Liverpool to co-host national workshop on decarbonising culture and creativity

CITIES across the UK will get an opportunity to share knowledge on how to decarbonise their cultural and creative sectors as part of the drive to net zero, thanks to the leading role Liverpool has taken.

Named as the world's 1st ever UN Accelerator City last year, Liverpool has spent the last nine months researching, trialling and experimenting how to transition the cultural sector to a net zero future.

Now Liverpool City Council, in partnership with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, is inviting local authority representatives from UK Cities to a collaborative online workshop to highlight how other Cities can accelerate the decarbonisation of their cultural and creative sectors; including:- live music, events, and film and television production.

The session is part of Liverpool's pioneering role as the UN's 1st Accelerator City for climate action under the Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action programme.

Through this initiative, Liverpool is trialling a series of innovative low-carbon pilots, including:-

• Integrated event ticketing with public transport.

• Updated land use agreements.

• Exploration of mains power at key event and filming sites.

• Sustainable approaches to large-scale live music and film/TV production.

The workshop will share early insights from Liverpool's Accelerator City programme and explore how these learnings can be applied in other UK Cities. Other Cities will also be able to share their knowledge and experience as they are also on the transition to net zero.

The workshop will identify the types of guidance and support needed to scale low-carbon cultural practices and foster stronger connections between:- climate and cultural policy.

Local authorities interested should email:- CultureLiverpool@Liverpool.Gov.UK for more information.

Further workshops, including:- international Cities, will be held later in the year.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- "Since being named by the United Nations as the world's 1st Accelerator City, we have been collaborating with many organisations across the cultural sector. This has seen some remarkable achievements in the last 9 months, including:- holding 3 net zero gigs at the City's M&S Bank Arena, including:- one with Massive Attack. We have worked closely with film and TV production crews to decarbonise their process, and we have made huge strides in identifying some of the hurdles faced in switching from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. We're incredibly proud of the hard work and successes we have had since November. But it's really important that the lessons we have learned benefit other Cities too. That's why it's crucial we take a lead on this and share our experience and knowledge with others. Liverpool has always been a cultural trailblazer and thanks to the UN Accelerator City programme, we're helping to shape how the cultural sector will operate and work in the future.”

MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed 11 people have been arrested following protest by UKIP and a counter-protest in Liverpool City Centre, on:- Saturday, 23 August 2025. The arrests where for various offences including:- being:- drunk and disorderly, along with:- assault and affray.

In a statement issued by the Force they explained that a number of different groups gathered outside St George's Hall, at round:- 11am, for a march, organised by UKIP. This set off at around:- 1.20pm.

We are told that there was a large Police presence to ensure the safety of all those taking part and the wider public.

We are told that Merseyside Police used legislation known as a Section 12 under the Public Order Act (1986) to redirect the procession back to St George's Hall, shortly after it started.

Merseyside Police explain that this decision to invoke this legislation was made due to the serious disruption which was being caused to the community at the time, that included the road network.

Merseyside Police told us that:- "The safety of the public was paramount, and we wanted to ensure minimum disruption for local communities and businesses in the City Centre." Adding that they:- "respect the rights of everyone to take part in a lawful and peaceful protests, but we will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour."

Superintendent Karl Baldwin said:- "There was a large policing presence in Liverpool City Centre today to ensure the safety of those taking part in the protest and counter protest as well as the wider public. We will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour and despite the vast majority of people protesting lawfully, and peacefully, sadly there were a number of people who were arrested for various offences, including:- public order offences and assault. A decision was made shortly after the march got underway to apply conditions under Section 12 of the Public Order Act, which redirected the march back to St George's Hall. This decision wasn't taken lightly and was made because there was evidence of serious disruption to the community, which is 1 of the limited reasons such conditions can be applied. The Police are often faced with the challenge of treading the fine line between:- upholding everyone's rights to protest equitably, whilst endeavouring to keep the peace and ensure the public are safe. We plan ahead, in a co-ordinated way, to ensure we do this consistently, fairly and proportionately. We would like to thank members of the public and businesses in the City Centre for their patience during the course of this event."