Climate Spring champions the power of storytelling to transform our cultural response to the climate crisis. We work with the screen industries to tell compelling climate stories that resonate, inspire and reach global audiences.
Development Funding
Scripted Development
We provide development funding and support for scripted film and television projects, from reading materials and discussing financial needs to co-funding development with established production partners.
Projects can be from any genre - drama, comedy, sci-fi, thriller - but they must feel relatable, emotionally driven, and capable of inspiring real-world change. We look for narrative-rich, character-led, solution-oriented stories that engage a broad audience, not just those already engaged in climate issues.
Our commissioning priorities are guided by our Climate Storytelling Guide and regular open briefs. We list all current briefs on our Opportunities page.
We do not currently fund short films through our Development Fund, however our regular writers’ development labs and competitions may cover short-form projects.
Unscripted Development
We invest in the development of commercially viable unscripted series and formats. We are interested in a wide range of genres and subjects, from big social experiments and factual entertainment shows to returnable popdoc series and lifestyle programmes.
Natural history and one-off documentaries (particularly feature-length, singles and shorts) are a low priority for us, except through targeted initiatives such as our recent Sheffield DocFest Climate Documentary Pitch.
For full details, please see our Unscripted Development Brief.
Eligibility and how to apply
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We only accept submissions from literary representatives or established production companies. Any unsolicited submissions will be deleted and not reviewed.
For those who don’t meet these criteria, please refer to our annual The Hot House writers’ development programme.
To submit an idea, please contact our development team via enquiries@climate-spring.org with details about your project, including a paragraph on why you feel it fits our commissioning priorities.
Evaluation and timeframe
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We are a small team and receive a high volume of submissions. To give each idea the attention it deserves, please allow a few months for a response.
We assess projects on their fit with our strategic goals, our briefs and their commercial potential, including a clear route to screen. Once we have all the information we need, we work swiftly and collaboratively to move ideas forward.
Editorial Consulting
At our discretion we offer tailored editorial consultancy services. Drawing from our deep expertise in climate communication, climate science, and the screen industry, we provide informed, strategic guidance on how best to articulate climate messaging within a given project. Our consultancy begins at the earliest stages of development, often from the initial pitch, and can continue all the way through to distribution.
Climate Spring to act as consultant on new TV adaptation of The Petroleum Papers
Climate Spring to collaborate with New Pictures on new TV adaptation of The Petroleum Papers
Climate Spring to act as consultant on new TV adaptation of The Petroleum Papers
Climate Spring to collaborate with New Pictures on new TV adaptation of The Petroleum Papers
Climate Spring consults on procedural series Weiss & Morales (RTVE, ZDF and ZDF Studios)
In this procedural series, a German BKA agent and a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant reluctantly team up to investigate a crime in the Canary Islands' German community, navigating cultural differences.
Climate Spring consults on procedural series Weiss & Morales (RTVE, ZDF and ZDF Studios)
In this procedural series, a German BKA agent and a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant reluctantly team up to investigate a crime in the Canary Islands' German community, navigating cultural differences.
Climate Spring provides editorial advice for new ITV thriller ‘After the Flood’
Climate Spring were pleased to collaborate with ITV Studios and Quay Productions on mystery thriller 'After the Flood', providing editorial advice on a range of climate-related elements of the story.
Climate Spring provides editorial advice for new ITV thriller ‘After the Flood’
Climate Spring were pleased to collaborate with ITV Studios and Quay Productions on mystery thriller 'After the Flood', providing editorial advice on a range of climate-related elements of the story.
Workshops and Training
Professional Development Programmes
We offer online professional development programmes in the UK/Europe and the US, equipping producers, script editors, script consultants and development executives with the knowledge and creative confidence to champion engaging climate content for film and TV, a key skillset that is increasingly high in demand across our industry.
Through expert-led lectures, peer to peer sessions, collaborative development, and hands-on exploration of how to tell compelling climate stories, participants learn how to authentically embed climate into the heart of projects they’re supporting, and into the wider film and TV storytelling ecosystem.
Applications for our 2025 programmes are currently closed.
World Building Workshops
Our World Building workshops help unlock our imagination to envision life beyond fossil fuels and extractive systems. Bringing together writers, creatives, futurists and climate experts, we offer practical frameworks that turn climate science, technology and solutions into creative inspiration, creating near-future worlds that explore what a regenerative near future might look and feel like.
Sign up to our newsletter for upcoming sessions, or get in touch to organise a bespoke workshop or training for your company, festival or organisation.
Writers’ Retreats
Our writers' retreats offer writers a space to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with their creative purpose.
We believe that rest and community are essential ingredients for powerful regenerative storytelling. These retreats provide nurturing, peer-to-peer spaces for writers to restore creative energy, deepen their craft, and strengthen the sense of collective resilience that underpins stories of a more equitable and regenerative future.
There are currently no upcoming retreats.
Creativity, Climate and Connection: Climate Spring’s Regenerative Writers’ Retreat
In July, Climate Spring hosted its first ever writers’ retreat, with 15 established and talented screenwriters from underrepresented backgrounds.
Creativity, Climate and Connection: Climate Spring’s Regenerative Writers’ Retreat
In July, Climate Spring hosted its first ever writers’ retreat, with 15 established and talented screenwriters from underrepresented backgrounds.
Climate Spring wraps up its first-ever Changing Climate Narratives storytelling course
Earlier this month, Climate Spring wrapped up its first-ever Changing Climate Narratives course, an eight-week programme to empower script consultants, script editors and development executives to integrate impactful climate storytelling into their film and TV projects.
Climate Spring wraps up its first-ever Changing Climate Narratives storytelling course
Earlier this month, Climate Spring wrapped up its first-ever Changing Climate Narratives course, an eight-week programme to empower script consultants, script editors and development executives to integrate impactful climate storytelling into their film and TV projects.
Writers' Development Lab
The Hot House is Climate Spring’s flagship writers’ development programme.
Previously run for short film, animation and long-form formats, and in partnership with leading industry organisations such as BBC Writers, BFI Network and Film London, The Hot House provides writers with development funding, creative support and industry exposure to help them bring fresh, commercially viable climate stories to life.
Six new original screenplays to be developed via Climate Spring’s The Hot House 2024 writers’ lab, exploring stories of the climate transition
Climate Spring, in partnership with BBC Writers and Film London, announces the winners of its The Hot House 2024 writers’ development lab, this year focusing on ‘stories of the climate transition’.
Six new original screenplays to be developed via Climate Spring’s The Hot House 2024 writers’ lab, exploring stories of the climate transition
Climate Spring, in partnership with BBC Writers and Film London, announces the winners of its The Hot House 2024 writers’ development lab, this year focusing on ‘stories of the climate transition’.
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab returns with focus on 'stories of the climate transition'
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab returns, incentivising screenwriters to craft ‘stories of the climate transition’, after 2023 iteration garnered nearly 500 submissions
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab returns with focus on 'stories of the climate transition'
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab returns, incentivising screenwriters to craft ‘stories of the climate transition’, after 2023 iteration garnered nearly 500 submissions
Principal photography is under way for The Hot House: Shorts winner, THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS
Principal photography is under way for There Will Come Soft Rains, winner of Climate Spring's The Hot House: Shorts 2023 production grant, in partnership with Film London
Principal photography is under way for The Hot House: Shorts winner, THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS
Principal photography is under way for There Will Come Soft Rains, winner of Climate Spring's The Hot House: Shorts 2023 production grant, in partnership with Film London
The Hot House: Shorts - 2023 winner THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS receives £10,000 production grant
Today Climate Spring, in partnership with Film London, is delighted to announce There Will Come Soft Rains as the winner of its inaugural The Hot House: Shorts programme.
The Hot House: Shorts - 2023 winner THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS receives £10,000 production grant
Today Climate Spring, in partnership with Film London, is delighted to announce There Will Come Soft Rains as the winner of its inaugural The Hot House: Shorts programme.
The Climate Fiction Prize, founded by Climate Spring, celebrates novels that explore the human experience of the climate crisis. It rewards stories that illuminate how climate change impacts individuals, communities, and society - and how we can navigate and respond.
Visit the Climate Fiction Prize website for more information.
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Climate Fiction Prize opens second year submissions with stellar judging panel
The Climate Fiction Prize has opened submissions for its 2026 cycle, with publishers now invited to put forward eligible novels. Alongside the call for entries, the Prize has announced its judging panel, bringing together leading voices from literature, the arts and climate science.
Climate Fiction Prize opens second year submissions with stellar judging panel
The Climate Fiction Prize has opened submissions for its 2026 cycle, with publishers now invited to put forward eligible novels. Alongside the call for entries, the Prize has announced its judging panel, bringing together leading voices from literature, the arts and climate science.
And So I Roar by Abi Dare wins first-ever Climate Fiction Prize, supported by Climate Spring
And So I Roar has been chosen as the winning novel from the all-female shortlist, announced in March, and is the culmination of a year-long selection process by an expert panel of judges from across the literary and climate worlds.
And So I Roar by Abi Dare wins first-ever Climate Fiction Prize, supported by Climate Spring
And So I Roar has been chosen as the winning novel from the all-female shortlist, announced in March, and is the culmination of a year-long selection process by an expert panel of judges from across the literary and climate worlds.
The Climate Fiction Prize announces 2024 longlist
The Climate Fiction Prize, a new literary prize supported by Climate Spring, announces its inaugural longlist.
The Climate Fiction Prize announces 2024 longlist
The Climate Fiction Prize, a new literary prize supported by Climate Spring, announces its inaugural longlist.
Talent Engagement
Climate Spring acts as a campaign partner to Green Rider as part of our wider industry engagement. Green Rider is an actor-led movement using contractual and cultural influence to create a fairer, healthier, and cleaner TV and film industry.
Through the Green Rider Handshake, productions and talent commit to sustainable, people-centered practices that reduce pollution while fostering healthier, more collaborative ways of working.