Our programme at the Conference of Youth (COY21) and the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP31) features a diverse range of activities, including side events, exhibitions, interactive speaker sessions and more. Through this programme, we will work with strategic partners and young people to showcase the role of education, arts and culture in addressing climate change, while sharing insights and learning from global best practice.
Pre-COP: 3 November
Climate and Culture Forum
Time/venue: 10.00–17.00, Bahçeşehir University Istanbul, Türkiye | Role: Supporting partner
Bringing together cultural and climate stakeholders. Co-organised by the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion, EkoFilm Sustainable Production Platform, Esmiyor and the Culture Translators Project, with support from the British Council. The event features workshops and short-film screenings in collaboration with Julie’s Bicycle, the BFI, Climate Spring and the Sabancı Foundation Short Film Platform, alongside dialogue, knowledge exchange and partnership building between Türkiye-based cultural actors and their global counterparts. Their input feeds into the Culture Global Stocktake for Climate Action (CGST), a global, participatory framework that positions culture as a key dimension of climate policy, implementation and public mobilisation, which launches its first outcome document at COP31.
COY21: 5 to 7 November
Conference of Children and Youth on Climate Change
Time/venue: 09.00–16.00, Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Türkiye | Role: Silver Sponsor
The Conference of Youth (COY) is organised by YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC. COY21 will bring together young people from around the world to build capacity, strengthen advocacy, and co-create the Global Youth Statement, which represents the collective input of young people into the UNFCCC process. As a Silver Sponsor of COY21, the British Council will contribute to two sessions: a British Council-led high-level panel discussion on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) and a workshop on cultural heritage and youth advocacy, delivered in partnership with the YOUNGO Art, Culture and Heritage Working Group. The British Council will also provide closing remarks at the Closing Plenary, before the Global Youth Statement is formally presented to the COP31 Presidency.
Climate Youth Negotiator Training
Time/venue: 09.00–18.00, University of Antalya, Türkiye | Role: Strategic Partner
The Youth Negotiators Academy (YNA), launched in 2022, equips grounded, courageous and visionary young negotiators with the skills and confidence to participate effectively, directly and meaningfully in the UNFCCC process, including as members of national delegations. The programme builds their knowledge, networks, community, resources and leadership capabilities, enabling them to drive transformative change both within climate negotiations and beyond. Ahead of COP31, 100 young climate negotiators will take part in an in-person training programme from 5-7 November. To be eligible, participants must be nominated by their country's UNFCCC Focal Point. The training will strengthen their negotiation, diplomacy and leadership skills, equipping them to contribute actively and effectively as members of their national delegations.
COP31: 10 November
Panel discussion: Launching the Culture Global Stocktake (CGST): A Roadmap for GST2
Time/venue: 16.45–18.15, Blue Zone, Side Event Room 6 KATİP ÇELEBİ | Role: Strategic Partner
This event is led by the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion, a youth-led global non-profit organisation advancing culture-based climate action through policy advocacy, strategic programming, community-led convenings and capacity building. It formally launches the first Culture Global Stocktake. Developed through a year-long, multilingual and participatory process involving cultural practitioners, Indigenous knowledge holders, youth, researchers, institutions and policymakers worldwide, the CGST provides a cross-cutting assessment and actionable recommendations across the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The British Council will contribute to the session.
COP31: 12 November
Advancing Youth-led Climate Advocacy through the Culture Global Stocktake (CGST)
Time/venue: 16.45–18.15, Blue Zone, Children and Youth Pavilion | Role: Strategic Partner
This interactive session led by the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion and will feature youth-led partners who have shaped the CGST and connect its recommendations with the Global Youth Statement as well as ahead of the ACE midterm review. Participants will learn how to use the CGST to advance their own climate efforts, engage policymakers and identify entry points across UNFCCC processes, equipping young delegates with concrete tools to turn culture and youth priorities into action at COP31 and beyond. The British Council will contribute to this session.
COP31: 14 November
Panel session: From Skills to Green Jobs: Connecting Young People to the Electrified Industry
Time/venue: 10.00–11.00, Blue Zone, ILO Just Transition Pavilion | Role: Partner
Led by LinkedIn in partnership with the British Council and Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS UK), this panel session will examine findings from recent British Council and LinkedIn research that highlight the demand for green skills in industry and young people eager to contribute to the green transition, with the aim to explore how we can equip young people with necessary skills that create pathways into green jobs that are visible, inclusive, and accessible.
Panel session: From Green Skills to Green Jobs for Youth-Building Inclusive Transitions
Time/venue: 11.15–12.00, Blue Zone, Children and Youth Pavilion | Role: British Council-led session
The British Council will lead a discussion to explore how young people can be supported through inclusive, end-to-end pathways from green skills development to local green jobs, enabling them to shape climate action and their communities’ futures. Drawing on findings from the newly published Climate Connection research, Skills for an Inclusive Transition: Youth realities and green opportunity pathways, the discussion will examine the barriers young people face in accessing green skills training and decent green jobs.
Panel discussion: Equipping Young People with the Skills for the Green Transition
Time/venue: 12.20–13.10, Blue Zone, Council of Higher Education of Türkiye (YÖK) Pavilion | Role: British Council-led session
Working in partnership with the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye, this event will explore how universities, policymakers, employers and young people can work together to ensure higher education systems equip learners with the skills needed to drive a just and effective green transition. Speakers will represent the higher education sector, youth organisations, and an international membership organisation that sets professional standards for sustainability skills, offering a range of perspectives on preparing the workforce for a sustainable future.
Culture Global Stocktake Advocacy Training for Cultural Delegates
Time/venue: 13.00–14.30, Blue Zone, Climate Live Pavilion | Role: Strategic Partner
This participatory workshop led by the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion will equip cultural practitioners, youth advocates and civil society leaders to use the CGST in climate policy advocacy. Through role-playing and group exercises, participants will develop targeted policy asks, practise engaging negotiators and coordinate a shared action plan for COP31’s second week, centring youth, Indigenous and Global Majority perspectives. British Council will contribute to this session.
15-minute facilitated session: Creative Climate Resources for Schools - Show and Tell/Educational Presentation and Workshop
Time/venue: 14.50–15.05, Blue Zone, Children and Youth Pavilion | Role: British Council-led session
This session showcases creative climate resources developed to engage young people and educators through science, play, language, storytelling, and action.
COP31: 16 November
Side event: Fostering Human and Social Development: Culture-Based Climate Action
Time/venue: 11.30–13.00, Blue Zone, Side Event Room 2 - DALYAN | Role: Joint Lead
In this side event jointly led by the British Council and the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), policymakers, cultural practitioners, youth leaders, researchers, key networks and institutions will come together to share learning and evidence of impact, platform diverse voices and youth led approaches, and build a global movement to advance culture, arts and heritage in climate policies and take collective action to tackle the climate emergency. The panel will also reflect on The British Council-commissioned report by KEA European Affairs Culture-based Climate Action: Mapping the Global Evidence from COP26 to COP30 will also be referenced.
COP31: 17 November
Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action high-level ministerial meeting
Time: 09.00–11.00 | Role: Knowledge Partner
The Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action, an international coalition of UN Member States was formed in 2023 during COP28. Every year, a high-level ministerial meeting is organising during COP. The British Council attends and contributes these meetings as a knowledge Partner.
Reflection session: The Culture Global Stocktake on Climate Finance: Eligibility, Windows and Access
Time/venue: 12.30–13.45, Blue Zone, Resilience Hub | Role: Strategic Partner
Culture-based climate action is largely absent from climate finance. At COP31's Resilience Hub, E+C unpacks what the Culture Global Stocktake recommends: eligibility recognition, dedicated funding windows, direct access and a proposed dedicated fund.
COP31: 18 November
Panel discussion: Sustainability Skills and Green Jobs in the Film and Media Sector: UK Experience and Occupational Standards in Türkiye
Time/venue: 10.00–10.45, Green Zone, COP Art Talks | Role: Partner
Led by EkoFilm, the panel will explore international good practices in sustainable film production, emerging green jobs in the film sector, and the development of sustainable production skills and new employment opportunities in Türkiye.
Panel session: Global Culture Report: Culture on the Global Climate Action Agenda (Balanço Global da Cultura: Cultura na Agenda Global de Ação Climática)
Time/venue: TBC, Brazil Pavilion | Role: Strategic Strategic Partner
A high-level dialogue, led by the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion, featuring the first Culture Global Stocktake (CGST) and exchanges among government, youth and civil society. Building on Brazil’s and its Ministry of Culture’s leadership at COP30, the panel presents the CGST’s key findings and participatory process, exploring connections with the Global Ethical Stocktake. It aims to translate these contributions into pathways for integrating culture into climate policy and the Global Climate Action Agenda, highlighting its role in implementing the Paris Agreement.
COP31: British Council Exhibition Booth
Blue Zone, Exhibition Booth 2
Showcasing effective and impactful artistic, cultural and educational responses and solutions through projects and partnerships to address climate change. The British Council will be displaying our Trouble in Paradise photo exhibition along with a companion book pairing the winning photographs with writing from two former New Zealand Poet Laureates, Selina Tusitala Marsh and David Eggleton, alongside reflections from British High Commissioner Iona Thomas OBE, British Council Director and Head of Arts Natasha Beckman and AUT Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa. We will also be highlighting our work in partnership with Creative Climate with our Radio Climate audio content, and a new anthology of climate stories in partnership with the Met Office and the University of Exeter as part of the We Are the Possible programme. The booth is run in partnership with the International National Trusts Organisation.
COP31: UK Pavilion
Digital Showcase – The British Council's Worl in Climate Change
As part of its digital showcase, the UK Pavillion will show a video highlighting the British Cuncil's Climate Strategy, Alumni UK Climate Grants and global Climate Skills programme. The reel is available to watch on the UK Pavilion’s website here.
Trouble in Paradise exhibition
The UK Pavillion and UK Delegation Office will be displaying a selection of images from our Trouble in Paradise photo exhibition.
Live at COP online course
Learning for Sustainable Futures – Live at COP31
In partnership with the University of Edinburgh and Learning for Sustainability Scotland, this two-week online course that provides ‘live’ insights into the challenges being discussed at COP31, as well as responses to the conference themes from children and young people, community groups and ministerial bodies, both nationally and internationally. Pre-registration is now open here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/7LJE-DBE