Speaker profile
Tewaney Seifesellassie Yohannes
Senior Climate Advisor and Head of the Peace, Advocacy and Ethics Department
Tewaney Seifesellassie Yohannes is a Senior Climate Advisor and Head of the Peace, Advocacy and Ethics Department with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC) and also a Seconded Staff, Life, Justice and Peace Programme, supporting the Living Planet Project and the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action with the World Council of Churches (WCC).
He is climate justice and peace advocate known for his faith-based advocacy and engagement across Africa. With more than 16 years of experience, he connects community-led action with research-informed, evidence-based advocacy on adaptation, equitable climate finance, loss and damage, and the links between climate change, health, livelihoods, conflict, migration and displacement.
Through an interfaith and ecumenical approach, he promotes theological reflection on care for creation, human dignity and justice. He strengthens collaboration among faith communities, civil society and policymakers, bringing the voices of communities most affected by climate change into decision-making.
His practical experience includes protecting Ethiopia’s church forests, restoring ecosystems, supporting participatory forest management and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods. He draws on this experience to connect local solutions with regional and international advocacy for climate justice and peace.
A member of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group, Tewaney advocates for inclusive climate policies grounded in research and community priorities. He holds an MSc in Agricultural Science and a BSc in Plant Sciences from Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
Appearances
All times in the event time zone: Istanbul (UTC+3)