LCAW Climate Politics Forum (Archive) – Image: LCAW
London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026 is being held in the UK capital until 28 June. It is this year also presented in the shadow of what the International Energy Agency sees as “the most severe energy supply crisis” in modern history, continuing conflicts around the world and increasing trade and economic tensions.
An open and inclusive platform for action — and a public good — LCAW is one of the world’s largest independent climate events. Now in its eighth edition, it brings together more than 75,000 people across more than 750 events over nine days each June — from community gatherings in every borough to ministerial roundtables in the City of London, from school events to major international conferences. Climate action happening, visibly, across an entire global city.
LCAW is a key moment in the global climate calendar — where climate action happens between COPs, where the UN Global Climate Action Agenda comes alive in cities and communities, and where the international climate community gathers to build the cooperation for progress and action.
LCAW is part of a growing international network of climate action weeks — connecting London to climate communities in New York, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and beyond. Each week is locally rooted and globally connected, sharing the ethos of open and inclusive climate action.
Together, these weeks are a platform for the UN Global Climate Action Agenda — where real-world implementation happens between COPs with people in cities and communities around the world.
London Climate Action Week connects climate diplomacy to real world action
LCAW 2026’s overarching theme is “Cooperation in a fragmented world”. Despite talk of a “rupture” in the geopolitical order, the growth of new leadership and alliances for climate action will be powerfully demonstrated at LCAW by the presence of five COP Presidencies – past, present and future – alongside ministers from around the world and city and subnational leaders, including major delegations from the US.
The LCAW Opening hosted at the Climate Investment Forum at the Guildhall will see major announcements from the Turkiye COP 31 President Designate, and the Australian and Fijian Presidency of Negotiations, laying out their priorities for this year’s climate summit. The Ethiopian government will also attend as future hosts of COP 32 in 2027.
The Brazilian Presidency of COP 30 will return to LCAW in force, to follow-up the outcomes of the Belem Conference last year. LCAW is supporting the redesigned Belem Action Agenda by prioritising and promoting events linked to the delivery of agreed international ambition goals. LCAW is also working with the growing global ecosystem of climate action weeks, from Rio to Shanghai, Bangkok and Baku, to support the delivery of the Action Agenda across the year. The first Lagos Climate Action Week will also be announced at LCAW.
With the UN’s major Biodiversity (CBD COP17) and Desertification (CCD COP17) Summits taking place this year, LCAW will host leaders from all three Rio Conventions – climate, biodiversity and desertification – who will showcase their synergies at Kew Gardens Climate and Nature Summit.
Discussions on the changing and challenging politics of climate will continue at the State of Climate Politics Forum, followed by the 35th Anniversary of GLOBE Legislators at the UK Parliament, bringing the world’s leading legislators to LCAW. Disinformation will be a key theme at both the UN Information Integrity Forum, and the inaugural Nicki Gavron Lecture.
Climate action needs to accelerate
Despite the real progress of the last decade, climate action needs to accelerate if the 1.5C Paris Goals are to remain within reach, even if some overshoot is now inevitable. LCAW will host many Pacific Island leaders who, as hosts of the pre-COP this year, aim to raise the devastating consequences for their nations of exceeding 1.5C, building on the discussions at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum just before LCAW. The Pacific Islands will demonstrate their response to these risks through their proposals for the Pacific Resilience Facility and island electrification including at a flagship Pacific Blue Economy event hosted by the Australian High Commission.
With the prospect of a devastating El Nino this year, and the growing risks from 1.5C overshoot, LCAW will showcase the latest climate science, including the growing gaps in funding for global scientific networks. Science will be integrated across the week with a wide range of world-renowned scientists attending including from the World Meteorological Organisation, the Exeter Climate Forum, Climate Crisis Advisory Group and the Planetary Guardians.
The importance of stronger action on climate adaptation in all countries will be tackled at the second edition of LCAW’s flagship London Resilience Finance Summit, the Climate and Future of Health Summit, the inaugural Climate and Security Forum, and a range of events focused on tackling impacts everywhere from Small Island Developing States to the launch of a new heat strategy for London.
NAN/LCAW 20-06-26
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