From 31 October to 12 November, the UK is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Key goals for COP26 include reviewing progress towards limiting climate change and meeting the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is joining partners including UK Research & Innovation, the Natural Environment Research Council, Space4Climate, the European Space Agency, the Met Office, the World Meteorological Organization, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in a series of events focusing on the science needed to support policy and action on climate change.
Events will include:
21 October
UKRI-BBSRC webinar: Climate Change Bites
Dr Bethan Purse of UKCEH will speak on climate-driven zoonoses – diseases that can pass from animals to humans – at this pre-COP26 webinar.
Watch
26 October
UNESCO conference: Climate-Resilient Water Management Approaches
Professor Alan Jenkins, UKCEH’s Science Director and Deputy Director, will speak at a pre-COP26 conference on new approaches to assessing and addressing climate risk across sectors, including their vast potential within global climate policy and sustainable development agendas.
31 October
Rediscovering Nitrogen: Solutions and Synergies for Climate Change, Health, Biodiversity and Circular Economy
Glasgow event
The International Nitrogen Management System (INMS), led by Professor Mark Sutton of UKCEH, is co-hosting a COP26 side event with the Government of Sri Lanka. Leading scientists and politicians will outline the action on nitrogen that is necessary to meet global climate goals. The event will kick off celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the discovery of nitrogen in Edinburgh in 1772. H.E. the President of Sri Lanka is a keynote speaker.
Watch the stream here.
31 October – 12 November
Green Zone exhibition: UK Research & Innovation
UKCEH is participating in a UKRI exhibition in the Green Zone, focusing on how research is helping us to understand, tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change. We will provide contributions for the Nature theme day on 6 November, the Adaptation, Loss and Damage theme day on 8 November, and for the Science and Innovation theme day on 9 November. Our contributions focus on climate modelling, and on tools to support sustainable agriculture and sustainable cities.
31 October – 12 November
UK Research & Innovation virtual exhibition
To complement the physical presence at COP26, UKRI has launched a virtual event site. This is open to all audiences across the world, offering access to events and information to inspire, connect and celebrate our climate collaborations. UKCEH is contributing to this platform:
UKRI COP26 virtual event site
31 October – 12 November
Green Zone exhibition: Space4Climate / European Space Agency
UKCEH is participating in a Space4Climate / European Space Agency exhibition in the Green Zone, focusing on Earth Observation and the uses of satellite data for climate modelling and action. Our contribution focuses on tools to support sustainable cities. The exhibition will represent the whole process around climate data from space – from building satellite missions to data analytics that underpin climate decisions, to innovative climate services.
Space4Climate @COP26 site
3 November
Blue Zone event: Met Office / World Meteorological Organization (WMO) / Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Living with climate change; how systemizing predictions of water conditions helps us adapt to a changing climate. This event, which will include Professor Alan Jenkins and Professor Harry Dixon from UKCEH, will highlight the Hydro-SOS project.
3 November
Blue Zone event: International Nitrogen Management System
Professor Mark Sutton will speak at this event, which will focus on nationally determined contributions and the nitrogen climate opportunities.
3 November
Blue Zone event, Science Pavilion: WMO, Water and Climate Coalition
Professor Alan Jenkins and Professor Harry Dixon will speak at this event, which will focus on living with climate change - how systematizing predictions of water conditions helps us adapt to a changing climate.
6 November
Dynamic Earth Climate Science Showcase
Edinburgh
UKCEH will participate in this showcase, engaging the public with our climate science.
10 November
Defra virtual event: England Peat Action Plan
Professor Chris Evans will participate in a panel discussion and Q&A. Register for access to the Peatland pavilion here.
10 November
Virtual Blue Zone event, Water Pavilion: WMO, Water and Climate Coalition
Virtual event on "Living with climate change; how systematizing predictions of water conditions helps us adapt to a changing climate". Professor Alan Jenkins chairing and Professor Harry Dixon is the keynote speaker.
Watch this event here.
11 – 12 November
Blue Carbon: Beyond the Inventory: Conservation International, UNESCO, IUCN
Royal Society, Edinburgh
Angus Garbutt, Annette Burden and Hannah Clilverd of UKCEH will speak at an event focusing on Blue Carbon – the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems.
Watch the event here.
Read more about how UKCEH science is supporting climate policy and action around the world:
- Reducing peatland greenhouse gas emissions around the globe
- Improving the accuracy of weather and climate forecasting with JULES
- Mitigating the impacts of climate change in West Africa
- Supporting sustainable development of offshore wind power by minimising the impacts on seabirds
- Helping UK communities and businesses become more flood resilient
- Establishing sustainable nitrogen management supports multiple UN SDGs
Further information
See the COP26 website or email enquiriesceh@ceh.ac.uk