On 1-12 November 2021, the UK hosted the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Inspired by the summit’s aim to ‘unite the world to tackle climate change’ the HEF COP26 task group:

• Created reference/coordination tools for HEF members providing overview of sector climate change-related activity, policy and comms.

Why? To support info-sharing, provide opportunities for collaboration, and support organisational decision-making.

• Created the report ‘Heritage Responds‘ to highlights the positive contribution heritage organisations and their partners are making to the climate change debate. 

Why? To support creation of a united voice for the sector on this topic, equip the sector with key messages across sustainability and inspire positive action on climate change.

• The report was launched ahead of COP26 with a social media campaign, highlighting key messages on climate change challenges, solutions and opportunities, and demonstrating how heritage can be a part of the solution to climate change. Following positive sector and stakeholder engagement, the group also informed 99 MPs and peers with a specific interest in climate change, environment and heritage matters to further expand its reach.

Why? To improve understanding of the impact of climate change on heritage and also importantly, the solutions heritage can offer, inspire further positive action across the sector, and to demonstrate how heritage can play a key role in tackling the climate change crisis. 

• Collated best practice case studies to support the above-mentioned report.

Why? To showcase the progress already made by organisations across the sector, to allow others to learn from real-world practical examples and to encourage continued support for our sector’s work in this area.

The task group’s work also provided a basis for identifying further specific actions beyond COP26.

The task group ran from December 2020 to November 2021.