@LDN_PressOffice
Friday 31st May 2019
Mayor launches hundreds of climate change action & green events this July
- London hosts the first ever Climate Action week
- Sadiq is bringing together campaigners, school children, scientists, businesses & politicians to discuss climate solutions at hundreds of events
- There will also be 10 days of free green events for the National Park City Festival – from pedal-powered film screenings to open-air theatre and wildlife photography
- Part of the Mayor’s work to address the climate and ecological emergency and help make London the world’s first National Park City and more than half the capital green
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans for hundreds of events, activities and seminars looking at climate change solutions, promoting green business development and investment, and highlighting London’s much-loved green spaces, wildlife and waterways.
London’s first Climate Action week will take place from 1-8 July 2019, and will bring together London’s world-leading climate expertise and talent from across business, NGO, and cultural sectors to run events focused on local, national and international climate action and solutions.
Sadiq is committed to taking action on the climate emergency London is facing and the capital was recently recognised by the Carbon Disclosure Project for leadership due to the Mayor’s 1.5C degree compatible plan and zero carbon targets. The action week will focus on climate solutions and involve industry leaders and campaigners of all ages who are helping drive global climate innovation. Events will explore clean energy and energy efficiency; zero emission transport; adaptation and resilience; climate finance and investment; and campaigning for stronger legislation and engineering.
The wide-ranging programme is intended to help bring together industry, government, campaigners and communities to discuss practical solutions to help cut our carbon emissions to keep global temperature increases within 1.5C degrees and support the Paris Agreement. Key events include:
. A Green Schools Summit bringing together 200 London school children with academics, climate scientists and politicians to discuss the climate crisis
. Artist Olafur Eliasson will lead a discussion at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall exploring the potential of artists and art institutions to address global sustainability challenges and inspire change
. The City of London will host a Green Finance Summit with 900 businesses discussing ways to expand London’s thriving green finance sector.
From 19th July, the National Park City Festival launches with 10 days of free fun events in celebration of London’s green spaces, wildlife habitats, green rooftops and waterways. Working with the independent National Park City Foundation and partners including the National Theatre and London Wildlife Trust, the events aim to get all Londoners to enjoy the outdoors, highlighting the importance, beauty and breadth of London’s green spaces. Highlights include outdoor theatre performances of The Gruffalo, a ‘Pedal-Powered Party’ with live DJs Supa Dupa Fly and Night Czar, Amy Lamé, and a unique audio installation in Epping Forest. A full programme of events is available from today on the new website: www.london.gov.uk/national-park-city
The Mayor’s ambition is to make more than half of the capital green and increase tree canopy cover by 10 per cent by 2050. Sadiq has updated the London Plan to prevent the loss of green belt and increase ‘greening’ in new developments. City Hall has also already funded the planting of a record 170,000 trees in just three years – more than under the previous Mayor’s two administrations - and 200 green space improvements and developed pioneering high-tech mapping of London’s green cover to ensure his targets remain on track.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m proud to introduce London’s first Climate Action Week bringing together people of all ages with business, cultural and political leaders to highlight our climate crisis and discuss solutions to it. I’m doing everything in my power to address the climate emergency we are facing and help London achieve our zero carbon goals rapidly. London is already leading the way in green finance and innovation and I’ve ensured London was one of the first global cities to publish a 1.5 degree compatible plan and put us on a pathway to zero carbon, but I want much more to happen, much faster. I hope our Climate Action Week will help lobby Government to step up and take real action on the climate crisis.
“Our National Park City Festival shows just how important it is to protect our environment, including our wildlife, and reconnects Londoners with the outdoors with lots of free events for everyone to enjoy across London’s beautiful green spaces, rooftops and waterways. After recent UN reports revealed that nature and biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, I am committed to helping make London the world’s first National Park City and protecting our green and blue spaces and wildlife’.
Olafur Eliasson, Artist said: ‘To address the climate emergency we need changes at all levels of society. Art and culture can play a crucial role in this: by combatting climate indifference and defeatism, they can inspire hope and motivate people to take action together to demand the policies needed to ensure a stable future for our planet.’
The National Park City Wildlife photography competition is launched in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust and Museum of London. The competition is open to all and invites Londoners to capture what wildlife means to them. The best images will be part of an exhibition displayed throughout the festival and judges include explorer Bear Grylls, ‘urban birder’ presenter David Lindo and former Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner Sam Hobson. To enter visit: www.wildlondonphoto.org.uk
Bear Grylls said: “This is a great opportunity for all Londoners, whatever their level of photography, to get outdoors and capture the nature on their doorstep. This competition will show not only a great level of creativity, but also showcase the huge variety of urban wildlife in the capital.”
National Park City Foundation, Trustee, Beth Collier, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for people to enjoy London's great outdoors, connect with nature and get involved with making life in London greener, healthier and wilder. This summer’s National Park City Festival is just the start of an exciting new future for London that we can all benefit from and contribute to." Ends
Notes:
To see the range of events available for Climate Action Week visit www.london.gov.uk/LDN-Climate-Action (organisers can upload their events here too). Key events include:
. Green Schools Project:. This conference, held at UCL, is designed to provide rigorous knowledge, skills and motivation to allow young people to change the debate in their schools and local communities. Green Schools Project, School 21, and WE, will bring together 300 young people from 15-20 schools, academics, climate scientists and politicians to discuss the climate crisis.
. The Economist Climate Risk Summit: The Economist will convene the inaugural Climate Risk Summit on 2nd July 2019 will bring together policymakers, business leaders, scientists and investors to begin a conversation about how organisations around the world can understand and manage climate-related risks.
. The City of London Green Finance Summit: The City of London’s flagship annual Green Finance Summit on 2nd July 2019 will bring together 900 London, national and international businesses to showcase the latest in green financial policy, market developments and thought leadership
. Tate Modern Addressing the Sustainability Challenge: On 8th July 2019Olafur Eliasson will lead a discussion at the Tate Modern alongside key voices from across the social and political sphere exploring the potential of artists and art institutions to address global sustainability challenges and inspire change, ahead of the opening of the major Tate Modern exhibition of Eliasson's work
. Sainsbury’s Family Trust Divest/Invest Event: Taking place on 4th July this event will inform and inspire participants to accelerate political and financial efforts to move beyond fossil fuel supply and provide a platform for London institutions to make a Divest Invest announcement during London Climate Action Week.
. Creative Green Awards: 1ST July, will recognise and celebrate the achievements of the Creative Green community and biggest commercial companies taking action on climate change. The Awards are a moment for the creative and cultural sector to showcase their leadership in climate action.
To see the range of events available for National Park City Festival visit www.london.gov.uk/national-park-city: For images email [email protected] Key events include:
. National Park City Stage. For the opening weekend of the festival, we will host a spectacular free cultural programme in partnership with the National Theatre, on their outdoor River Stage, celebrating everything green and wild about the city. Highlights include a live theatre performance of family favourite, The Gruffalo, a Pedal Powered Party with live DJs Supa Dupa Fly and Night Czar, Amy Lamé, and a walkabout show of costumes made out of real living plants and grass by artist Ashley Peevor.
. National Park City Rooftops. In partnership with Open City, organisers of Open House, the world’s largest architecture festival, we are offering free access to some of London’s most dynamic and beautiful rooftop gardens and natural spaces. Locations are confirmed to include Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf, Barbican Conservatory and Ham Yard Hotel in Soho.
. National Park City Splash. London’s first multi-site outdoor swimming and paddle sports event will take place on the closing weekend of the festival. All abilities will be welcome to try their hand at activities such as stand up paddle boarding and open water swimming, right here in the capital.
National Park City Forest. In collaboration with Waltham Forest, London Borough of Culture, we have produced a unique audio installation in Epping Forest. Living Symphonies is a musical composition that grows in the same way as a forest ecosystem. It portrays the thriving activity of the forest’s wildlife, plants and atmospheric conditions, creating an ever-changing symphony heard from a network of speakers hidden throughout the forest itself.
In addition to the flagship events, there are hundreds of other free activities across the whole city delivered by our fantastic partners. The Mayor has also provided over £75,000 of small grant funding to support community groups and charities to organise activities including:
. Bug hunts and ‘Nature Detective’ events/ Guided walks of an urban arboretum of street trees
Urban sports, including BMX and skateboarding/ Over 60s yoga
. Giant puppetry / Theatre in the park / Outdoor African dance and drumming /Pedal powered film screenings
. Disability sailing/ Greening activities for mental wellbeing