Culture summit to highlight green creative industry

The inaugural Climate X Culture Summit 2026 aims to embed sustainability into the region’s cultural and experiential industries under the partnership of the Centre for CSR West Africa.

According to a release from the Centre for CSR West Africa, the Climate X Culture Summit, themed “Designing Creative Experiences for Africa”, is scheduled for 22 October 2026, at the Google Artificial Intelligence Community Centre in Accra, Ghana.

The sub-region’s leading advocacy organisation for Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability says the collaboration reflects a shared vision to promote climate action and encourage practices across the creative economy.

Over the 14 years, the Centre for CSR West Africa has curated impact-focused national and regional sustainability events, conferences and partnerships. These engagements have brought together stakeholders from academia, regulatory agencies, civil society organisations, the media, business associations, international sustainability organisations and community leaders.

The Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of the Centre for CSR, West Africa, Mr John Williams, noted that climate change has become a present-day reality rather than a distant warning.

“Climate change is no longer a warning from the figment of anyone’s imagination; it is the reality shaping our lives, economies, communities and creative futures. Corporate sustainability is no longer a badge of intentions or imitation of enviable business practices; it is the discipline of turning responsibility into measurable action,” Williams said.

He added, “Our collective commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals is not a checklist for tomorrow but a shared promise we must keep today so that we can have a ‘tomorrow’. The question is no longer whether we can afford to act. Whether we can afford the cost of doing nothing or not doing enough.”

The summit seeks to move climate conversations beyond policy documents and scientific reports by engaging the sector, including event producers, influencers and artists, to promote actionable climate-conscious production practices.

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Williams disclosed that the Centre for CSR, West Africa’s support for the Climate X Culture Summit was an extension of the Centre for CSR, West Africa’s mission to guide businesses towards practical and impactful sustainability practices.

“The Centre for CSR West Africa has been dedicated to guiding businesses toward impactful and sustainable practices that align with community needs, rewarding their efforts with positive mentions and recognition,” Williams said.

“Supporting the Climate X Culture Summit is an evolution of the Centre for CSR, West Africa’s mission. The Centre for CSR West Africa recognises that true sustainability must be integrated into the fabric of culture, art and daily lives. By equipping the events industries with the tools for sustainable production, the Centre for CSR West Africa is not just talking about change; the Centre for CSR West Africa is infusing it into our future.”

The Founder of Climate X Culture Summit, Mr Kenneth Darko, said the event would deliver outcomes, including the signing of the Accra Climate Culture Accord and the creation of a Sustainable Event Production Guide for Ghana.

According to Darko, the outputs align with the Centre for CSR, West Africa’s expertise in CSR policy development and hands-on sustainability strategy.

Both organisations also plan to establish a network of climate culture practitioners with the aim of making sustainability a core element of the region’s rapidly growing events industry.