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Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action
ECCA Bangladesh Salt in Waters 5
Credit: Rezwan Shahriar Sumit

Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) connects the entertainment and cultural sectors with the global climate process, helping translate climate policy for culture while bringing culture’s voice and influence into climate action. 

Under Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, Parties committed to educating, empowering and engaging the public in climate action. ECCA recognizes the role of film and television, music, visual arts and other creative sectors in reaching people, shaping narratives and contributing to climate action.


“In addition to reducing its global emissions, arts and culture play a critical role in inspiring people to imagine and realize a low carbon, just and climate-resilient future.“ – Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary ​
What is ECCA

ECCA is the connector between culture and the Paris process. 

It convenes and equips a global community of practice, translates climate policy for the creative and cultural sectors, brings culture’s voice into policy conversations, and champions climate storytelling and decarbonization efforts already taking place across the sector. 

ECCA is designed to support and empower the creative community. 

 

What ECCA does

Convenor 

ECCA brings together entertainment and cultural stakeholders across sectors and regions to share knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen collaboration. Through sector and regional workstreams, ECCA supports a global community of practice and helps connect creative professionals, organizations and networks working on climate action.  

Connector 

ECCA connects culture with climate policy. Its workstreams identify relevant policy moments, map the people and institutions involved, and equip members to engage within their own sectors and countries. 

The aim is to strengthen the relationship between culture and policy — bringing climate policy closer to creative communities while enabling cultural actors to contribute to policy conversations.  

Champion 

ECCA champions climate action already happening across entertainment and culture. It amplifies climate storytelling, shares case studies and examples of good practice, and highlights efforts to reduce the environmental impact of creative industries through recognition and knowledge sharing.  

 

ECCA declaration

ECCA 2026-2030 strategy

ECCA  Consolidated strategy

Our vision

ECCA’s long-term vision is for culture to be recognized as an integrated pillar of international climate action. 

The 2026–2030 strategic direction aims to support: 

  • Climate-aligned storytelling across mitigation and adaptation. 

  • Stronger links between culture and climate policy. 

  • More connected, creative and cultural communities. 

  • The transition of creative industries toward low-carbon, climate-resilient practices.

How ECCA works

ECCA works through collaboration between the UNFCCC Secretariat, sector and regional workstreams, and a wider community of participating organizations and practitioners. 

Key principles: 

  • Empowerment — participants act in their own sectors and countries. 

  • Creative independence — ECCA does not mandate or commission creative content. 

  • Connection rather than duplication — ECCA works alongside existing cultural and climate initiatives. 

  • Inclusive participation — Global South representation, Indigenous voices and youth participation are built into the strategic approach. 

  • Transparency — governance and decision-making are intended to remain clear and accountable.  

Areas of work

ECCA is developing its work through sector-focused and regional engagement. 

Film & Television: Supporting climate storytelling, policy engagement, knowledge exchange, and more sustainable approaches across film and television. 

Music: Connecting the music sector with climate policy, industry initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration. 

Visual Arts: Supporting engagement across the visual arts community and strengthening links between creative practice, climate action, and policy. 

Other Creative Sectors: Engages with a broad range of creative and cultural sectors, supporting their participation in climate action and strengthening connections across the wider creative community. 

How to engage

ECCA provides opportunities for organizations, networks and creative professionals to connect with peers, engage with climate policy and access shared resources. 

Join the ECCA Community 
Connect with a growing global community of creative and cultural professionals working to strengthen the role of entertainment and culture in climate action. Share perspectives, explore opportunities for collaboration, and stay connected with ECCA’s evolving work and activities. 

ECCA Community Form – link will be available soon.

Further information on participation and engagement opportunities will be shared as the 2026–2030 strategy is implemented. 

The City of Liverpool
Accelerator City for Climate Action
ACCA rectangle
Art Charter for Climate Action
ECCA Bangladesh Salt in Water 0
Film & Television for Climate Action
About

The Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action alliance originated in late 2020 when the UN Office of the President of the General Assembly connected members of the film & television industry with the UNFCCC to begin conversations to create the first sectoral climate initiative for film and television. A Convening Team was formed in early 2021 and leaders from various stakeholder groups within the industry were engaged to kickstart the initiative’s development. Throughout 2022-23, working groups were established among the general assembly membership to shape the direction of the initiative’s framework, governance and outreach/inclusion approach.  ​

In 2022, ECCA was officially broadened to encompass other creative sectors. Over the years of this initiative’s design and capacity building, the ECCA Convening team played a pivotal role in launching ECCA in collaboration with the UNFCCC. The Convening team and Working Group co-chairs formed the Founding Steering Committee. Together they conducted outreach across the globe and engaged the growing ECCA membership who all played an important role in driving consensus around the initiative’s goals, while the working groups progressed the action. ​

Members of the Founding ECCA Steering Committee include Roxy Erickson (2023-2024), Gunjan Nanda (2023-2024), Emellie O’Brien (2020-2024), Samuel Rubin (2021-2024), Nevina Satta (2023-2024), Susannah Tantemsapya (2021-2024), and Hunter Vaughan (2021-2024). Their contribution to ECCA’s development is much appreciated, as is the work of working group co-chairs who contributed to ECCA framework, governance and global outreach: Bassam Alassad, Grace Banda, Stephanie Dawson, Roxy Erickson, Clara George, Zena Harris, Smiely Khurana, Joy Montgomery, and Nevina Satta.​

Further information on ECCA’s pillars of activity can be found on the following pages:​

ECCA-at-COPs

Culture, entertainment and storytelling have the power to connect people, shape public understanding and inspire meaningful climate action.

The UN Climate Change Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) initiative brings together voices from culture, entertainment and storytelling to help advance the global climate agenda. Through dialogue, collaboration and creative engagement, ECCA explores how the cultural and creative sectors can inspire action, connect communities and support climate solutions.

At each COP, ECCA provides a platform to connects artists, filmmakers, musicians, storytellers, creative industry leaders, policymakers, cities and climate practitioners to explore how culture and entertainment can contribute to strengthen climate solutions and actions.

Through flagship events, thematic conversations, creative showcases and collaborative initiatives, ECCA provides opportunities to bridge cultural expression and climate policy, highlight practical examples of creative engagement and foster partnerships that support the implementation of climate action.

Discover inspiring ECCA events, discussions and cultural engagement opportunities taking place at COPs.

Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change
Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change
ECCA at COP31

At COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, the Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) | UN Climate Change initiative will highlight how culture, entertainment and storytelling can help transform climate awareness into engagement, collaboration and meaningful action.
Contact

For more information on the Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action alliance, please contact us: ECCA@unfccc.int​

Join the:​

Art Charter for Climate Action ​

Film & TV for Climate Action

Content