Talking climate, taking action: Strengthening climate communication and collaboration in Oxfordshire

 Image Credit: Oxford Friends of the Earth

On Saturday 24 January 2026, over 140 people from climate-focused groups across Oxfordshire gathered at the Environmental Change Institute for Talking climate, taking action: Better communication for effective climate action.

Jointly organised by Oxford Friends of the Earth, the Oxford Climate Research Network (OCRN), the Oxfordshire Community Action Groups network, the Oxford University Climate Society, and the Oxford Energy Network, with support from Climate Action Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council, the workshop brought together community organisations, councils, academics, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and improve how we communicate about the climate crisis.

A shared focus on communication and cooperation

The event was designed with two core aims: a) to enable those active on climate issues to communicate as effectively as possible, including tackling misinformation, and b) to explore better cooperation across climate-focused groups and institutions in the county.

The day opened with reflections on climate action in 2026 and where we stand now. Contributions included perspectives from organizations such as The Green Alliance, Oxfordshire County Council, and Oxford Friends of the Earth, grounding the discussion in county-level action.

A second session focused on climate communications, with speakers from Climate Outreach and the Reuters Institute discussing climate misinformation and how to respond to it.

Ten additional workshops ran across the day, covering topics such as tackling climate misinformation, climate justice and local conversations, social media for climate communications, climate adaptation and community engagement, lobbying and relationship building, climate storytelling through videography, climate hope and positivity, and youth engagement. The breadth of sessions reflected a shared recognition that effective climate action depends not only on robust research and policy, but also on how messages are framed, communicated, and received.

From discussion to action

Proposed outcomes from the day include:

• Establishing a local “rapid response” network to challenge climate disinformation in the media
• Organising further communications skill-building events
• Developing a workshop on storytelling techniques for climate messages
• Strengthening work on climate adaptation and resilience
• Building a network to support developing work on climate justice

OCRN and community partnership

For OCRN, supporting Talking climate, taking action reflects our commitment to working with and beyond the University to connect research, policy, and practice. As a cross-divisional network at Oxford, OCRN seeks to deepen knowledge on climate challenges and solutions, while developing practical partnerships with government, research, business, and community organisations. By collaborating with Oxford Friends of the Earth and other local partners, we help create spaces where researchers, campaigners, councils, and citizens can learn from one another, build shared strategies, and translate knowledge into action.

Events like this demonstrate the value of strong community–university partnerships: bringing evidence, communication expertise, and lived experience together to strengthen collective climate action across the county.

Learn more
Visit oxfoe.co.uk to find out more about Oxford Friends of the Earth and any upcoming events or sign up for their newsletter.

Keep an eye on climate.ox.ac.uk for updates on OCRN’s activities and events!