Freetown Mayor and C40 Cities Co-Chair Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has called for stronger cooperation among cities and practical action to address climate change and other challenges affecting urban communities worldwide.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr made the call on Monday, September 21, 2026, while participating in the 2026 Urban 20 (U20) Mayors Summit in New York City, where mayors and city leaders from major urban centres gathered to discuss shared priorities and the role of cities in global policymaking.
Speaking during the U20 Mayoral Plenary on priorities, partnerships and the future of cooperation, she highlighted the growing importance of cities in responding to climate impacts, housing insecurity, migration pressures and limited municipal resources.
She described U20 as “the biggest and most enduring diplomatic platform of mayors” and stressed the need for cities to work together to strengthen their collective voice and influence in global decision-making.
“Cities are not waiting for permission — we are already leading the way,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said.
Drawing on Freetown’s experience, she highlighted several initiatives aimed at addressing environmental, social and economic challenges simultaneously. These include the city’s Climate Resilient Market Hubs, green jobs initiatives, organic waste-to-energy and composting programmes, as well as localised multi-hazard Early Warning Systems.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also called for increased collaboration among cities on Early Warning Systems, noting that extreme weather events are already affecting communities in different parts of the world.
In her capacity as C40 Cities Co-Chair, she proposed stronger peer-to-peer cooperation between cities to address challenges such as access to climate finance, data sharing and municipal mandates, while accelerating the deployment of Early Warning Systems.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring that early warnings reach communities at the local level, stressing that “local implementation is where lives are saved.”
The Mayor invited U20 cities to participate in dedicated working sessions aimed at identifying barriers and accelerating cooperation on Early Warning Systems.
Her participation in the summit further highlights Freetown’s engagement in global city diplomacy and efforts to ensure that the experiences and priorities of African cities are represented in international discussions on climate action, development and urban resilience.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also expressed appreciation to the City of New York, U20 leadership, C40 Cities, UCLG and the Mayors Migration Council for their roles in convening the 2026 summit.
The Urban 20 Summit brings together mayors and city leaders from major urban centres around the world to advance common priorities and strengthen the role of cities in global policymaking.
