International

Over the years Julie’s Bicycle has interacted with the UN’s Conference of Parties (COP) through different channels, from campaigning to organising events. We believe that engaging with the mechanism of COP is vital to reach global decision-makers such as the UNFCCC, to ensure that the contribution of culture to climate action is recognised on a truly global scale.

• Our significant work in this space started with COP21 in 2015 with our letter calling for an ambitious climate agreement.
• We built on the momentum of the letter and newly formed Paris Agreement with ‘Coptimism’ conversations at COP23.
• During COP26, we called on governments to address the gap between culture and environment policy.
• In November 2022, COP27 delivered exciting news and a historical win for the creative climate movement when, for the first time ever, national governments included cultural heritage in statements on both ‘loss and damage’ and ‘adaptation’. JB partnered with Climate Heritage Network and others for this significant achievement, ensuring that culture is recognised as an asset to be protected from climate impacts and a resource to strengthen communities’ transformative change.
• Under the leadership of the Climate Heritage Network, Julie’s Bicycle is heading up an exciting new climate campaign. It is a global call to the UNFCCC to include cultural heritage, the arts and creative sectors in climate policy at COP28. It aims to unite artists and cultural voices from across the world in a global call to action to embed culture into climate policy.