Climate Action

As one of the critical geographical issues we face today, climate change is a major area of work for us, and one that benefits significantly from our solutions-focused approach of cross-sectoral working and coordination.

Climate Solutions

We are currently working on the delivery and further development of a project to improve the 'climate literacy' of managers in the public, private, academic and voluntary sectors. Climate Solutions aims to tap into the huge potential for organisations and individuals to support national and international efforts to combat climate change.

Climate Emergency Summits

Our Climate Emergency Summits provide space for motivated people from across sectors to come together in a safe and open workshop environment to offer solutions to the climate emergency. Since late 2019, we have held several summits focusing on particular issues and generating hundreds of ideas. A report is published after each event, and submitted to government to help inform policy.

Five for the Future

Developed through the Climate Emergency Summit programme, Five for the Future encourages all organisations to ask the same five questions at the end of each event they run ahead of COP26. Five for the Future will help generate a set of common answers, which in turn will help to shape an organisation- and society-wide set of key concerns.

International Geographical Societies Gathering

In June 2021, representatives of the international geographical community gathered online to discuss our collective and respective responses to the climate emergency, our efforts to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and our potential to make a real difference in the decades ahead. A report records the discussions and findings of this gathering of the world’s geographical societies, hosted by the RSGS in collaboration with the International Geographical Union and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). It concludes with a joint declaration of action which asks all of our societies to pledge to redouble our efforts to apply our unique knowledge, skills, and networks as geographers to these great global challenges of our time.

International Geographical Societies Gathering: The Biodiversity Crisis

The second RSGS-led gathering of the international geographical community was held online in March 2022, timed to take place in advance of COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming. Convened with the Royal Geographical Society, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and International Geographical Union, the meeting explored ways in which the geographical community can work together to better address the vital issue of the biodiversity crisis. The report records the big ideas from provocations and discussions, and outlines key recommendations to encourage further action on the biodiversity crisis.

Bitesize

In 2014-16 we developed a project to assess ways in which Scotland could make the biggest difference to reducing global climate emissions, through expertise, innovation or example. Several areas of our current policy work stem directly from this project.

Climate Change Videos

As a key geographical issue, climate change regularly features in our public talks, some of which have been recorded, and we have made some short videos in support of Climate Solutions programme.

View Videos

Climate Change Blogs

Many of the articles featured on our blog address different aspects of climate change.

View Blogs

Latest

Robert Falcon Scott

Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf writes of the life and adventures of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon-Scott
RSGS collaboration with Access to Inspiration

RSGS is delighted to announce that we will be partnering with Access to Inspiration, to record a series of podcasts giving leading perspectives on how we promote climate solutions and encourage people to be more active.
In My Community

We often talk of being part of a community, but what does this mean? We want you to tell us about a community that you feel is important to you.
Sir Ernest Shackleton and T S Eliot’s ‘third man’

Amid T S Eliot’s long and dauntingly bleak poem, ‘The Waste Land’ is a curious passage describing two people who are attended by an invisible companion. How was this phenomenon, now known as ‘the third man’, inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton?