By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 5th November 2025- The Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development(YASDEV), in partnership with the National Movement of Young Community Women (NMYCW) and with support from ActionAid Sierra Leone, hosted a landmark National Climate Dialogue at the Family Kingdom Hall in Freetown in October. Themed “Voices from the Frontlines: Bridging Broken Climate Promises through Action and Accountability,” the event served as a critical platform for community-driven climate advocacy in the lead-up to COP 30.
Mohamed Jalloh, Executive Director of Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development, emphasized the significance and urgency of the national climate dialogue. He acknowledged Sierra Leone’s strides in addressing climate change, but stressed that communities continue to face severe and persistent challenges.
“Sierra Leone has made commendable progress in climate action, but the truth is, many communities are still grappling with harsh realities. This dialogue is timely because it brings those voices to the forefront and demands accountability where promises have fallen short,” Mohamed Jalloh noted.
Participants from across Sierra Leone gathered to share firsthand accounts of how climate change is affecting their lives, from rising sea levels and erratic rainfall to food insecurity and displacement. The dialogue highlighted the urgent need for inclusive climate policies that reflect the realities of those most impacted.
Julia Bockarie, Western Urban Coordinator of the 50/50 Group, spoke passionately on behalf of women and girls, highlighting the disproportionate challenges they face due to climate change.
She emphasized that climate-related issues, such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and displacement, often hit women hardest, especially those in vulnerable communities.
“Women are bearing the brunt of climate change in ways that are often overlooked. From struggling to find clean water to managing households during floods and droughts, their resilience is stretched daily. It’s time their voices guide the solutions,” She noted.
The event featured panel discussions, presentations, and community testimonies, all aimed at fostering accountability and driving action at both national and international levels. Representatives from different groups emphasized the importance of amplifying grassroots voices and ensuring that commitments made at global climate summits translate into tangible change for vulnerable communities.
George Rogers, Director of Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, emphasized the shared responsibility between the government and the public in addressing environmental challenges. He encouraged participants to make environmentally conscious choices and follow established policies, highlighting that meaningful progress depends on collective action.
“Environmental protection is a partnership. When citizens align their choices with policy, we move together toward a sustainable future” he said.
Jalloh ended with the quote “The fight for Climate Justice is not just about carbon it’s about people, dignity and equality.”
The National Climate Dialogue marks a significant step in Sierra Leone’s climate movement, positioning local voices at the heart of global climate discourse.
Good morning everyone, good having you please, your invaluable intervention is timely and we hope for climate change justice.Please continue your good leadership strive though it’s not easy, but with time it will be okay,.
Thank you very much for your invaluable actions and plead to the stakeholders to be attentive and give support and funding to all concerned in alleviateing this deadly deases climate change for adaptation through swamps development and Fish Ponds construction project including tree planting program please.