Launched in Edinburgh in 2019, the CHN connects cultural voices from across the world to unlock the potential of arts, culture and heritage to drive transformative change. Members share the concern that business-as-usual leads to an ever-warming globe with catastrophic consequences for the planet, its peoples, and their cultures and heritage. The network aims to empower people to imagine and achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient futures through culture – from arts to heritage.

As a member of the CHN, the Heritage Council will collaborate with other heritage organisations worldwide, sharing knowledge and expertise to address the cultural dimensions of climate change. Working closely with government agencies, communities, and civil society, the Council will aim to develop and implement sustainable strategies for preserving Ireland's unique heritage while mitigating the impacts of climate change on our landscapes and built environment.

Commenting on the development, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan, said:

"Art, culture and heritage have always played a pivotal role towards positive changes in society and the establishment of this network is a recognition that we can once again bring creativity and determination to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. The problems we face are immense but not insurmountable and the Heritage Council is determined to play its part. Our recently published Strategy “Our Place in Time, 2023-2028” commits to filling a crucial gap by addressing the cultural dimensions of the climate emergency, and working across government, communities and civil society to address this."

The Heritage Council will contribute to the network's 2022-24 Action Plan, which was acknowledged at the 2022 UN Climate Conference (COP27) and UN Biodiversity COP (COP15). In 2023, Climate Heritage Network members will continue to build on these successes.

Shanon Miller, Climate Heritage Network Co-Chair and Director of the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation said:

“This is the largest and most diverse group of new members the CHN has ever welcomed. It reflects the growing consensus that to tackle climate change, we must unlock the power of culture from arts to heritage to help people imagine and realise low carbon, just, climate-resilient futures.”

About the Climate Heritage Network

The Climate Heritage Network is a global network whose members are committed to mobilising arts, culture and heritage to address climate change and support communities in achieving the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. Launched in 2019, the CHN seeks to scale up culture-based climate action and to foreground the cultural dimensions of climate policy through coordination and cooperation among its members.

CHN members work with all types of culture including arts and music; museums and libraries; landscapes, heritage sites and archaeology; and intangible heritage, traditional knowledge, and Indigenous ways of knowing. CHN members include units of government at all levels, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, civil society, universities, cultural institutions, artists, creative industries, and design and other businesses.

For more, visit https://www.climateheritage.org/