POP4 – Climate Conference

POP, a climate conference for arts, culture and music, returns to Future Yard for its fourth edition on Thursday 19th November. POP4, powered by Ecotricity Business, is where climate action converges with creativity, conversations turn into collaborations, and ideas become real-world change.

Coinciding with COP31, this day of debate, conversation and assembly will explore the power of culture in the pursuit of climate justice; bringing together venue owners, business leaders, creatives, academics and industry professionals to help shape a greener future for the creative industries.

Don’t be a passenger to the climate crisis, be a part of the response. POP4 combines the two key ingredients to effective action – optimism that we will win; and the agency to make it happen. 

Across the day you will work side-by-side with leading thinkers and innovators; and learn, share and collaborate. Through interactive sessions we will explore the intersection of policymaking, funding and sustainable practice; see Liverpool as the world’s first UN Accelerator City; work through the latest in renewable energy; examine the future of transport and how we could shape it; along with opportunities for connection with both nationally significant organisations and grassroots practitioners.

Secure your place to be in the room where new ideas are made.

Energy, Economics and the Future of Independent Venues

Running a venue is not getting any easier. Rising costs and economic pressures are compounded by a volatile energy market, leaving businesses vulnerable to events happening far away. Renewable energy offers the greatest opportunity to not only set the standard for sustainability, but also tackle operating costs.

This session brings together Future Yard, LIVE (Live Music Industry Venues & Entertainment), and Ecotricity Business to explore the forces shaping the future of live music, and discuss how venues can build resilience, reduce emissions and prepare for the years ahead.

Combining creative industry perspectives from operator to policy level with insight into the renewables transition, this discussion will help you understand not only the energy market, but what it means for you.

Speakers – James Gillaspy (Future Yard), Jon Collins (LIVE), Barnaby Harrison (Ecotricity Business), Jeff Thompson (Moderator, Unconvention)

Where Policy Meets Climate Action

As the creative industries continue to incubate new approaches to tackling the impacts and causes of climate change; securing investment and translating action into evidence is essential to delivering long-term change.
The role of creativity in climate action is fundamental – from inspiring people-led change to innovating new ideas, but how does that connect to local, national and global policy? How can the creative industries truly lead impactful sustainability work?

In this interactive workshop, delegates meet with leading policymakers and funders, and explore the intersection of policy, funding and climate action.

Contributors – Fran Sanderson (Figurative), Sonia Mehta (Paul Hamlyn Foundation), Robin Lyons (Arts Council England), Sarah Lovell (Liverpool City Region Combined Authority), Ella Bytheway-Jackson (Kindred), Cllr Liam Robinson (Liverpool City Council)

The Sustainability Solutions Lab, Working Together to Overcome Decarbonisation Challenges

Join Liverpool City Council for an interactive and collaborative session focused on addressing some of the key sustainability challenges facing the live events sector.

Participants will be assigned one of three challenge areas and work in facilitated groups to identify barriers, explore opportunities and generate solutions.

By agreeing priority actions and contributing to recommendations that accelerate decarbonisation across events in Liverpool and beyond, delegates will play an active role in informing future sustainability initiatives developed by Liverpool City Council and its partners.

Contributors – Dave Wakelin, Shobhit Verma, Alexandra Preugschat, Lucy Northey (Liverpool City Council)

The People’s Emergency Briefing

On 27 November 2025, ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of more than 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media in Westminster.

The briefing set out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for health, food systems, national security and the economy, and did so on the public record. The film, the People’s Emergency Briefing, is required viewing for every citizen who is passionate about solving the climate crisis. It will be screened at POP4.

EarthSonic Youth Drop In – Shaping a Greener Future for the Creative Sector

What could a greener, fairer creative sector look like – and what role can young people play in shaping it? EarthSonic’s Youth Drop In Session is an open discussion with young people aged 18–30. Share your experiences and demands for change whilst connecting with leading thinkers, innovators and grassroots practitioners from across the creative sector.

The session is led by EarthSonic Youth Climate Manager Finlay Carroll, a former Creative Agents of Change participant who is now driving transformation in the theatre sector through his organisation Pollinate.

Host – Finlay Carroll (EarthSonic)

Future Yard presents
POP4 – A Climate Conference, powered by Ecotricity Business
Thursday 19th November 2026
75 Argyle Street
Daytime conference | Doors 11am – Event finishes at 6pm
Tickets are FREE | please still claim a ticket in advance

Live Soundtracks to Silent Films | Doors open at 7:30pm, show finishes by 11pm. Seated. Tickets available separately (£10 + booking fee). Tickets available here.

#thefutureisagreenbirkenhead

Future Yard is a cashless venue – all payments are taken by contactless or chip and pin. Kitchen open throughout the day.
If you have any specific access requests, please read all of the details about accessibility at Future Yard here.