Liverpool launches Expedition One event to lead global climate action in film, TV, and music

Liverpool’s ambitions to become the most sustainable city on the planet for film, TV, and music will be in the spotlight later this month at Expedition One – a two-day event at Exhibition Centre Liverpool on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November.

Expedition One officially marks Liverpool’s pioneering status as the world’s first UN Accelerator City for Climate Action, a feat achieved in partnership with renewable energy provider Ecotricity.

There will be access to FREE tickets to be in the audience for the recording of three popular, thought-provoking podcasts on the Saturday:

BBC Radio 4 Rare Earth – the environment and wildlife podcast hosted by Countryfile’s Tom Heap and physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski.
Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake – a BBC Radio 5 Live podcast commission in which Nihal Arthanayake presents in-depth interviews with headline guests (to be announced).

ZeroCarbonista with Dale Vince – from building his first windmill in 1996 to taking Forest Green Rovers Football Club vegan in 2015 and becoming a United Nations Ambassador in 2019, Dale Vince has made saving planet his life’s mission. Dale is in conversation with author and host, Ian Collins.

As well as the podcasts there are a number of unique, ticketed events including:

Scoring Change – Music in Mind and members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra present a brand new commission ‘A Moment of Truth and a Vision of Hope’, performed for the first time at Expedition One. This session will bring together composer and conductor John McHugh and musicians to discuss the piece produced in collaboration with European Space Agency as well as the impact of music for climate action.

Expedition One - Credit: Liverpool City Council — Expedition One – Credit: Liverpool City Council

Visitors will also be able to experience two extraordinary installations on site – an immersive journey around the planet exploring the impacts of climate change presented by the European Space Agency and ‘Present Shock II’ an extraordinary multimedia installation by celebrated artists UVA and Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja.

For full details and to book free tickets, visit the Liverpool Music City website. These will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis. Please note, the first day is an invite-only, industry event.

Expedition One runs alongside three live shows at M&S Bank Arena from Massive Attack, Nile Rodgers and IDLES. For more information about the live music gigs, head to the Liverpool Music City website.

Expedition One will be a plant-based event.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

“Expedition One feels like a real line in the sand moment for the city, and showcases Liverpool’s commitment to innovation and progress. As a City with a rich history of resilience and transformation, Liverpool is leading the way, and setting a powerful example of how local actions can drive global change.

“We hope as many people as possible put the 30 November in their diaries and be part of something groundbreaking, thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. And best of all this free event, gives attendees the chance to be part of driving meaningful change.”

Susanne Mecklenburg Head of the European Space Agency’s Climate Office, which will stage an activity at the event, said:

“From the vantage point of Space, satellites strengthen understanding of Earth’s shifting climate and provide early warning of change. By delivering the key facts on planetary indicators, satellites provide a major contribution to effective climate action – informing smart policy, target setting and the monitoring tangible progress – so civic and national decision-makers can align with the collective goals of the Paris Agreement.”