The University of Bath has joined the COP26 Universities Network - a growing group of more than 40 UK-based Universities working together to raise the ambition for tangible outcomes of the UN COP26 Climate Summit, taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.

The network seeks to ensure that the UK academic sector and universities play their role in delivering a successful COP26 and getting all players on track to delivering a low-carbon, resilient world. Working with colleagues in the Cabinet Office, The Foreign Office, learned academies and institutions, the network aims to drive change at a central government level and make a real positive difference in the lead up to COP26 and beyond, by easing access to evidence and academic expertise for COP26 for government, NGOs, and other actors.

Alongside the University of Bath Climate Action Framework, joining the COP26 Universities Network will increase the University’s efforts in tackling climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon future. Professor Pete Walker explains:

"I'm delighted to see the University sign up to the COP26 Universities Network. Together with other initiatives, including declaring a Climate Emergency and adopting 11 action principles developed under the Climate Action Framework, it is pleasing to see the University making further important contributions to address the challenge of climate change."

Amy Thompson, Head of Policy Programmes and Communications in the Institute for Policy Research (IPR), is co-ordinating the University’s academic engagement with the COP26 Universities Network. Academic colleagues who would like to find out more about the network, including how to sign up and contribute, are welcome to email Amy Thompson and view the details below.

Amy Thompson says:

“This is a really significant opportunity for our academic colleagues across the University. It's a chance to get their research and expertise - that can work to mitigate climate change and avert the climate emergency - in front of policy decision-makers and influencers working in government. The COP26 will drive momentum to deliver change, and we at the University of Bath can be part of that."

"Any member of our academic community who is interested in this opportunity, please get in touch with me to tell me about your climate change research or please have details of your relevant research on your Research Portal profile."

About the COP26 Universities Network

COP26 Universities Network Mission statement

We want to ensure that the UK academic sector and universities play our role in delivering a successful COP26 and getting all players on track to delivering a low-carbon, resilient world. We aim to do so by easing access to evidence and academic expertise for COP26 for government, NGOs, and other actors, and by taking action ourselves.

Overview and aims

The UK is a global leader in action on climate change and a considerable contribution stems from work undertaken in Universities, in terms of research, training, translation and innovation.

In the build-up to the COP26 event at the end of 2020, following the example given from France in 2015, a series of publications, events and activities should take place to create momentum, engage public and business audiences, and provide support to the UK government in its planning.

To this end, UK Universities stand ready to collaborate and mobilise their capacities on issues relevant to the meeting and its build-up.

A growing group of nearly 40 UK universities have met at the grass roots, academic level, since September 2019 to discuss and agree the plans for COP26. Our intention is to broaden the scope of this emerging community so that any University with strong track record and/or ambition on climate change activities can be involved. We are currently growing organically but are planning active outreach to as many universities as possible.

Streams of work

There are several ongoing strands of work, for academics to engage in:

Sharing knowledge

  • Join the network to stay informed and to contribute. Contact Amy Thompson: a.thompson@bath.ac.uk.
  • Contribute or lead on targeted and strategic briefing notes (approximately 15) on key issues relevant to COP26. Briefing paper topics currently include: Net Zero; Adaptation; Resilience; Just Transitions; Solutions; Biodiversity; Climate Finance; Nature based solutions; Climate change and health; Offsets; Earth observations; High ambitions NDC’s. Academics with expertise in any of these topics can join the Briefing Paper groups to contribute to them, or academics may propose new topics for Briefing Papers. Contact Amy Thompson a.thompson@bath.ac.uk.
  • Provide training to civil servants and others responsible for delivering COP26 and related events. Academics should sign up to the COP26 Universities Network Climate Change expert database.
  • Provide direct support to the COP26 team in the form of evidence, advice, access to experts, etc, through to a formal scientific expert group or groups. Academics can sign up to the database.