Almost one year on from the UN’s landmark Climate Change Conference (COP26), the BBC’s virtual Climate Creatives event will join together a mix of commissioners, production staff, and storytellers to take a fresh look at what’s changed in broadcasting and how the industry can work together to find sustainability solutions.

With sessions taking place across Wednesday 5 October, attendees will hear from prominent industry figures including screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies in conversation with the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, exploring how TV drama and climate storytelling can intertwine.

The line-up boasts a range of speakers from broadcasters and streaming services (BBC, BBC Studios, ITV Studios, Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5/Paramount +, Netflix ), independent media producers (Little Bird Films, Argonon), the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), a video game and software developer (Epic Games), and more.

Climate Creatives is sponsored by the BBC’s Charlotte Moore, introduced by BBC journalist and presenter Phillipa Thomas, and delivered by BBC Academy with partners including Albert, Creative UK, BBC Studios, the Royal Television Society and the BFI.

The event will begin with an opening message from BBC Director-General Tim Davie welcoming attendees and setting the scene for a day of cross-industry collaboration and shared best practice.

Other sessions across the day will include a practical take out on low carbon television production at the cutting edge, and industry figures will join CDP (not-for-profit global carbon disclosure system) founder and co-host of hit podcast Outrage and Optimism, Paul Dickinson, for a conversation on the role of leadership.

Actor and Writer Fehinti Balogun issues his challenge to the creative sector to do more while Podcaster Thimali Kodikara chairs a discussion on innovative climate storytelling in the global south.

And writer and Composer Jack Godfrey talks about the inspiration behind his pop musical, This Is A Love Story, written in collaboration with Ellie Coote, charting the tumultuous relationship between Earth and Humanity.

Gaby Hornsby, TV Lead for Sustainability, BBC, says: “Nearly one year on from the historic COP26 conference and with the next UN summit fast approaching, now is the time to come together again as a sector to refocus our efforts towards confronting climate change.

“This is a collective endeavour and we need solutions at scale. That requires collaboration and I’m certain Climate Creatives will once again provide that crucial platform for discussion and the sharing of ideas.”

Russell T Davies in conversation with Charlotte Moore

Speaking to Charlotte Moore in a pre-recorded session, screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies shared insights on how climate change is impacting his own writing, and the pressing need he feels to listen to and reflect the concerns of young audiences - as well as champion young writers.

Asked how commissioners can support more scripted content with climate change as a key theme, he said they must keep looking for new writers.

"There needs to be more work done pairing up new writers with established production teams," he said.

"When you're looking for a television script you're not just looking for someone who can write a script, you're looking for someone who could deliver a script, and that is a huge part of the job. They need that spine, they need help, they need holding... most of them need the production skills.

“We need to take those writers on set, we need to train them. Once you get the new talent coming in with that production background, then we'll have more young ideas, we'll have even more first-time writers on board, and they are the ones who were talking about the climate stuff when they were five.

"They've grown up with this, it's their language, it’s innately their view of the world and I honestly believe that's where the answers will come from.”

To join the session, please use this link to watch the livestream on October 05, 2022 from 10.30am - 4.30pm