By United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
WWF UK Education
The Great Plains (2019) by Silverback FilmsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
The Challenge
In the lead up to COP26, WWF-UK challenged young people to reflect on how the world could look in the future if we succeed in overcoming the challenges we face, and discover how we can live in balance with nature.
Students could share their visions in any form – video, art or creative writing. The Future Visions Challenge was designed to reframe COP26 for students from being just about averting disaster, to being a step towards creating a better world.
The focus shifts from anxiety and despair to agency and opportunity, as young people reflect on the potential of a very different (but wonderful) world shaped not only by changes made to combat climate change, but by the decisions and creativity of the next generation.
To spark their imaginations, students were invited to view a short film created by Silverback Films (the film-makers behind Our Planet and David Attenborough: A life On Our Planet) and acclaimed cgi artist Erik Wernquist, with voiceover written and performed by Kae Tempest, showing a possible future in which technology and innovation have brought us closer rather than further from nature.
Versions were also created with responses to the concept by Benjamin Zephaniah and a selection of WWF-UK’s Youth Ambassadors.
Kae Tempest’s Future Visions of Our Planet (2020) by Silverback FilmsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Once upon a time... the story changed
Kae Tempest's Future Visions of Our Planet
SOS from the Kids chat 'Future Visions', David Attenborough & WWF (2019) by SOS From The KidsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
SOS from the Kids
Among the many responses to the challenge from young people across the UK, Britain’s Got Talent finalists SOS From The Kids wrote and performed a moving song – Can You Imagine.
Can You Imagine (2020) by SOS From The KidsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Can You Imagine
Bleaching (2021) by Leela Bennett PhotographyUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
The Grange Festival
The Grange Arts Festival 2021 chose to use the Future Visions challenge as the theme for their 2021 Learning@TheGrange youth engagement.
Through interactive workshops guided by exceptional creative professionals, groups from ten schools and educational institutions discussed different global landscapes from the Amazon Rainforest to our Ancient Woodlands here in the UK.
Encouraged to dig deep into their imaginations, they examined WWF’s scientific truths, explored the steps that countries and individuals need to take to drive transformative change and developed a vision for the future.
They wrote text, composed music and choreographed dance to represent how they want life to be on our living planet.
Cranbourne School (2021) by Leela Bennett PhotographyUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
The Ancient Woodland in the UK
Pete Letanka (Composer) and Robert Gildon (Director) led Cranbourne Secondary School GCSE students in exploring the importance of our unique and irreplaceable Ancient Woodlands in the UK.
Encouraging them to reflect and how they would like to see us approach infrastructure and urban expansion in a way that respects and nurtures such vital natural resource.
Wood Wide Web - Cranbourne | Learning@TheGrange X WWF - Future Visions (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
From the past, in the present, for the future
Preserving the ancient woodlands.
Future Visions of the Arctic (2019) by Silverback FilmsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Future Visions of the Arctic
John Barber (composer) and Hazel Gould (Director) led The Vyne Secondary School in Basingstoke in an exploration of the unique environment and ecosystem in the Arctic, and the important role it could still play in our future if protected.
Frozen Mirror - The Vyne School | Learning@TheGrange X WWF - Future Visions (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Frozen Mirror - The Vyne School, Learning@TheGrange, WWF - Future Visions
Perins School Future Visions Workshop (2021) by Leela Bennett PhotographyUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Though music and dance
Jessica Maryon Davies (composer) and Karen Gillingham (Director) led Perins School in writing and performing a song and choreographed dance reflecting on fast fashion and the way we could live differently.
Torrents to Trickles - Perins School | Learning@TheGrange X WWF - Future Visions (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
TitleTorrents to Trickles
TitleTorrents to Trickles, Perins School, Learning@TheGrange, WWF - Future Visions
Torrents to Trickles - Perins School | Learning@TheGrange X WWF - Future Visions (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Torrents to Trickles, Perins School, Learning@TheGrange, WWF - Future Visions
Wessex Dance Academy Future Visions workshop (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
An orchestral piece for the Great Barrier Reef
Leading British composer Jonathan Dove led instrumentalists from Hampshire County Youth Orchestra to compose an orchestral piece in response to the bleaching of the coral on the Great Barrier Reef.
Their finished piece was choreographed by Wessex Dance Academy, who transform the lives of vulnerable young people through contemporary dance.
Bleached - Wessex Dance Academy & Hampshire County Youth Orchestra | Learning@TheGrange X WWF (2021) by Peanut & CrumbUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Bleached
Full details of the Future Visions Challenge, and more inspiring and thought provoking videos by young people, can be found at wwf.org.uk/futurevisions
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views and opinions of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The mere appearance of the story on this website does not constitute an endorsement by the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The UN Climate Change Conference COP26 does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of third party material included in the story featured.
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