An image of a a globe inside a lighbulb with text IFLA newsletter

The message below accompanies the November 2025 edition of the IFLA Newsletter.

What can we do in the face of challenges that seem too big to face? With the World Meteorological Institute predicting that 2025 will be one of the hottest years on record, and climate politics always in the news, this may be a question we find ourselves facing quite often.

The answer is, we can do what we can for our communities – and we can do it together.

In 2021, IFLA first started getting involved in climate advocacy through cooperation with the Climate Heritage Network – working to show the importance of the culture and heritage sectors in driving climate action. We knew many parts of the worldwide library sector were interested (see: ENSULIB and the IFLA Green Library Awards). We saw there was much potential in bringing together the many threads of library climate work, and carving out space in international policy to show our impact.

Over the years, IFLA has done just that. We have been helping the international community recognise the role of libraries in climate empowerment, as well as growing an understanding of the many ways libraries are making a difference. Find out more about IFLA’s climate empowerment work here, and explore research on the state of libraries worldwide in climate empowerment here.

During the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) that took place this month, the need for whole-of-society solutions has been championed, and more opportunities for the library field have been announced than ever before.

  • Libraries have been significantly included as important partners in the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership’s new Greening Communities Guidance.
  •  The Climate Action Agenda includes actions to help cultural and heritage places adapt to climate change and build resilience.
  • Several countries have made a landmark declaration on Information Integrity for Climate Change, recognising how important it is to fight against disinformation and build information literacy.

Looking ahead, IFLA is excited to help the library field engage in these areas in more meaningful ways than ever.
Keep reading for more on some of these topics, and keep following along for more opportunities to get involved in building more green and resilient communities together.

Claire McGuire
IFLA Policy and Advocacy Manager