Interview: Isaac Eseet, Climate Heritage Network, Africa and Arab States

I would emphasize that culture is not a passive victim of climate change; Culture is an active driver of solutions.

1. Tell about your educational and professional journey that led you to become the Regional Coordinator for the Climate Heritage Network's Africa and Arab States Secretariat Climate Heritage, and your responsibilities

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Economics, Postgraduate Diplomas in Project Planning and Management and Public Policy Analysis and Governance, as well as a Master’s in Project Planning and Management. Prior to joining CHN, I worked with an international conservation organization focused on wildlife conservation across the African continent, where I mainly supported program design, resource mobilization, and donor engagement. I also worked with other leading advocacy organizations.

Altogether, I bring over a decade of experience in program development, policy engagement, and partnership building expertise that is directly relevant to my current role as Regional Coordinator, where I support collaboration, resource mobilization, and positioning culture and heritage within climate action agendas.

2. Tell us about the vision that established CHN's Africa and Arab State  Secretariat and its mission.

The Secretariat was created with a vision to ensure that cultural heritage and traditional knowledge are not sidelined in climate policy but recognized as powerful tools for resilience and adaptation. Our mission is to mobilize cultural actors, institutions, and communities across Africa and the Arab States to contribute to climate action while safeguarding heritage. The Secretariat also serves as a bridge between global CHN efforts and regional priorities.

3. Tell us about the Imagining Futures initiative

The Imagining Futures project represents CHN’s first and largest single grant, enabling us to take a major step in mobilizing cultural actors globally. One of its flagship initiatives is the establishment of the Africa and Arab States Regional Secretariat, which has strengthened regional coordination and member engagement.

Other initiatives under Imagining Futures include Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage (DBTH), which integrates heritage into climate-friendly approaches to the built environment; the Race to Resilience Culture (R2RC), which highlights the role of culture in building resilience in cities; and Heritage Adapts to Climate Alliance (HACA), which supports awareness-raising and the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).

4. Africa is the most impacted continent by climate change.  What are the key issues/challenges your Secretariat, which is the Co-Chair (representing the Region) on the CHN Steering Committee, addresses?

We are focusing on the following;

• Advocating for the appreciation of culture in national and regional climate policies.
• Ensuring intergenerational knowledge transfer and youth engagement in climate and culture dialogues.
• Mobilizing resources and partnerships for cultural resilience in the face of climate impacts.

5. Tell us about CHN's programming at Africa Climate Week (ACW).

CHN will be participating in both Climate Week (CW) and the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), two major international events taking place back-to-back. These are organized under the auspices of the UNFCCC and the African Union/Federal Government of Ethiopia, respectively. 

During the Climate Week, we shall be representing CHN to participate in the following UNFCCC forums

• Sixth global dialogue and investment-focused event under the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme
• Consultations on Advancing Matters Related to the GGA Towards COP 30
• Empowering Action: Knowledge and Know-How for Adaptation and Finance, 5 September
• Fourth dialogue under the UAE Just Transition Work Programme. 
• During African Climate Summit (ACS2), CHN is co-hosting side events that highlight the intersection of culture and climate. These include:
• Heritage in Climate Policy: Aligning NDCs with Culture (8 September) – exploring how countries can integrate culture into their national climate commitments.
• Mobilizing Culture and Heritage for Climate Resilience – Showcasing indigenous knowledge, local practices, and heritage-based adaptation strategies.

Our side events aim to build momentum on the discourse on culture-based approaches to climate action towards COP30, while strengthening partnerships with African institutions, governments, and civil society.

6. Several African nations are making significant strides towards achieving a 100% renewable energy grid, with some already generating a large portion of their electricity from green sources. Ethiopia, the host of ACW has also reached a milestone, generating nearly 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, including hydropower, wind, and thermal energy. Tell us about CHN's initiatives in this regard.

CHN’s work in this area is not technical but complementary; we focus on the social and cultural dimensions of the energy transition. For example:

• Promoting just transition narratives that reflect African values and heritage.
• Engaging communities in shaping energy projects that respect cultural sites and practices.

7. Anything else you would like to add?

I would emphasize that culture is not a passive victim of climate change; Culture is an active driver of solutions.

8. How can people get involved with CHN and reach you?

Anyone interested can join CHN as a member through our website www.climateheritage.org/join, where institutions, organizations, and individuals (only youth) can sign up. We welcome partnerships with governments, businesses cultural institutions, youth networks, and civil society.

You can also reach me directly at africaarabsecretariat@climateheritage.org,
+256702073011