Pop-up climate museum to visit Swindon in first appearance outside London

An innovative pop-up museum that encourages people to think about climate change will be heading to Swindon this weekend.

The Climate Museum will be making its first visit outside of London at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre at Lydiard Fields on Saturday 16 March.

The visit is part of the first annual conference of Citizens Climate Lobby UK (CCL UK), the British branch of a global organisation that seeks to change national legislation to address climate change. 

The museum is the brainchild of Bridget McKenzie, who was education officer at the Tate Gallery and head of learning at the British Library. 

It helps adults and children to explore the issues surrounding climate change through games, activities, creative materials, and curious objects. New objects made by participants can be added to the museum collection. 

The museum was trialled in January, with members of CCL UK joining climate communicators, artists and experience designers from across the country participating and feeding back on their experience.  

Bridget said: "The Climate Museum UK is about creatively stimulating a response to the climate emergency to encourage people to talk about climate change, to learn about all the systems and connections around it, and to imagine possible ways of pushing through it.

"Each installation is completely different in response to the space and interests of the partner organisation, so the pop-up in Swindon will be a unique experience."

Conference co-ordinator Louisa Davison added: "The phrases 'climate change' and 'fun' are rarely found together, but the Climate Museum encourages ordinary people to address climate change in a creative way.

"When I attended the inaugural event in London, I knew we needed the Climate Museum at our conference – and we're delighted they agreed to attend. 

"CCL UK is all about engaging with politicians, so we'll be exploring some creative ways of contacting MPs through colourful home-made postcards with carefully considered messages."

Citizens' Climate Lobby is pushing for the introduction of a market-based mechanism called Carbon Fee and Dividend. 

CF&D would reduce greenhouse emissions by placing a fee on fossil fuels like gas and coal at their point of entry into the economy, making environmentally-friendly alternatives more competitive.

But unlike other carbon taxes, all of the revenue collected would be returned to UK households – protecting low- and middle-income families from the rising consumer costs associated with the carbon fee. 

CCL is a non-party political organisation, and the proposal has won support across the political spectrum, both here and abroad. Business leaders, scientists and economists also support CF&D. 

The Climate Museum will be popping up in a public space at the NSBRC close to the conference. A conference ticket is not necessary, but donations towards costs are welcomed. 

The CCL UK conference, which runs from 10am until 5pm, costs £25 to attend. Delegates will hear from keynote speakers including James Close, director of climate change at The World Bank, who has advised the Uk government and treasury on green growth, and the Mayor of London on the Low-Carbon Capital initiative, and Cathy Orlando, international outreach manager for Citizens’ Climate Lobby and director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada.

www.citizensclimatelobby.uk