University of Cambridge’s Climate Change Festival 2022 offers more than 50 free in-person and online talks, games and events

More than 50 events will take place over three days as the Cambridge Zero Climate Change Festival returns.

Free in-person and online talks, games and children’s activities are on offer from Friday to Sunday (October 14-16), hosted by the University of Cambridge’s climate change initiative Cambridge Zero.

Proudly supported by the Cambridge Independent, the festival will open with a panel discussion on climate accessibility - one of its major themes.

Many of the in-person events take place at Cambridge Guildhall, while there will also be some on-demand events and some ongoing displays throughout the three days. Recordings will be available for catch-up viewing on the festival website.

Professor Emily Shuckburgh, director of Cambridge Zero, said: “We are really excited to host our third Climate Festival, with over 50 events, this time in person as well as online. We are delighted to have a huge range of contributors from within the university, the local community, and groups from around the world.

“These three days of events will explore some of the challenges and solutions around climate change and offer the chance to discuss some of the most pressing issues – and inspiring opportunities.”

Chairing the opening panel talk - titled ‘What does climate accessibility mean to you?’ will be Philippa Thomas, who will host an international panel that includes:

• Amaya Chula, a young Wunmari woman who has spent most of her life in the Thamarrurr region of the Northern Territory in Australia
• Freddy Sebastian Medina, an Aymara environmental scientist from Northern Chile
• Zareen Taj Islam, a trustee of Muslim Women’s Association of Edinburgh
• Dr Gabriel Okello, a Prince of Wales global sustainability fellow
• Vanessa Sturman, a University of Cambridge alumna and plant-based health coach
• Dr Michael Bravo, head of the circumpolar history and public policy research group at the Scott Polar Research Institute.

The talk is at Lucy Cavendish College for those aged 16-plus, from 9.30-11am.

Meanwhile, in other events on Friday, Cambridge City Council will explain in a drop-in session what it is doing to make the city a greener place, while Cambridge Cleantech will discuss climate positive solutions for sustainable smart homes in an online event.

On Saturday, you can take part in an interactive new world board game called 2050, try out an interactive Arctic ice exhibit at The Polar Museum, hear 20-year-old British-Bangladeshi birder, race activist and environmentalist Mya-Rose Craig discuss her memoir and more, or listen to Cambridge Storytellers in the Guildhall.

There’s another board game to play on Sunday at the Guildhall, called Bartertown, for those interested in climate and social justice, and an exciting series of mini-talks on community climate action, plus a chance to tour the Botanic Gardens with Wolfson College’s head gardener.

The festival has been organised by Dr Antoinette Nestor, the engagement manager at Cambridge Zero.

An at-a-glance guide to the full programme is available here, and you can visit the festival website at https://climatechangefestival.zero.cam.ac.uk/, or follow @CambridgeZero on social media.