The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)
The
UN Climate Change Convention, held in Glasgow 1–12 November, represented the largest, global coming together to address climate change. The COP26 summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on climate change.
Several of our world-leading research academics joined others from academia, youth groups, civil society, academia, artists, business from across the UK and all over the world by hosting events, exhibitions, cultural performances, workshops and talks.
To learn more, subscribe to the
COP26 YouTube channel. Find out more about the attending University academics below.
The role of offshore renewable energy with Professor Deborah Greaves
Monday 1 November, 14:45–17:30
Thursday 4 November, 09:30-11:00 with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Deborah Greaves, Professor of Ocean Engineering and Director of the UK’s Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub, demonstrated the role of ORE in tackling the climate emergency and reaching net carbon zero and beyond, with the use of wave tanks, as well as a new children’s adventure book on ORE.
Caring for the land with Professor Will Blake
Tuesday 2 November 2021
10:00–12:00
Professor Will Blake, Professor of Catchment Science and Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute, showcased the power of interdisciplinary thinking to turn evidence into sustainable land management action and reverse the climate change response to severe soil erosion.
Visualising Climate: Young People’s Responses to the Climate Emergency with Professor Alison Anderson
Tuesday 2 November 2021
13:30–14:30, Science Show Theatre
Alison Anderson, Professor of Sociology, led this session which seeks to empower the generation who will be most impacted by the effects of climate change. She discussed innovative ways in which young people can be engaged with climate change. Participants were introduced to an ‘interactive game’ using illustrated visual icons created by Carey Marks of SCARLET Design, used in a series of workshops held with young people in South West England. Following this, there was a screening of a film produced by Fotonow – capturing the voices of a selection of young people from diverse backgrounds as well as journalists and editors. The session was of particular interest not only to young people but also to teachers, journalists and policymakers.
Sustainable Cotton Production using Artificial Intelligence (SCP-AI) with Dr Asiya Khan
Tuesday 9 November 2021
Dr Asiya Khan, Associate Professor of Multimedia Communication and Intelligent Control showcased the work on the Texonomy project, partnered with the University of Glasgow and in collaboration with Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Multan, Pakistan and
SAWIE (Sustainable Agriculture, Water & Intelligent Ecosystem) and led by Northumbria University. The project seeks to support sustainable cotton production – a raw material in Pakistan’s textile industry by applying techniques from AI.
Transport: the road to zero emissions is not just about carbon with Professor Richard Thompson
Wednesday 10 November 2021
13:00–14:30
Richard Thompson, Professor of Marine Biology and Director of the University’s Marine Institute, and
Dr Florian Pohl, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, looked at the need for a whole-system approach to climate and transport, considering both carbon and particulate emissions such as from tyres.
