increase life-threatening risks, strain public health systems, and impact energy supply and productivity,” Jalloh stated.
He reiterated Sierra Leone’s commitment to climate resilience through frameworks such as the National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. These efforts, he said, are crucial for mitigating climate impacts and protecting vulnerable populations.
Freetown’s Mayor and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, expressed pride in the city’s climate leadership, unveiling the Freetown Heat Action Plan. “Our Heat Action Plan represents a focused effort to tackle one of the most immediate threats to our community: extreme heat,” Aki-Sawyerr said. She emphasized the importance of community engagement, urging residents, businesses, and organizations to work together to build a climate-resilient city.
Cassie Sutherland from C40 Cities provided a global perspective, revealing that over 200 million people in more than 350 cities worldwide already experience extreme heat above 35°C, with projections suggesting this number could triple in the coming decades. “Extreme heat costs money,” she warned, citing International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that heat-related economic losses could rise from $280 billion in 1995 to $2.4 trillion by 2030.
World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone, Abdu Muwonge, commended Freetown’s climate efforts but stressed that African cities must embrace integrated urban planning to effectively address extreme heat. Muwonge urged governments to enforce urban planning regulations, conserve public lands and green spaces, and expand public transportation to reduce emissions and mitigate urban heat.
The summit also spotlighted Sierra Leone’s ambitious tree-planting initiatives, with over a million trees planted across Freetown. However, Muwonge cautioned that more work is needed to conserve key natural assets, such as the Western Area National Park and Guma Valley Forest, which help regulate temperatures. “These areas are not just water sources but also provide the cool, breezy air that protects us from extreme heat,” he noted.
Muwonge further called on the government and private sector to ensure responsible development, particularly by hotel and industrial developers, to protect Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
The African Urban Heat Summit underscored the urgent need to address climate change in rapidly growing cities. With extreme heat posing severe risks to health, economies, and infrastructure, leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and international partners.
As Freetown leads the way with climate adaptation strategies, the summit provided a model for other African cities facing similar heat challenges.