In mid-November 2021, Cap-a-Pie headed to COP26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Our filmed theatre show ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ had been chosen to be shown as part of the conference.
We were really excited to share the news with everyone, especially the students who helped us to make the show:
“I think it’s very good that Climate Change Catastrophe! is being shown at COP26 because it’s a better chance that kids ideas are getting out into the world”
– Year 5 student, Hotspur Primary School
Our one-hour slot included a brief introduction by me and our engineer collaborator, Dr Alistair Ford; then the 6 episodes of ‘Climate Change Catastrophe!’ were screened, followed by a Q&A with people in the live audience and those watching at home.
Despite competing against well-known composer Brian Eno, who was on elsewhere at the same time as us, our screening was almost at capacity and hundreds more were watching a live stream of the event.
We heard and saw loads of positive reactions to the films with some young people in the audience particularly enjoying themselves. We also had some great questions come in including “Why do you think governments don’t listen to children?” and “Can we legislate our way out of the climate crisis?”
Thankfully Alistair was on hand to handle the trickier questions.
Even if the outcomes from the conference don’t seem enough at this point to make a significant difference to the climate crisis, it was a great privilege to be a part of COP26. And as one student put it:
“Maybe most of our ideas can’t happen, but at least they show something can happen”
Find out more about Climate Change Catastrophe! here.
