Love Your Planet 2025: Science, Solutions, and Shared Action
On February 17, 2025, the Love Your Planet conference returned for its second year, bringing together leading voices in climate science, policy, and activism. Hosted by UCL, The Climate Reality Project, and Climate Café, the event was co-organized by Shooka Bidarian (Environmental Correspondent, Sustainability Expert, and representative of Climate Reality Europe) and Professor Mark Maslin (Pro-Vice-Provost for UCL’s Climate Crisis Grand Challenge). The conference sparked critical discussions, presented solutions, and called for urgent climate action.
A Call to Action from Climate Reality’s CEO
Phyllis Cuttino, CEO and President of The Climate Reality Project, opened the event with a powerful message:
"We know the impacts, we have the solutions, but we need the political will—at home, in our communities, in our countries, and at COP. This year has to be different."
She acknowledged the challenges of political backtracking and economic pressures but stressed the importance of events like Love Your Planet to keep climate action moving forward. She outlined three guiding principles for the year:
✅ Resolve – Taking action despite political challenges.
✅ Resilience – Overcoming obstacles through collective strength.
✅ Reality – Ensuring science and climate justice drive decision-making.
Her closing message was clear: short-term politics cannot dictate the future of our planet—COP must deliver real, lasting change.
A Critical Crossroads for Climate Action
Former UK Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King followed with a stark warning: the window for action is closing fast. He highlighted melting polar ice caps and intensifying extreme weather as urgent signs that immediate action is non-negotiable.
Professor Piers Forster, interim chair of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, presented an update on the UK’s climate targets. While progress is being made, he emphasized that the UK's responsibility extends beyond national goals—it must set a global precedent for a just and effective transition.
Breaking the Climate Deadlock: Finding Common Ground
One of the event’s most engaging discussions focused on how climate progress isn’t about full agreement but about finding common ground amid differing perspectives. As part of UCL’s Disagreeing Well series, the session featured:
🎤 Farhana Yamin – Climate lawyer and key negotiator of the Kyoto and Paris agreements.
🎤 Dr. Jared Finnegan – Political scientist specializing in climate governance.
Their discussion explored how policy, activism, and governance can work together despite differing viewpoints, reinforcing that constructive dialogue—not division—is the key to advancing meaningful climate action.
Communities Leading the Charge
Climate action is not just about top-down government policies—it’s about grassroots movements making real change on the ground. Discussions on local energy, transport, food, and nature-based solutions featured inspiring initiatives like:
🏡 Zero Carbon Dorset – A local community leading decarbonization efforts.
🔋 Durham’s Renewable Energy Networks – Expanding access to clean energy
🌍 Scotland’s Climate Café Model – Creating spaces for community-led climate action.
These examples reinforce a crucial lesson: when communities are equipped with the right resources and knowledge, they can drive meaningful climate action.
Media, Misinformation, and the Climate Narrative
The role of media in shaping climate action was a key theme throughout the day. Climate Reality’s Shooka Bidarian spoke about the growing challenge of misinformation, particularly the long-standing role of fossil fuel companies in spreading false narratives to delay climate action.
"Climate stories aren’t just about climate; they’re about people, politics, and justice. Taking a broader view helps bring forward stories that often go unheard."
Later, in a fireside chat with BBC’s Tom Heap, Shooka discussed how media should shift the climate conversation from fear and overwhelm to solutions-driven storytelling.
"Our job is to cut through the noise, share the truth, and keep climate stories front and center—because they matter now more than ever."
A Day of Solutions, Inspiration, and Connection
Beyond the hard-hitting discussions, Love Your Planet 2025 was also about collaboration and connection.
💡 During a dynamic networking lunch, students, academics, and Climate Reality Leaders exchanged ideas, showcased projects, and explored opportunities for action.
☕ Climate Café founder Jess Pepper hosted a session, creating a welcoming space to discuss climate solutions in an open, informal setting.
😂 Climate economist and comedian Dr. Matt Winning brought humor to the climate conversation, highlighting the absurdity of political inaction while making people laugh.
The Road Ahead
As the event wrapped up, one message stood out: real climate action requires sustained commitment, accountability, and the large-scale implementation of proven solutions. The urgency is clear, but so is the potential for transformative change—if we choose to act decisively. Love Your Planet 2025 was more than a conference; it was a rallying cry for science-based solutions, grassroots leadership, and collective action. Now, it’s time to turn those conversations into impact.
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