By John Baimba Sesay
New York, September 23, 2025: Freetown Mayor and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, delivered a compelling address at the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Dialogue on Credible Transition Planning for Net Zero, held during the 2025 UN General Assembly Climate Week. Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr spotlighted the pivotal role cities play in driving global climate action.
She revealed that 80% of C40 cities have already achieved greater emissions reductions than their respective national governments, underscoring the effectiveness of local leadership in meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. “Cities are on the climate frontlines,” she stated, “and their actions are essential to keeping global warming in check.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that urban initiatives could close up to 40% of the global emissions gap, but warned that this potential can only be realized if cities gain direct access to climate finance—especially for adaptation measures. She called on national governments to empower municipalities by enhancing fiscal autonomy and enabling access to innovative financing tools such as green bonds.
Her remarks come amid growing recognition of cities as engines of climate resilience and innovation. As Co-Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group—a global network of nearly 100 cities committed to addressing climate change—Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has been a vocal advocate for inclusive, locally driven solutions. Under her leadership, Freetown has launched initiatives like the “Transform Freetown” agenda and the “Freetown the Treetown” campaign, which aim to improve urban sustainability and community engagement.
The High-Level Dialogue forms part of broader efforts by the UN to promote credible pathways to net-zero emissions, bringing together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s intervention reinforced the message that cities must be central to climate planning—not just as implementers, but as decision-makers.
Her call to action echoed the spirit of #UNClimateWeek and the global push for climate justice and equity: “Further Together.”