7/02/2025
Sierra Leone on February 6, 2025, hosted the first African Urban Heat Summit, marking a significant step in addressing extreme heat challenges in rapidly growing African cities. The summit culminated in the launch by the country’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, of Freetown’s first-ever Heat Action Plan, which outlines targeted actions, policies, and partnerships to enhance heat resilience. Additionally, Climate Resilience for All (CRA), who co-hosted the event with Freetown City Council, announced a grant opportunity for cities to implement heat action measures.
The one-day Summit brought together mayors from Kanifing (The Gambia), Monrovia (Liberia), Conakry (Guinea), Accra (Ghana), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), along with climate experts, local council leaders from across Sierra Leone, and multilateral organizations. Held under the theme “Building Heat-Resilient African Cities: Tackling Urban Heat Through Innovation, Education, and Action,” the Summit emphasized the urgent need for collaborative solutions to mitigate extreme heat in Africa’s rapidly urbanizing cities.
There was also a call to action for governments, international organizations, and private sector partners to invest in sustainable, heat-resilient urban development and city leaders also committing to developing and implementing city-specific heat action plans.Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh underscored how extreme heat is no longer a distant threat but a reality that affects millions across Africa. “For many of our citizens, rising temperatures increase life-threatening risks, strain public health systems, and impact energy supply and productivity,” he said, also highlighting Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening urban heat resilience through several initiatives.
Kathy Baughman McLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Resilience for All said “This Summit represents hope and action – we need both in equal parts to take on this invisible threat and prepare and defend communities and economies from the deadly grasp of extreme heat. With women bearing the brunt, solutions for heat must start and end with their voices and leadership.”
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr emphasised the relevance of the Summit as a roadmap in addressing the growing threat of extreme heat in cities. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise, a path is charted toward more heat-resilient urban communities. The launch of Freetown’s first Heat Action Plan and the commitment of cities to take concrete action demonstrate that Freetown is not just talking but is acting. “Our Heat Action Plan represents a focused effort to tackle one of the immediate threats to our communities which is extreme heat,” she remarked.
Also speaking at the event were: Cassie Sutherland from C40 Cities, Emma Howard Boyd – Chair, Climate Resilience for All, Paul McDermont – Country Representative, USAID , Rachel Barza (MDB/EBRD), Ashley Faddy Jude Philoe (AfDB), Abdu Muwonge (World Bank), Amjad Abbashar – Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, Rachel Kyte – UK Climate Envoy, Gerald Hatler – Chargé d’affaires, EU, H.E. Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner, Chairman Ahmed Keke Sahr – President of LoCASL and Alfred Moi Jamiru, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs.
Several panel discussions took place, including Feeling the Burn: Building Leaders’ Heat Awareness,” The Power of Heat Action Planning and Solutions to Address the Heat Crisis, and Building Resilience to Heat and Disaster Risk: Strategies for Sustainable Urban Adaptation, among others.
