As extreme heat rises across the globe, Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer shows how cities can prioritize strategies to mitigate risks and support residents’ wellbeing. The data is clear on how heat has intensified in Freetown over the last several decades. Extreme heat in Freetown compounds and intensifies challenges related to climate change and development that the city is facing. Through her role as Chief Heat Officer, which she’s held since 2021, Kargbo has already implemented several strategies to mitigate heat. “When you talk about extreme heat, people will tell you, ‘oh yes, the weather is hot,’ but they’re not linking that to climate change,” Kargbo told UrbanShift.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 12, 2023 20:55 UTC