Mayor of Freetown , C40 Cities Co- Chair in New York for UN Summit of the future

Mayor of Freetown, C40 Cities Co-Chair in New York for UN Summit of the Future

22 September 2024

John Baimba Sesay

Mayor of Freetown and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has arrived in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly Summit of the Future.

Throughout the week, on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements. She will meet with the Rockefeller Foundation and Goals House to share critical insights on the urgent actions required to safeguard public health in the face of climate change. In addition, she will serve as a High-Level Keynote Speaker at the World Biodiversity Summit, organized by the World Climate Foundation. Her keynote will focus on the linked crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, highlighting biodiversity initiatives led by Freetown City Council.

As the climate crisis relates to fossil fuel dependency—threatening the planet, and polluting the air, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will also take part in the Global Renewables Summit organised by the Global Renewables Alliance, International Labor Organisation, IRENA, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. The Summit will discuss the benefits of an inclusive renewable energy transition, pinpointing how cities can ensure the transition is both equitable and inclusive.

Additionally, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will participate in a panel discussion on Growing Local Solutions, hosted by the United Nations, where she will deep dive into the role of local governments in driving the transformation needed to deliver sustainable solutions for both people and the planet.

While there have been efforts to engage and empower people living in informal settlements in climate action, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will also participate in a panel on Empowering People in Informality. During this session, she will highlight ongoing initiatives led by organizations to support those in informal settlements, as well as explore opportunities to further enhance these actions for greater empowerment and climate resilience.