The Untold Story of Extreme Heat: Africa’s First Chief Heat Officer on Community, Nature, and Climate Resilience | S4 E5
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Show notes
As the next climate conference (COP30) approaches, we turn to one of the most urgent and overlooked climate stories of our time: extreme heat.Eugenia Kargbo, Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer, joins our host, Marion Osieyo, to explore how communities, nature, and social inequality are reshaping how we live and adapt in a warming world. From Freetown, Sierra Leone to the global stage, Eugenia shares lessons on climate leadership, equity, and resilience. She reminds us that those most affected by climate change are also leading the way forward.Trigger warning: This episode does include references to the impacts of extreme heat. Please do listen with your well-being in mind first. 💚🌍 Listen and subscribe to Black Earth wherever you get your favourite podcasts.📲 Connect with and support Eugenia Kargbo - https://www.climateresilience.org/about-executive-leadership 📲 Join the conversation! Leave a comment below and connect with us: Instagram, LinkedIn & Tiktok @blackearthpodcast. We share more resources, stories, and opportunities from our global community on our socials.💌 Connect with Black Earth team for partnerships, speaking and media requests: https://www.blackearthpodcast.com/contactus Episode chapters00:00 Intro and Eugenia’s relationship with nature 03:28 Why Eugenia was appointed Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer 05:35 What causes rising heat in Freetown, Sierra Leone 07:27 What extreme heat feels like on a daily basis 09:13 Who is more vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat?14:35 Why extreme heat is not seen with the same urgency as other climate change events 20:27 How we can improve our understanding of extreme heat 23:40 The Freetown Heat Action Plan 26:50 Why nature and communities are our biggest supporters when building resilience to extreme heat 31:20 Eugenia’s lessons on leadership when working on climate resilience 33:30 How to support Eugenia and Black Earth!
