Resilience Scanner
Cities / Freetown

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Freetown is projected to face significant climate hazards, including frequent heatwaves and intense rainfall events that increase flooding risks. Additionally, prolonged drought conditions may result in severe water shortages, impacting agriculture and livelihoods. The city also confronts elevated risks of arbovirus transmission and malaria due to changing environmental conditions, which pose critical public health challenges. As these climate-related events become more common, the city’s vulnerabilities to health and infrastructure challenges intensify. Addressing these hazards is crucial for enhancing resilience to ensure community safety and sustainability in the face of climate change impacts.

Hazard Outlook

How will Freetown's projected climate hazards compare to other cities under a 3.0°C future warming scenario?

Longest Heatwave

99th percentile Very high exposure

Freetown may experience heatwaves lasting up to 29 days, among the highest of all other cities.

Freetown
0.0 Shorter → Longer 92

Maximum Rainfall

92nd percentile Very high exposure

Freetown's projected maximum rainfall of 19 mm is among the highest of all cities globally.

Freetown
0.0 Lower → Higher 35

Heavy Rainfall Days

75th percentile High exposure

With 11 days of heavy rainfall expected, Freetown ranks among the highest of all cities for extreme precipitation events.

Freetown
0.0 Fewer → More 36

Elevation

41st percentile Elevated exposure

At 56 m elevation, Freetown faces elevated risk from coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Freetown
-8.0 Lower → Higher 4k

Maximum Temperature

6th percentile Lower exposure

Freetown's projected maximum temperature of 7.6°C is lower than most cities globally under a 3.0°C warming scenario.

Freetown
5.0 Cooler → Hotter 13

Exposure Summary

Heatwave
Max Rain
Heavy Rain
Elevation
Max Temp

Adaptation Priorities

Freetown faces high exposure to heatwave, max rain, heavy rain and elevated exposure to elevation. These areas may warrant priority attention in adaptation planning.

Data source: Climate projections from the IPCC AR6 scenario analysis. See our methodology for details on how we process and interpret this data.

Deployed Solutions

Deployed climate adaptation technologies identified in Freetown.

No solutions have been documented for Freetown.

This is an archived snapshot of the database.

Recommended Solutions

Proven solutions from similar cities that could help diversify Freetown's resilience portfolio

Integrated Hydro-Meteorological Warning System
55%
From: Da Nang

The Integrated Hydro-Meteorological Warning System (IHWS) was implemented in Central Vietnam, specifically in Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province, serving a population of 1,300,000 inhabitants in areas particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Untitled Solution
55%
From: Vancouver

The City of Vancouver launched the Hazard & Risk Explorer in 2024, an interactive online platform designed to improve public access to information on climate hazards through a multi-hazard and risk story map.
Inclusive Sign Language Early Warning System for Deaf Communities
55%
From: Da Nang

An inclusive early warning system was developed and piloted in Da Nang to address critical gaps in disaster communication for the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) community.
Solar Microgrid with Battery Storage for Critical Facility Resilience
58%
From: Berkeley

Berkeley's Energy Assurance Transformation (BEAT) Project establishes a solar-powered microgrid and community resilience hub at the City's Corporation Yard, providing long-duration, clean, and resilient energy supply for critical facilities during grid outages such as PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs.
Tsunami Risk Assessment and Disaster Management Strategy
55%
From: Byblos

A tsunami simulation conducted by 100RC Platform Partner Swiss Re confirms that Byblos' Old Port is at risk from coastal flooding.
Visual Climate Adaptation Platform for Cyclone Risk Assessment
55%
From: Da Nang

CSIRO Australia conducted a demonstration study of the Visual Climate Adaptation Platform (VCAP) in Da Nang, a GIS-based platform enabling users to assess impact, costs and benefits of adaptation options for housing or infrastructure subjected to natural hazards.
Cost of Doing Nothing Assessment Toolbox for Municipal Climate Decisions
55%
From: Vancouver

Vancouver's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy includes an action to generate localized cost-implication estimates from inaction on climate adaptation, using ICLEI's Cost of Doing Nothing toolbox for municipal governments.
DIY Air Cleaner Program for Wildfire Smoke Protection
55%
From: Vancouver

The City of Vancouver expanded a DIY air cleaner pilot program in partnership with the Pacific Institute for Pathogens, Pandemics, and Society to provide supplies for 300 air cleaners and enable community members to build their own filtration devices.
Smart Sewage Network Infrastructure Connection System
55%
From: Byblos

The Municipality of Jbeil-Byblos is collaborating with 100RC Platform Partner ESRI and Veolia to examine how to plan and build infrastructure connections through a well-maintained sewage network to connect a wastewater treatment plant to houses and buildings.
Reservoir Water Level Monitoring and Early Warning System
55%
From: Da Nang

Da Nang planned to build warning systems linked to water level at Truc Dong and Hoc Khe reservoirs as part of investing in hydro-meteorologic monitoring and early warning systems for flood, flash flood and reservoir breakdown.