Find out more about how we are supporting a successful COP28, in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
Conference Blue Zone
At the British Council Pavilion, we will be showcasing the ways we support people around the world to tackle climate change through the arts and culture, education and English. Find out more about the work we will be showcasing in our new Climate Connection brochure.
The pavilion will also be a hub for talks and presentations including:
- case studies of our cultural heritage projects in Sudan and Iraq
- films screenings from our Gender Ecologies programme, which explores the intersections of gender, climate, sustainability and heritage, followed by a discussion
- an overview of our work in cultural heritage and virtual tourism, followed by discussion on the potential of technology to promote sustainability in cultural heritage.
- a showcase of our Climate Connection Research Fellowships research currently underway with University of Cambridge
- a showcase of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in practice, supported by the CoDesignS Learning Design and ESD Framework and Toolkit
- a showcase of our Climate Skills programme.
At the UK pavilion, we are supporting key events and discussions, including:
- leading a panel on developing skills for a greener society focusing on international reflections and tools to support and inspire young people
- joining a session on the We are The Possible creative project from Exeter University, which includes a theatre performance of their Bright Light Burning project
Elsewhere in the Blue Zone, we are
- leading a side event joined by partner organisations INTO, the National Trust and Earth Day to discuss ways of financing, educational and cultural responses to climate change
- joining a panel session by our partner Julie’s Bicycle on how cultural practice can shape how communities build resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Conference Green Zone
We are organising and joining a host of events and activities throughout the conference Green Zone, including:
- a workshop for English language teachers looking at practical, climate-related classroom activities that can be used with different age groups
- a panel discussion with the UK government on how to develop climate change education and develop resilient education systems
- a panel session with Cambridge University Press and Assessment CUPA on climate change priorities in India.
In the Green Zone Amphitheatre, we are:
- supporting a theatre performance organised by Exeter University as part of the Bright Light Burning and Across the Ocean projects
- showcasing the From Ink to Action exhibition, which uses comic art from the Arab world to inspire environmental consciousness and sustainable action
- screening two creative commissions including the film Songs of the Earth, which weaves topics from climate migration and extreme weather to ocean pollution, deforestation and sustainable fashion through narrative, song and immersive visuals.
At COY18
After a successful International Youth Climate Conference in Sri Lanka, we are continuing our support of the UN's global International Conference of Youth, organised by YOUNGO, by engaging young climate activists in a workshop at COY18. Taking place in the lead-up to COP28, the session will showcase findings from our research young people’s experiences of climate change and discuss ways to amplify the voices of those most affected by climate change. It will also explore our new Climate Skills programme, launching in Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam, which will provide young people with the skills, training and resources to support a fair transition away from fossil fuels.
Other ways to get involved
Join our Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28 online course, which runs throughout the conference. Explore what COP28 is and why it’s important, and reflect on how to add your voice to the call for collective action for a sustainable future.
English teachers – sign up for our Climate Action in Language Education online course to learn how to integrate environmental issues in English lessons and develop the skills to take meaningful action to protect the environment.
School teachers – be inspired by our COP28 climate negotiation simulation events taking place across the UK, and see how to organise your own climate conference at school, based on the World Climate Simulation game, so students can experience what it's like to be part of the UN climate change negotiations.
Explore our latest climate research, including our research with University College London on global priorities for school-based climate change and sustainability education, research with University of Arts London on the latest trends in climate action and sustainability in the arts, and research on the imact of climate change on cultural heritage.
Artists, collectives and cultural organisations across Middle East and North Africa – apply for grants to develop new arts projects that engage with the climate emergency.