India, Feb. 10 -- Sierra Leone hosted the first-ever African Urban Heat Summit on February 6, 2025 in a landmark initiative to tackle the rising threat of extreme heat in African cities. Organised by the city of Freetown and global climate adaptation non-governmental organisation Climate Resilience for All (CRA), the event saw the launch of Freetown's heat action plan (HAP) - the first such comprehensive document in the continent.

The HAP was unveiled by Vice President of Sierra Leone Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr. The event brought together mayors, policymakers, development partners and climate experts from across the continent to discuss strategies for mitigating urban heat.

Jalloh, in his inaugural addre...