Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, has taken a groundbreaking step in climate adaptation by launching Africa’s first Heat Action Plan (HAP) to tackle the growing threat of extreme heat. The initiative was unveiled during the first-ever African Urban Heat Summit on February 6, 2025, organized by Freetown’s city government and Climate Resilience for All (CRA), a global climate adaptation NGO.
The summit brought together African mayors, policymakers, and climate experts to discuss urban heat resilience. Sierra Leone’s Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr introduced the HAP, emphasizing its importance in protecting vulnerable communities from rising temperatures. “Extreme heat is disrupting lives, straining healthcare systems, and threatening economic stability,” Jalloh stated, stressing the urgent need for action.
Scientific studies indicate that African cities are particularly vulnerable to heatwaves due to rapid urbanization and the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the economic cost of climate change for overheated African cities could be twice the global average. In response, Freetown’s HAP outlines critical measures, including:
- Cooling corridors and green spaces to mitigate rising temperatures.
- Infrastructure improvements to make urban areas heat-resilient.
- Protection for vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly.
- Public awareness campaigns to educate communities on heat risks.
Eugenia Kargbo, Freetown’s Chief Heat Officer Africa’s first-ever such official highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating, “This will be a game-changer in making Freetown greener, cooler, and more resilient.” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr echoed this sentiment, calling the HAP “a commitment to protect our communities and build a city that is cooler, greener, and more resilient.”
The summit also saw an announcement from CRA, offering a $120,000 grant for heat resilience initiatives, with three cities receiving up to $40,000 each. CRA CEO Kathy Baughman McLeod emphasized the summit’s role in driving urgent action: “This represents hope and action both are needed to tackle this invisible threat.”
With Africa’s urban population expected to surpass 70% by 2050 and extreme heat projected to threaten one-third of urban dwellers by the 2090s, Freetown’s leadership in heat adaptation is seen as a model for the continent. The summit attracted officials from Accra, Kanifing, Monrovia, Conakry, Ouagadougou, and Abidjan, alongside global climate organizations.
Already, Freetown is implementing key measures, including relocating manufacturing industries to rural areas to reduce heat concentration. As temperatures continue to rise across megacities like Lagos and Cairo, the success of Freetown’s Heat Action Plan could pave the way for similar initiatives across Africa, strengthening the continent’s resilience against climate change.