Taking 14,000 voices to COP26

A heart that could not be ignored

In 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) came to Glasgow. It was a once-in-a-generation moment to influence the world’s climate agenda. The Climate Coalition wanted to take the voices of the UK public to this global stage and make sure their demand for action was seen and heard.

In Wales, the ambition was clear: collect 10,000 pledges from people calling for urgent climate action. 

A movement amplified

The campaign was rooted in digital mobilisation. We developed a microsite where people could add their pledges, as well as a personal message of what they most wanted to protect, from wildlife and landscapes to future generations. It helped them to feel part of something larger while also giving them a sense of ownership.

Alongside this, we delivered a tailored social media pack with ready-to-go content to spread the message nationally.

By the time COP26 began, more than 13,000 had joined. 

Turning voices into a symbol

We also needed a way of carrying those voices to Glasgow that was impossible to ignore. Inspired by The Climate Coalition’s green heart identity, we designed and built a two metre ice heart sculpture on the banks of the River Clyde, directly across from the COP26 venue.

The heart was constructed in just a few hours on a cold November day, then left to melt as delegates gathered inside the conference halls. Its presence was simple and striking – a symbol of both love for the places we care about and the urgency of the moment. The melting ice reminded leaders that the window for action is shrinking.

The result was a powerful combination of digital and physical action. The ice heart was photographed, shared and broadcast across the world, with coverage on the BBC, ITV, The Guardian and in the international press.

Impact

• Target: 10,000 pledges
• Achieved: 13,000+ voices represented across Wales
• Coverage: BBC, ITV, The Guardian, Getty Images and global outlets
• Reach: Hundreds of thousands engaged through digital, social and press activity