- Posted on July 3rd, 2025
Reflections from London Climate Action Week 2025 and Beyond
London Climate Action Week (LCAW), now in its 7th year, took place 21-29 June 2025. Coinciding with the last week of the Bonn climate talks SB62, this year’s LCAW was by far the biggest yet, with hundreds of organisations, communities and individuals attending over 700 climate themed events. This year culture was ever present – at last it is being recognised as a force for change, and the word was on everyone’s lips even outside the exhibitions, events, public art and conversations. Across the JB team we attended several events, and share some highlights and insights from across the week, with key takeaways, links to watch back, and events and action to look out for.
Climate Risk Mapping for London’s Cultural Venues – Workshop and Launch
JB’s Caroline, Vicky and Tenaya attended a workshop to launch new climate risk maps of London for Cultural Venues – a project produced by Bloomberg Associates in collaboration with BFI and South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us, and available to view in our resource hub.
The maps overlay climate risks (heat, flood), with indicators of social vulnerability and environmental exposure (access to public open space, tree cover). They allow cultural venues in the capital to zoom in at borough level and adjust layers to look at the risks in more detail. They are intended to support venues in identifying their climate risks and to help them to understand where to start in climate adaptation planning. They are designed to raise awareness and prompt venues to consider what role cultural venues can play in response to their local risks.
One example of a climate initiative responding to these risks, is the BFI’s Cool off in Culture initiative, where venues can sign up to offer accessible safe spaces for communities to cool off on hot days, which can mitigate health risks. This collaborative campaign can help to build connections between cultural venues and local authorities: Lambeth, for example, have advertising screens across the city that they can use these to direct people to cool spaces during heatwaves.
Take a look at the Climate Risk Maps
Earthshot Prize
Alison attended a celebration of The Earthshot Prize, an annual award that supports and celebrates those who turn bold ideas into real solutions to repair our planet. There are some brilliant initiatives and past winners, including Notpla who have developed food containers with 100% natural seaweed coating. Once finished, the whole package can be composted and disappears without a trace. This is already used by several cultural events including The BRIT Awards.
Exhibition – Thirst: In Search of Freshwater
Natalie visited a new exhibition at the Wellcome Collection – Thirst in Search of Freshwater. On view until 1 February 2026, this free exhibition explores humanity’s vital connection with freshwater as an essential source of life. The show features 125 objects including historical artefacts, contemporary materials and artworks. A true collaboration between art and science (and more!) the exhibition offers audiences a great way into connecting with this critical environmental issue.
The Road to Belém and Beyond: Closing the Implementation Gap
Natalie attended a series of panel discussions on the challenges of translating national and international climate targets into concrete action, and the mechanisms this requires. The discussions highlighted the intersecting roles of government, regulation, climate finance, and private companies, and shone a light on some of the current context in Brazil. Organised by Centro Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais (CEBRI) and Third Generation Environmentalism (E3G), the talk included thoughtful closing remarks from the COP president (designate) in conversation with the chair of LCAW. Watch the talks here: The Road to Belem and Beyond – Closing the Implementation Gap.
London Climate Resilience Summit
Vicky went to the London Climate Resilience Finance Summit, organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development.
Financing climate resilience has become a global priority as climate change impacts intensify and become more frequent. Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Brazil, provided the opening plenary. And although culture has been absent from the conversation, Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative for Climate, highlighted that resilience is about people, nature and infrastructure. And we know culture has the power to influence and shape all three of these pillars.
The event brought home the importance of making the case for investing in adaptation: beyond the losses that are avoided by investing in prevention, adaptation has economic, as well as wider social and environmental benefits – such as increasing biodiversity, clean air and water, recreational value, and health benefits. This framing around the ‘triple dividend’ could help to unlock more finance for adaptation that is sorely needed.
A Global Mutirão with COP30 at Shakespeare’s Globe
Alison joined an inspirational event towards the end of LCAW – a panel discussion organised by the team of Shakespeare’s Globe at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. It marked the incoming COP30 Brazilian Presidency, and shared their vision for a Global Mutirão. The concept of Mutirão – when communities come together to work toward a shared goal – has deep roots in Indigenous Brazilian traditions and is a cooperative model that continues to inform Brazilian culture today. The COP30 Presidency presented the idea of a modern Global Mutirão – a worldwide mobilisation against climate change.
Speakers included: Túlio Andrade (COP30 Chief Strategy and Alignment Officer), Maria Augusta Arruda (National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials, Brazil), Diego Martins (Pragma), Lennon Medeiros (Visão Coop), Marcele Oliveira (COP30 Presidency Youth Climate Champion) and Erick Terena (Terena People’s Council). Mete Coban, the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy also spoke and it was facilitated by Ruth Ben-Tovim and Richard Higgins. Find out more about the The Globe Talks: A Global Mutirão with COP30.
Like the global ethical stocktake, the Brazilian presidency of COP is breathing new energy and ethics into a much needed and failing UNFCC process through the Mutirão. What would you prefer to be part of? – non-state actors or a Global Mutirão?
A New Economy Rising: Join Mission 2025 in the Global Mutirão
Alison attended this event which highlighted the importance of culture and exploring what’s needed to restore global governance, organised by Groundswell and Mission 2025 at the Guildhall. The panel included speakers Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero), and Marcele Oliveira (COP30 Youth Champion), who set out a bold vision for what must be achieved this year. There was a many other speakers throughout the day, and it was particularly exciting to hear Mary Robinson talk. The speakers presented evidence that a more efficient economy that delivers for people is already taking shape with momentum building to support success at COP30 in Belém, and the event ended with the invitation to join the global ‘Mutirão’.
Performance – The Herds
Several of the JB team Taghrid, Ruby, Natalie, and Sheena caught The Herds with their families over the course of the week. If you aren’t familiar, The Herds is a groundbreaking public art project designed to inspire climate action with a focus on the natural world. Stunning life-size puppet animals crafted from cardboard fixed over metal frames were manned by a team of (very dedicated considering the hot weather!) accompanying humans, and marched through London enthralling, inspiring and engaging the public. The puppets will continue their 20,000km journey which began at the Congo Basin and ends at the Arctic Circle, fleeing climate disaster. Next stop Manchester – catch the performance if you can!
SB62- UN Climate Change Conference, Bonn
Taghrid and Alison were in Bonn, Germany, at SB62 UN Climate Change Conference, to share our latest plans for putting culture at the heart of climate action. (watch this space!).
There was also a meeting for the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action (an international coalition of UNFCCC Member States who are building political momentum for culture and heritage-based climate action) and Marcele Oliveira and a presentation from lawyer, climate heritage policy expert and friend of JB, Andrew Potts, on the global goal on adaptation and cultural heritage.
From locally-rooted to global campaigns, we feel fortunate to be part of a community alongside such inspiring and visionary initiatives and supporters. A big thank you to Entertainment + Culture Pavilion, Earth Alliance and Global Artivism for organising an exhilarating, caring and thoughtful exchange on the road to COP30 in Belem.
Finally… Exciting News!
Most significantly, some really exciting news for culture. ‘Culture, cultural heritage, and climate action‘ has been included in the 30 key objectives for COP30, (under section 5: Fostering Human and Social Development). This is a signal that culture’s power to unlock climate action is finally being recognised and celebrated, and it’s a first vital step towards its inclusion in global climate policy.