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ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts

A youth film produced by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Cambridge Zero, supported by the UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN).

About ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts

Learn more about how this film project aims to amplify youth voices at COP28


ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts is an international youth voices in climate change project, run by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and Cambridge Zero, with support from the UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN) and in partnership with One Young World.

Young people from across the world were invited to apply to contribute to the film, which we will showcase in the Blue and Green Zones at COP28. The film will feature youth climate leaders having 1-2-1 conversations with world leading international climate experts from indigenous communities, business, policy, the third sector and academia. Through these two way conversations, the project provides opportunities for mutual learning, covering areas such as:

  • young people's and experts' personal and professional experiences of the climate crisis;
  • what they think is working successfully;
  • what they think needs to change and who they think should make and lead these changes;
  • what advice they would give to each other;
  • what they wished they had done differently in their lifetime in regards to the climate crisis;
  • the role of young people in addressing the climate crisis;
  • the skills, support and capacity building opportunities that they think will empower young people to be at the frontline of global climate policymaking and dialogues;
  • and their hopes for the future.

ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts aims to highlight the value, place and importance of youth voices in the urgent climate debates. Young people, from every continent, are capable, ready and committed to be at the centre of global efforts to address the climate crisis. The ActNowFilm project hopes to amplify their voices in the COP28 negotiations, demonstrating that young people are not just able to have pertinent and timely conversations with climate experts but are experts in their own right, through their lived experiences, and able to provide critical leadership on the climate crisis.

This film follows on from the successes of ActNowFilm and ActNowFilm: intergenerational conversations on climate change which showcased in the Green Zone at COP26 and the Blue Zone at COP27 respectively. Both these films gave young people living across the planet the opportunity to tell COP decision-makers, in their own words, and through intergenerational conversations, why addressing the climate crisis is important to future generations.

This year, ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts will premiere at COP28. The film is intended to showcase the skills, capacity, knowledge and expertise that youth climate leaders bring to the table, and act as a clarion call for the full integration of youth voices into global climate policymaking and dialogues.

From 30 November to 12 December, COP28 will bring together international government negotiators, decision-makers, and policymakers in the United Arab Emirates to discuss how they should accelerate action towards stopping climate change. From small island states to countries with rapidly growing urban areas, representatives from 197 countries are expected to join.


Youth climate leader participation in ActNowFilm

Applications are now closed


Applications for ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts are now closed. Many thanks to everyone who expressed their interest in participating. We will be in touch with shortlisted applicants soon. For any enquiries please contact the project team via actnowfilm@bath.ac.uk or info@zero.cam.ac.uk.

Applications were open to any young person, aged under 30, with parental/guardian permission for people under 16, from anywhere in the world.

Selected youth climate leaders will be matched with a climate expert for a 1-2-1 conversation. We will provide a conversation guide on questions and areas you may like to discuss, but you may also ask your own questions. Full details and guidance will be provided upon successful application.

The conversation will be filmed, via a virtual platform, by a professional film company, Octopus Films, and may be edited into the final ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts. All film entrants will be required to sign the ActNowFilm project terms and conditions.


Climate expert participation in ActNowFilm

Nominations for climate experts are now closed


Nominations for climate experts to participate in ActNowFilm: youth climate leaders in conversation with climate experts are now closed. Many thanks to everyone who got in touch with us. For any enquiries please contact the project team via actnowfilm@bath.ac.uk or info@zero.cam.ac.uk.

Climate experts participating in ActNowFilm may include but are not limited to: leaders in indigenous communities, practitioners, policymakers, third sector employees, teachers, activists, campaigners, ambassadors, business leaders or academics.

Meet the ActNowFilm team

Find out more about who we are

Contact us

If you have any questions about ActNowFilm project, please get in touch