What is the Environment Festival?
A series of events focussed on environmental sustainability taking place from 25-28 August 2026. Sponsored by the Social Change Lab, the Network of Environmental Social Scientists, the Advocacy Research Network and generously supported with funding from UQ's Climate Change Research Network. We also gratefully acknowledge ongoing funding provided through the Mary Lee bequest that helps support the Social Change Lab and our activities.
A series of events focussed on environmental sustainability taking place from 25-28 August 2026. Sponsored by the Social Change Lab, the Network of Environmental Social Scientists, the Advocacy Research Network and generously supported with funding from UQ's Climate Change Research Network. We also gratefully acknowledge ongoing funding provided through the Mary Lee bequest that helps support the Social Change Lab and our activities.
What are our aims?
Around the world, environmental challenges are converging in ways that are increasingly complex and urgent. The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource scarcity are not isolated issues — they are part of a broader polycrisis that intersects with economic instability, social inequality, and geopolitical tensions. As these pressures mount, the need for bold, collaborative, and justice-oriented responses has never been greater.
The festival aims to make groups working for a more environmentally sustainable future more visible to each other and to communities, and to draw new voices into the conversation.
Keen to host an event?
We invite anyone - community members, scholars, students, and advocacy groups - to host an event as part of the festival! Please see our host guide for more info.
Around the world, environmental challenges are converging in ways that are increasingly complex and urgent. The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource scarcity are not isolated issues — they are part of a broader polycrisis that intersects with economic instability, social inequality, and geopolitical tensions. As these pressures mount, the need for bold, collaborative, and justice-oriented responses has never been greater.
The festival aims to make groups working for a more environmentally sustainable future more visible to each other and to communities, and to draw new voices into the conversation.
Keen to host an event?
We invite anyone - community members, scholars, students, and advocacy groups - to host an event as part of the festival! Please see our host guide for more info.
Environment Festival 2026 (download the festival program here)
**All times listed below are AEST (UTC +10) unless specified otherwise**
Tuesday 25 August
**All times listed below are AEST (UTC +10) unless specified otherwise**
Tuesday 25 August
- 4-6pm AEST: Free film screening, "The Plastic Country". Join us for a free screening of The Plastic Country, a powerful and thought-provoking Australian documentary that explores the impact of plastic pollution on our environment, communities and way of life. After the film, stay for an expert panel discussion on the challenges we face and the solutions that can help create a cleaner future. Room 275, Global Change Institute (#20), UQ St Lucia. Download the flyer here.
- 9am-4pm AEST: National Interdisciplinary Conversation on the Environment. Room 275, Global Change Institute (#20), UQ St Lucia, or online via Zoom. Download the current program here.
- 2-4pm AEST: UQ Sustainability Day. A student-led celebration of sustainability, connection and action. The event will bring together students, clubs, associations and university teams for interactive stalls, hands-on activities, conversations and opportunities to get involved. With the theme Connect. Learn. Act., Sustainability Day is a welcoming space to share ideas, meet like-minded people and be inspired to take practical action for a more sustainable UQ. We will see you at UQ Lakes Amphitheatre, UQ St Lucia. Everyone welcome, just come along on the day!
- 4-5:30pm AEST: PEPSS Seminar, "The power of vested interests to prevent social change", featuring Associate Professor Marianne Hanson, Honorary Associate Professor in International Relations in the School of Political Science and International Studies at The University of Queensland, and Professor Daniel Nyberg, Professor of Sustainability and Organisation Theory, The University of Manchester. Room 275, Level 2 Global Change Institute (Building #20), UQ St Lucia, with an option to attend online.
- 9:30am-3:30pm AEST (online from 10am): Lab Sustainability. Free, in person/hybrid workshop on lab sustainability organised by Labs Who Care and UQ’s Green Labs Working Group. Register to attend in person in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane (Room 3.141, Building 80, 306 Carmody Road, UQ St Lucia) or online. Places are strictly limited so please be sure to register here if you would like to attend. Download the flyer here. For more information/updates/questions please contact Dr Eleanor Mullen at [email protected]
- 9am-5pm PKT (UTC +5): When the water rises: Voices from a changing climate. An interactive booth, featuring games, short films and other activities, to help spread awareness about climate change and the psychological barriers that prevent us from taking meaningful actions towards it. Event hosted by the student-run UMT Psychology Club affiliated with the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Lahore, Pakistan. Will be held at SST1 at UMT. All welcome - just turn up! Download the flyer here.
- 1-2:30pm AEST: POLSIS Research Seminar, "Can unconventional climate advocates increase support for climate action in Australia?", presented by Professor Kelly Fielding, School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland. Room 537, General Purpose North 3 (Building 39A), UQ St Lucia.
