Following the success of last year’s RE[act] Festival for a Sustainable Belfast, the event is set to return from Monday 10 to Friday 14 November 2025, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, academics, and community voices for a week of events dedicated to shaping a sustainable future for the city. Organised by Linen Quarter BID, the festival’s 2025 edition RE[act] – Building Resilience Together takes place under the theme “Capacity Building”, reflecting the global conversation ahead of COP30 and focusing on how individuals and organisations can develop the skills, networks and confidence needed to drive meaningful climate action.
Among the highlights this year is RE[sonate]: Women in (Climate) Action, an evening event on Thursday 13 November at Queen’s University Belfast, a storytelling session which will bring together a panel of women leading climate and environmental action across sectors in Northern Ireland – from policy and academia to renewables and media. Panellists include Debbie Caldwell (Belfast City Council), Jane Corderoy (DAERA), Sara Lynch (QUB), Joanne Sherwood (RSPB NI), Katy Fulton (Bryson Recycling), Claire Pollock (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust NI), Emma Morris (SONI), Gail Cook (Artemis Technologies), Tamasin Fraser (Omnipower Renewables) and Nuala Griffiths (Heron Brothers), moderated by BBC NI Agriculture and Environment Correspondent Louise Cullen.
Sara Lynch, Head of Sustainability at Queen’s University Belfast, highlights the role of RE[act] in bringing together diverse sectors and perspectives. She said: “Achieving a sustainable Belfast isn’t something that any one organisation can do alone. It takes partnership, communication and a willingness to learn from each other. RE[act] provides that space – to listen, to share ideas and to build trust. At Queen’s, we believe capacity building is key to driving long-term change, and events like this are invaluable in helping people understand not only what needs to be done, but how they can contribute. I’m really looking forward to the event, as it demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate Belfast’s sustainability goals.”
Across five days, RE[act] 2025 will feature a programme of workshops, talks and networking sessions, each designed to equip participants with practical tools for action and foster collaboration. Highlights include RE[purpose]: From Waste to Worth on Monday 10 November, a resource-matching workshop from International Synergies helping businesses turn waste into opportunity and support a circular economy; RE[tool]: Skills for Impact on Wednesday 12 November, a full-day Carbon Literacy Training course delivered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, a UN recognised course equipping participants with practical tools to reduce emissions and turn climate awareness into action.
The festival will also feature two Lunch & Learn sessions; RE[imagine]: Stories and Solutions for Environmental Leadership later in the week, featuring a Lunch & Learn with Dr Jonny Hanson from Queen’s University Belfast, exploring how stories in Northern Ireland can inspire environmental change and RE[sponsible] AI for Climate Action by Maurizio Liberante, founder of Sustain who will explore how organisations can use AI responsibly to take practical, measurable steps towards sustainability.
Commenting on this year’s theme, Festival Director Lawrence Tingson said: “Capacity building empowers people – it is the engine that drives sustainability forward. It turns climate goals into climate action, transforms plans into practice, and helps people become active participants in shaping their future. With COP30 on the horizon, this year’s RE[act] is a timely reminder that sustainability starts with people. Whether you’re a business leader, a student, or a citizen wanting to make a difference, capacity building helps connect knowledge with opportunity and vision with action. With every event, workshop, and conversation, RE[act] continues to build on its founding mission: to connect people, share knowledge, and turn ideas into tangible action for a sustainable Belfast.”
Since launching its vision in 2021 to become Northern Ireland’s first sustainable district, Linen Quarter BID has embedded sustainability into every aspect of its work, from public realm regeneration to promoting green transport and biodiversity. Its projects deliver tangible social, environmental, and economic benefits, supporting businesses and communities to thrive responsibly.
A key part of this vision is RE[act], as Chris McCracken, Managing Director of LQ BID, explains. He said: “RE[act] has evolved into a platform that helps Belfast think differently about sustainability – not as a single issue, but as something that affects how we live, work and grow together. Our focus as a BID has always been on creating the right conditions for collective action. That means helping businesses and communities build the skills and relationships needed to adapt, innovate and thrive in the face of change. This year’s festival is about practical action, yes, but also about optimism – showing that Belfast can be both resilient and forward-looking.”
The week concludes on Friday 14 November with RE[connect]: Pints, Purpose & Planet, an informal mixer at Pug Uglys celebrating the next generation of climate changemakers.
