BBC, C4, ITV & Sky commit to COP26 climate content pledge

Tim Davie

The CEOs of UK broadcasters, including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, STV and Sky, will today meet at the UN’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow to pledge to create more and better climate-focused content across all genres.

A total of 12 broadcasters and streamers have signed up to The Climate Change Content Pledge, in which they commit to using their content to educate audiences about the need to tackle climate change, as well as inspire and inform sustainable choices.

Together, these companies represent more than 70% of time spent by UK audiences watching TV and film, and also include BBC Studios, Britbox International, Channel 5/ViacomCBS, Discovery UK & Eire, RTÉ, S4C and UKTV.

Alex Mahon

In a panel being held at BBC Scotland HQ later this morning (3 November, 11am), BBC director general Tim Davie, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall, STV CEO Simon Pitts and Sky UK & Europe CEO Stephen van Rooyen are expected to tell industry executives that content must reflect the realities of climate change to remain relevant and to continue to appeal to audiences.

They will further highlight the role that TV and film can play in helping audiences understand the solutions to tackle climate change and the choices to consider on the path to Net Zero, adding that it is the industry’s responsibility to rise to that challenge.

​The Climate Content Pledge has been convened by Albert, the screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability.

Founded in 2011, and owned and backed by BAFTA, the Albert project supports the film and TV industry to reduce environmental impacts of production and to create content that supports a vision for a sustainable future.

Today’s panel will outline how The Climate Content Pledge will build on the cross-industry collaboration facilitated by Albert and the work that broadcasters have already been doing individually.