C40 Co Chair Mayor Aki Sawyerr champions International Energy Agency’s call for a clean energy transition

C40 Co-Chair and Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has welcomed the International Energy Agency's (IEA) call for a people-centred clean energy transition, as outlined in their newly released position paper, 'Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions: Designing for Fairness'.

The Global Commission met today in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, during the gathering of G20 energy ministers, to launch this bold vision that reaffirms the critical role cities play in advancing a more just and inclusive energy landscape.

The paper acknowledges the importance of local energy systems and highlights cities' important role in supporting the expansion of more decentralised and participatory energy systems. This shift provides a unique opportunity to ensure that the global clean energy transition addresses issues of fairness and equity-particularly vital for cities like Freetown, where 82% of households still rely on wood or charcoal for cooking.

The paper also identified how cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and London have exemplified the principles of fairness:

• The City of Rio de Janeiro has shown the impact cities can have on increasing energy access through partnering with the RevoluSolar initiative, to install photovoltaic solar energy systems within the communities, reducing the cost of energy bills and promoting local empowerment. The aim is to reduce poverty while promoting solar energy as a more affordable solution that could empower communities.
• The flagship ultra-low-emission zone policy introduced by the Mayor of London and C40 Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, has improved the air and consequently, the health of residents across London. The Low Emission Zone is projected to reduce the disparity between the highest and lowest-income groups' exposure to air pollution. This example shows that well-designed climate action can reduce inequalities in a city.

C40 Co-Chair and Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, said: "The climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis, and it is endangering the only planet we call home causing extreme weather and toxic air pollution.

"A just, fair, and people-centred transition is essential to end the era of fossil fuels and, as shown throughout the International Energy Agency's paper, cities are crucial to achieving this. It is critical that national governments work with cities to make the energy transition fast and fair.

"Moving money from polluting fossil fuel subsidies to local climate action is vital in order to create sustainable, affordable energy access for everyone."