By Alusine Sesay
NEW YORK, USA: Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has underscored the urgent need for equitable climate financing, stressing that communities least responsible for climate change are often bearing its heaviest consequences.
Speaking during a joint press conference at the Urban 20 (U20) Mayors Summit alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada Molina, and Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted the growing climate injustices facing vulnerable communities around the world.
“Those who have contributed the least to climate change are often suffering the most from its impacts,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said, emphasizing that climate finance remains critical to addressing widening inequalities and supporting communities on the frontline of the climate crisis.
She called for greater access to climate funding for cities and local communities, noting that effective climate action requires resources to reach those most affected by extreme weather events, flooding, rising temperatures, and other climate-related challenges.
The Mayor reiterated Freetown’s commitment to advancing climate resilience and sustainable urban development while advocating for stronger international partnerships and financing mechanisms that empower cities to respond to climate threats.
The remarks came during the U20 Mayors Summit, a global gathering of city leaders convened under the Urban 20 initiative. The U20 serves as a platform through which mayors from major cities engage with G20 leaders, and ensuring urban priorities are reflected in global policy discussions. The initiative was launched in 2017 by the cities of Buenos Aires and Paris and is facilitated by C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
This year’s summit brought together mayors and city leaders from across the world to deliberate on some of the most pressing challenges facing urban centres, including climate change, affordable housing, migration, and sustainable development. Participants used the forum to advocate for greater powers, partnerships, and direct access to financing that would enable cities to deliver solutions for their residents.
Climate action featured prominently in discussions, with city leaders calling for increased access to climate finance and stronger support for local governments to build resilience against extreme weather events and accelerate the transition to cleaner and more sustainable economies.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s intervention reinforced Freetown’s growing role in global climate advocacy and its continued push for climate justice, particularly for cities and communities on the frontline of environmental and climate-related challenges.