By Temitope Egunjobi
Freetown, 23rd July 2026- The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in partnership with UNDP and with support from the World Bank, has held stakeholder consultations in Waterloo as part of efforts to develop Sierra Leone’s first Climate Change Act.
The workshop brought together government officials and community leaders to review the draft bill and make inputs.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Foday Sesay, describes the consultation as critical to ensuring that the proposed Climate Change Act addresses the realities of Sierra Leone. He noted that the Ministry, in collaboration with UNDP recognizes that the law “should reflect the real lives of the people.” According to Sesay, the recommendations gathered during the workshop will help ensure the final bill reflects local priorities.
Chief Director Lahai S Keita provided a brief background of the bill. He said climate change poses serious threats to the country’s environment and economy, citing the 2017 mudslide as a result of poor environmental care and weather patterns. He added that the law is intended to guide action to prevent the recurrence of such disasters.
National consultant Augustine Kamara Esq, in his presentation, highlighted key provisions of the draft Climate Change Bill and explained key terms used in it.
He also explained how the bill proposes to fund climate action and encouraged businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
Kamara said the bill aligns with Sierra Leone’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and builds on existing laws like the EPA Act 2022.
