In a move to champion inclusive global leadership in climate action, C40 Cities today announced its new co-chair model with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr as co-chairs of the organisation.
As the elected leaders of the C40 organisation, the co-chairs play a key role in raising the bar on climate ambition around the world and advocating for the role of cities in addressing the climate crisis. Mayor Khan requested an updated leadership model to not only represent a commitment to celebrate and uplift the significant contributions of Global South cities in addressing the climate emergency but to enable their voices to be heard.
Mayor Khan, who was elected C40 chair in 2021, has consistently prioritised the support for cities in the Global South, which are often most acutely affected by the climate crisis. In September this year, Sadiq was the first UK Mayor to participate in the UN Climate Ambition Summit, recognising cities and particularly London’s role as a driving force in accelerating and delivering climate action. As chair of C40, Sadiq oversaw:
- Two thirds of the C40 budget dedicated to accelerating climate action in the Global South.
- Launched Breathe Cities, a new US$ 30 million clean air partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities.
- Expanded C40’s air quality work, engaging more cities in the Global South. 50% of all C40 cities are committed to delivering clean air through the Clean Air Accelerator. Approximately 227 million people across the signatory 49 cities will benefit from cleaner air and improved health.
- Launched C40’s new Inclusive Climate Action Fund, which will provide resources to cities to pilot and drive forward fair and inclusive climate action.
- At the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, united C40 mayors to drive the creation of 50 million good, green jobs by the end of the decade.
Freetown became a member of C40 Cities in 2019. Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has been a vocal supporter of the Global Green New Deal, launched at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen as a solution to tackle inequality and the climate crisis together. Freetown has committed to planting and growing 1 million trees to build resilience against flooding and absorb carbon dioxide. In 2019, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, launched the Transform Freetown plan, a three-year vision for the development of the city. It aims to work with residents to address a range of issues from waste management and job creation, to improving urban mobility and tackling environmental degradation.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr is committed to advancing multilateral action, expanding the influence of city leaders, ensuring financial investments for climate action, and actively engaging the youth for a more sustainable future. Recognising the importance of Global South voices in the fight against the climate emergency, newly elected co-chair Mayor Aki-Sawyerr will be leading the C40 mayoral delegation to COP28 in Dubai.
Mayor of London and C40 Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, said: “Cities are leading the way when it comes to tackling the climate emergency and I am committed to doing more to empower cities in the Global South, which are on the frontline – facing the worst consequences of the climate crisis. The co-chair model is a milestone in our commitment to engaging and elevating Global South cities. Working alongside Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, I will amplify the significant roles cities across the world play in global climate action initiatives.”
Mayor of Freetown and C40 Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, said: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mayor Khan for his leadership over the last two years and the leaders of other C40 cities for their solidarity and support in addressing the climate emergency. It’s crucial that the voices of Global South cities are heard and considered in climate action planning. As co-chair, I’m dedicated to ensuring our perspectives and needs are not just included, but prioritised, and these priorities form the foundation of our shared mission.”