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

Communities across Scotland are coming 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 ecological catastrophe.

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

Over 150 events are take place until Sunday, September 26, 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.

Veronica Kocovska, Climate Fringe coordinator at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “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.”

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. 

Hannah Clark, Community Engagement Officer at Merry-go-round, said: "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."

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

Carol McGowan, who is organising Callander Climate Fringe Week, said: “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.”

The Scottish Maritime Museumwill 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.

Nicola Scott, exhibitions and events officer at the museum, said: “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 called 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 25th.

“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.”

To see the full list of Climate Fringe Week events, click here.