Press Release: Climate Fringe Week

18 Sep 2021
General News, Press Release

Climate Fringe Week: Scotland’s big call for climate action ahead of COP26

From 18-26 September, communities across Scotland will come together for Climate Fringe Week, to generate conversation about the climate and nature emergencies.

With the UN climate summit, COP26, coming to Glasgow this November, the Scottish voice should be louder than ever ‒ to show that we want urgent action to tackle the climate crisis.

Events and activities will help build momentum and call for a greener, fairer, low carbon society and world.

Over 150 events are scheduled to take place, both online and in person ‒ from Arran to Aberdeen, and North Uist to Irvine. With exhibitions, bike rides, wild meadow planting, litter picks, book launches, film screenings, and climate cafés ‒ there is something for everyone.

"It’s so important that local communities come together on climate action before COP26. At Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, we’re really excited to be hosting Climate Fringe Week, and hope that through it we can showcase the work that organisations and communities across Scotland are doing together to tackle the climate crisis and call for greater action."

Veronica Kocovska

Climate Fringe Coordinator at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

A variety of groups across Scotland are taking part in Climate Fringe Week.

Merry-go-round Glasgow and R:evolve Recycle are collaborating for a clothes swapping and repairing event.

"We are excited to be collaborating our likeminded social enterprises which share our sustainable ethos of the circular economy. We hope to showcase the brilliance of second-hand while raising awareness of the impact we make in our local communities."

Hannah Clark

Community Engagement Officer at Merry-go-round

Callander Climate Fringe Week will celebrate the ways in which the local community can reduce their emissions of greenhouse gasses and protect the environment.

“Being part of Climate Fringe Week is so exciting, as it will allow us to celebrate what we are already doing, as well as to share knowledge and learn from others. There are many ways we can already see how our changing climate affects the environment around Callander: our river floods, our forests are in danger of catching fire and our peat bogs need careful management. We hope that our events will help spread the word as well as inspire and bring people together.”

Carol McGowan

Organiser of Callander Climate Fringe Week

The Scottish Maritime Museum will dedicate a weekend to raising awareness of the issues of climate change and its effects on coastal regions and oceans. There will be exhibitions, talks, children’s activities, and workshops for all ages.

“We are thrilled to take part in Climate Fringe Week with a host of exciting exhibitions and activities at our museums in Irvine and Dumbarton. In Irvine, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September, highlights will include the new exhibition ‘Ocean Posters against Plastic Pollution’; screenings of ‘A Plastic Ocean’, the documentary Sir David Attenborough calls ‘One of the most important films of our time’; climate change talks; children’s activities and a life-size basking shark made of recycled materials. In Dumbarton, we open ‘The Loving Earth’, an exhibition of poignant textile panels challenging us to open our eyes to people, places and creatures threatened by environmental breakdown, with two free drop-in textile workshops on Saturday 25. It’s a wonderful time to pop along to the Scottish Maritime Museum, engage with the issues of climate change and discover what we can all do to help.”

Nicola Scott

Exhibitions and Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum

To see the full list of Climate Fringe Week events, visit: climatefringe.org/climate-fringe-week-events

Notes to editors

For more information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact: Fiona Hooker, Communications and Campaigns Officer, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. Email: fiona@stopclimatechaos.scot or Tel: 07724 840620.

About Climate Fringe Week

Climate Fringe Week is an initiative led by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. More information can be found online and on social media:
- Website: climatefringe.org/week
- Facebook: facebook.com/ClimateFringe
- Twitter: @climatefringe
- Instagram: @climatefringe
Organisations across Scotland are being encouraged to run activities, events and actions during Climate Fringe Week (18-26 September). This ties in with Great Big Green Week in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, coordinated by our sister organisation The Climate Coalition.
This is a vital time to show that communities across Scotland ‒ and the rest of the UK ‒ support strong action on climate change, prior to the COP26 climate conference taking place in Glasgow this autumn.
Merry-go-round Glasgow and R:evolve Recycle are two organisations in the Glasgow area, focused on selling second-hand babies’ clothes and items, and clothes swapping and mending, respectively.
The Scottish Maritime Museum, in the west of Scotland, holds a collection of historic vessels, artefacts, art, personal items and the largest collection of shipbuilding tools and machinery in the country.
Callandar Climate Fringe Week will bring over 30 different events and activities to the town of Callandar, including a mushroom foraging walk, a repair cafe, and a climate career fair at McLaren High School.

About Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) is a diverse coalition of over 60 organisations campaigning together on climate change.
We believe that the Scottish Government should take bold action to tackle climate change, with Scotland delivering our fair share of action in response to the Paris Agreement and supporting climate justice around the world.
Our coalition members range from environment, faith and development organisations to trade and student unions and community groups.
Our work is led by our members and is normally focussed on lobbying decision makers in Scotland, but we also work on UK-wide campaigns when appropriate with our sister organisations in England (The Climate Coalition) and Wales (Stop Climate Chaos Cymru).

Last modified: 17th September 2021

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