At COP30, Sierra Leone Pitches Ambitious Electric Transport Revolution

Sierra Leone has taken center stage at the ongoing COP30 climate conference in Brazil, highlighting one of its most ambitious national milestones: The Electric Mobility Project. Presented under the theme

“Powering Progress: Accelerating Sierra Leone’s Electric Mobility Transition,” the initiative highlights the country’s commitment to decarbonizing its transport sector and enhancing climate resilience.

The electric mobility project was first piloted last year in partnership with NEEV Sierra Leone, marking a significant step toward reducing the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels. Building on the success of the pilot phase, the government has since developed a comprehensive set of policy and regulatory instruments to guide its expansion.

These include a National Draft Gender-Sensitive Electric Mobility Strategy, import and registration regulations, a national scheme for EV battery collection, recycling, and safe disposal, as well as a renewable-energy-driven EV charging framework. All of these documents have been validated by key stakeholders across the transport, energy, and environmental sectors.

Officials say the frameworks ensure that the transition to electric mobility holistically considers economic growth, climate impact, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Electric mobility is an essential component of Sierra Leone’s broader climate strategy. According to the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), a 16.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector is required to meet national climate targets. Scaling up electric vehicles and related infrastructure is seen as a practical and tailored path toward achieving this goal.

At COP30, Sierra Leone’s side event aims not only to showcase progress made during the pilot phase but also to attract investment, partnerships, and technical cooperation. Expanding the electric mobility initiative, officials say, will significantly strengthen both adaptation and mitigation efforts within the transport sector.

However, the government acknowledges persistent challenges including gender disparities, limited access to financing, and infrastructure gaps, particularly in renewable energy capacity needed for EV charging. These barriers, they stress, require broad support from development partners, private investors, civil society, and the global climate community.

Sierra Leone’s delegation is calling on partners to help scale the initiative and accelerate its national clean transport transition.