COP27: Reading providing vital climate science in Egypt
04 November 2022
Reading science will be represented at the COP27 global climate change conference this month, as the Walker Institute leads the University’s involvement.
Heads of State, ministers and negotiators, along with climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives and CEOs, are all set to meet in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 6-18 November for the United Nations event aimed at progressing work to reduce human-caused climate change.
Walker Institute representatives will present at a major side event on its collaborative research on water security risks, while PhD students will also be in Egypt or participate remotely through Walker’s .
The University’s principal role at COP27 is as an accredited official observer, with senior scientists and PhD researchers attending events, screening videos on their research, carrying out interviews and reporting on their experience in Egypt.
University representatives will participate in activities in the Blue Zone, the official space for negotiations and side events, informing UK Government representatives involved in the negotiations by providing impartial scientific and technical advice.
They will also explore potential research partnerships and funding opportunities and build awareness of Reading’s world leading climate research.
Professor Rosalind Cornforth, Director of the Walker Institute, said: “Our presence at COP27 continues the Walker Institute’s longstanding engagement with the biggest climate change conference on Earth.
“The agreements and actions that come out of COP are vitally important to efforts to reduce the impact of human actions on the planet. These agreements must be informed by strong evidence, so we are proud to be at the forefront of providing the latest science on climate change and resilience.”
COP stands for Conference of the Parties and is the supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is held to review progress against the aims of the Convention, an international treaty that has the ultimate goal of limiting human impact on our climate system.
The Walker Institute is the University’s Interdisciplinary Climate Research Institute and one of eight ‘My Climate Risk’ Regional Hubs under the . It has led the University’s involvement at COP for almost a decade.
Side events involving University representatives
There are a number of , many of which will be streamed online.
Throughout COP27
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COP Climate Action Studio
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This successful activity returns, having been run at previous COPs. Based at the Walker Institute offices, it will enable 18 postgraduate research students to remotely participate in COP27 in real time by conducting interviews and viewing events via video links. This programme is run in partnership with the University’s SCENARIO Doctoral Training Centre. Participating students will on COP27 events as they unfold
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Saturday 12 November 16:45-18:15 |
Launching the Expanded Water Tracker for National Climate Planning Partnership |
This Blue Zone event will provide an overview of climate risks to water security, including drought, floods, and human vulnerability, and how Walker is working with partners to address these issues using a new water tracking tool. Professor Ros Cornforth, Director of the Walker Institute, will be one of the speakers. The event is run by the Walker Institute in collaboration with the Met Office Hadley Centre, University of Exeter, the Alliancefor Global Water Adaptation, sustainable development group ARUP and the International Water Management Institute The event will be .
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Thursday 1 December 14:30-16:30 |
What really happened at COP27? event
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This wrap-up event organised by the Walker Institute will look back on what made headlines and what might have been missed during the conference. It will take place at the Meadow Suite in Park House, Whiteknights campus. Book tickets on the .
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Watch last year’s What Really Happened at COP26? event following the 2021 conference hosted in Glasgow below.