If you could say anything to the delegates at COP26, what would it be?
With UistFilm, and in partnership with Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law & Governance, Island Innovation and Glasgow Science Centre and Youth Scotland, we are launching Message in a Bottle, a participatory multi-media art project inviting people across the world, especially those in island and coastal communities, and especially young people and families, to create messages in bottles to be delivered to COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, November 2021.
We invited people, especially young people from Scottish islands, to document their concerns about the climate crisis, sea level rise, marine pollution and biodiversity, asking questions of polluters and those in power and proposing sustainable future scenarios for mitigation, adaptation and resilience. An installation of the messages, bottles and resulting film will be created at COP26.
CLIMATE CHANGE MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE – COP26 EVENTS AND HOW TO
GET INVOLVED
The project is hosting several online and in-person events during COP26, which are detailed below:
Message in a Bottle: Island Youth, COP26 and Children’s Rights to a Health Ocean @ COY16, 10-
11am, Friday 29 th October
Taking place at COY16 on Friday 29 th October, 10-11am, this event is jointly hosted by SCELG and the
One Ocean Hub, and will focus on the voices of young people in climate change discussions. In
particular, coastal and island youth are considered within the context of COP26 and rights to a
healthy ocean. Join us for an interactive session involving panel discussions, short film screenings,
and group reflections. Find out how to register here.
Climate Change Message in a Bottle: Messages from Scottish and International Island Schoolchildren
to COP26 @ Online, 10-11am, Wednesday 3 rd November
This online event is kindly co-hosted by Island Innovation, and will take place on Wednesday 3 rd
November, 10-11am. At this event, we will be hosting a screening of the project’s film, which
showcases messages from island youth around the world to COP26. After watching the short film,
you will hear directly from several islanders who have been involved in the project, and participating
schools will have the opportunity to ask questions to climate experts. Finally, we will hear from
notable politicians and experts in response to messages from island youth. Find out how to join this
event here.
Climate Change Message in a Bottle: Bringing the Voices of Scottish and International Young
Islanders to COP26 @ Sustainable Glasgow Landing Hub, 10-11am, Monday 8 th November
Join us at the Sustainable Glasgow Landing Hub for an in-person showcase of the Climate Change
Message in a Bottle project. At this event, we will be hosting a screening of the project’s film, which
showcases messages from young islanders around the world to COP26. After watching the short
film, you will hear directly from several young islanders who have been involved in the project. We
are pleased to announce that MSP Clare Haughey, Minister for Children and Young People, will
speak at this event in response to the children’s messages. Finally, audience members will have the
chance to discuss the messages and leave a response themselves. Find out more about this event
here.
Glasgow Science Centre Film Screenings @ Green Zone, throughout COP26
The project is also excited to announce that there will be regular screenings of the Climate Change
Message in a Bottle film at Glasgow Science Centre, in the Green Zone at COP26. You can register for
events in the Green Zone here.
Once again, we are grateful for the support and funding from the Scottish Government, which has
made the Climate Change Message in a Bottle project possible. In addition, a special thanks goes to all of
the organisations who have contributed to the project: Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law & Governance, Island Innovation, Youth Scotland, Scottish Islands Federation, and Glasgow Science Centre.