An innovative global youth voices led intergenerational film, highlighting the lived experiences of climate change, will be shown as part of COP27 which starts in Egypt this week. The film, ‘ActNowFilm2’ which has been coordinated by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR)  and Cambridge Zero will feature in the Blue Zone of the UN Climate Change Conference on Wednesday 9 November.

Supported by the UK Universities Network (UUCN), and in partnership with ForAfrika, Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) and Plant-for-the-Planet, ActNowFilm2 is a short film compiled of intergenerational conversations from around the world in which young and older people share their lived experiences, and hopes and fears of climate change, across generations. The conversations are led by young people and seek to show and discuss what action has already been taken to protect people and places and act as a clarion call for greater further action to protect humanity from the effects of climate change.

ActNowFilm2 is an opportunity for young and older people living across the planet to tell decision-makers, in their own words, about their experiences of climate change, why climate action is important to them and future generations, and what messages they would like to give the COP27 negotiators.

ActNowFilm2 is drawn from films submitted by participants from every continent, except Antarctica. The film shows the rapid escalation of climate impacts on people and places over the lifetimes of participants, in multiple locations across the world, and that now is the time for urgent action to stop climate change.

It follows on from the success of ActNowFilm, which premiered last year at the GAUC Climate Youth Summit on Net-Zero Futures; UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP15); Climate Week NYC ; and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

From 6 November to 18 November, COP27 will bring together international government negotiators, decision-makers, and policymakers in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt and beyond 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.

Director of Cambridge Zero, Emily Shuckburgh, said:

" In the urgent fight against climate change the voices of young people are crucial as they are the ones who are going to be most affected by the devastating influence of the changing climate. ActNowFilm2 highlights these voices by showing young people in conversation with older generations who have already experienced the highest levels of climatic change, globally. The film acts as an urgent call to policymakers at this conference to pay attention to the impact that inaction will have on the hopes and fears and quality of life of these young people."

On the film’s successful entry to COP27, Head of Policy Programmes and Communications at the IPR, Amy Thompson, adds:

“We are so delighted that the ActNowFilm2 will showcase in the Blue Zone at COP27. This youth-led intergenerational voices project has been such an incredible film to work on. By listening to and watching the fears and experiences of these young people, via conversations with older people, you witness the real impacts of climate change over living people’s lifetimes. You get an overwhelming sense of escalation and fear and that young people are experiencing a very different world to that of older generations.”

“Young people want a safer and more sustainable world – they are clear on that. It is our hope that the negotiators and leaders at the COP27 summit listen to these voices and take action to enable this future.”

ActNowFilm2 will be shown in the Blue Zone COP27 on 9 November, between 10:30 - 11:00 GMT. Due to technical difficulties the planned live stream will not take place. The act now film will be made available at 11am GMT.

Get involved

About the UK Universities Climate Network

The UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN) is a growing group over 85 universities and research centres working together to promote a zero carbon, resilient future.

Founded in 2019 as the COP26 Universities Network, UUCN enables collaboration within the UK academic sector to advance climate action nationally and internationally. It does this by disseminating climate change research and analysis, conducting evidence-based public engagement, and sharing evidence for climate action with policymakers, including the UK Government.

About COP27

Egypt will host the 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheik on 6 November – 18 November 2022. The COP27 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

About Cambridge Zero

Cambridge Zero is the University of Cambridge's response to the climate crisis. It's an interdisciplinary initiative that brings together the research and policy expertise from across the University to address every aspect of a zero-carbon future.

By developing a bold programme of education, research, demonstration projects and knowledge exchange focused on supporting a zero-carbon world, the initiative’s ambition is to generate and disseminate the ideas and innovations that will shape our future – and to equip a future generation of leaders with the skills to navigate the global challenges of the coming decades.

About ForAfrika

ForAfrikais the largest indigenous non-governmental organisation working for an Africa that thrives. In 2021 they reached over 2.9-million people from emergency relief to economic empowerment.

Through a variety of programmes, designed together with the communities in which they work, ForAfrika is saving lives and alleviating suffering; ensuring access to water and sanitation; improving health and nutrition; encouraging education; increasing food security and livelihoods; and developing resilience through economic empowerment.

From initially only providing lifesaving nutritional relief in one country, the organisation has grown to serve in six African countries — Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda.

Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change, yet responsible for the least amount of emissions (less than 4%). Because of low levels of socioeconomic growth and other reasons, poor people lack the resources to mitigate its devastating effects. ForAfrika witnesses this every working day.

About GAUC

The Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) was formed in January 2019, in Davos, Switzerland, and is a growing group of 15 international universities.

Its mission is to advance climate change solutions through research, education, and public outreach, and to partner with industry, non-profit and government organisations to promote rapid implementation from local to global scales.

About the IPR

The Institute for Policy Research (IPR) is a leading public policy research institute, based at the University of Bath. It aims to further the public good through research into issues of significant relevance to policy debate and decision-making, build links with the worlds of policy and practice, and increase public understanding of policy research through public events and publications.

The IPR delivers activities for policymakers, researchers and practitioners to enable dual learning and original contributions to both research and practice, through Policy Fellowship Programmes, International Visiting Fellows scheme, and postgraduate programmes including a Masters in Public Policy and Professional Doctorate in Policy Research and Practice.

About Octopus Films

Octopus Films is a sustainable video production company.

We believe that high production values do not need to come at the expense of the planet and are constantly striving to maintain the perfect balance between providing excellent value for our clients, high quality content and working in the most sustainable way. 

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and an agenda point at every meeting. 

About Plant-for-the-Planet

Plant-for-the-Planet is a global movement to restore forest ecosystems to tackle the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. To do so, we empower young people, restore ecosystems, conduct restoration research, provide free software tools and restoration advice for organisations around the world.

We believe that we need to protect the world’s three trillion trees and bring back a further one trillion trees.