June 16, 2026: Her Worship Yvonne Aki‑Sawyer OBE, Mayor of Freetown and Co‑Chair of C40 Cities, joined global leaders at the 2026 World Cities Summit in Singapore from June 14–15, championing climate priorities for cities in the Global South.
The Summit convened government representatives, mayors, sustainability experts, development partners and international stakeholders to explore solutions for greener, more resilient and sustainable cities.
Mayor Aki‑Sawyer delivered keynote remarks at the Executive Climate Leadership Dialogue, co‑hosted by C40 Cities, the Centre for Liveable Cities and Temasek Shophouse. The dialogue brought together mayors, senior city officials, philanthropic organisations and mission‑aligned partners to accelerate practical climate action.
She also gave opening remarks at the Mayoral Convening on Mainstreaming Nature‑Based Solutions for Urban Heat, where city leaders shared strategies to combat rising urban temperatures.
During a panel on Providing Reliable and Efficient Municipal Services, the Mayor highlighted Freetown’s efforts to improve service delivery while advancing sustainability goals. At the Resilient and Regenerative Leadership Plenary, she advocated for greater access to climate finance for Global South cities and showcased Freetown’s progress in resilience, waste management and inclusive development.
Mayor Aki‑Sawyer also attended the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Lecture and held bilateral discussions with city leaders and partners, including Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, to strengthen collaboration on urban innovation and climate action.
Reflecting on the Summit, she said: “The climate crisis knows no borders, and neither should our solutions. The World Cities Summit provided a vital opportunity for cities to learn from one another and build stronger partnerships. When more than 250 cities come together to share what is working on the ground, we can turn isolated success stories into global standards and accelerate the action needed to address our shared challenges.”
Her participation is expected to help unlock additional investments for Freetown, with discussions focusing on climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, urban services and innovative financing mechanisms.
Media Contact:
John Baimba Sesay
Senior Manager, Communications
Freetown C40 Co‑Chair Office
Email: jbaimba@c40.org