We Are the Possible is an international award-winning, transdisciplinary programme that brings climate science data, art, education, culture, heritage and planetary health together through creating new climate narratives, underpinned by the University’s world-leading scientific research and other perspectives.
We Are the Possible’s collaborative methodology began in 2019 with a NERC funded ‘Climate Stories’ project which developed at COP26 (2021, UK), with One Chance Left. The programme has evolved and grown, with funding from the Met Office and British Council, delivering new creative outputs at COP27 (2022, Egypt), COP28 (2023, UAE), COP29 (2024, Azerbaijan), COP30 (2025, Brazil), and COP31 (2026, Turkey). Now established as a permanent programme, We Are the Possible drives global engagement, shows the need for societal change, and inspires positive climate action through publications, events, collaborations, and legacy projects with partners across communities, countries and continents.
This year, following our patented transdisciplinary creative workshops, a new anthology of micro stories, poetry and graphic stories has been developed around themes of
Climate, Café Culture and Change. To find out more, follow the link below to the project page or email:
wearethepossible@exeter.ac.uk. You will also find a link to the anthology, via ISSUU. It’s recommended you select the full-screen mode.
How we do it:
At the programme’s core is storytelling underpinned by climate science. Before each COP cycle, We Are the Possible brings together scientists, health experts, educators, youth leaders, translators, students, and artists from around the world who participate in creative workshops to co-create new climate narratives which show that there is hope for a liveable, fairer future if we act now.
The workshops provide a safe space for sharing research, practice, reflections, conversations and writing about our changing planet, allowing participants to connect facts and emotions. Through a unique editorial process, themes and ideas emerge which are woven into 12 poems or stories – one for each day of the COP conference. These are published in a bilingual anthology and leveraged at policy and public spaces at COP and beyond.
Culture at the Heart of Climate Action: From Arts to Heritage
From the rich tapestry of We Are the Possible stories, new artforms take shape—music, theatre, visual art, and animation—co-created with partner institutions. These works are showcased at COP and shared with policymakers and the public, and embedded locally as a legacy for the host city, Exeter, and beyond.
Schools Across the Ocean
Education is a vital pillar of our programme. Through the Schools Across the Ocean initiative, we connect hundreds of children aged 9–13 and their teachers across continents, using science, storytelling, creativity, and climate action to inspire change. Our education programme supports UNESCO Greening Education Partnerships global efforts to empower the 79% of teachers eager to teach about climate change but lacking the necessary knowledge, resources, and support.
To explore We Are the Possible, follow the links below.
We Are the Possible is currently funded by The British Council and Met Office, UK, and supported by the University of Exeter.
