2020 UPDATES

Following the news that COP26 is understandably postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, EAUC released the below statement:

"EAUC wants to reassure members and partners that we will continue with our work to support institutions have a voice at COP26 and lead the sectors response to the Climate Emergency. We remain a member of the COP26 youth roundtable for the Cabinet Office, as well as our work with United Nations Environment (UNEP) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure education is seen as a critical voice in all climate matters. Through EAUC-Scotland, we will also continue our work supporting Scottish institutions and the public sector to further build on this and ensure a strong Scottish voice is particularly present. We will, of course, continue to support the UK COP26 Research Group and other key partners to guarantee that when COP26 does happen, it is seen as a success in highlighting the work that universities and colleges are leading on.”

• EAUC will continue to plan for COP26 in 2021, and make use of the extra time to make its contribution bigger and better.

EAUC has been doing a lot of work towards COP26 behind the scenes. Here are some of the things we are working on:

• The launch of COP26 event in London, with representatives from the Climate Commission including two students and University of Plymouth Vice Chancellor Judith Petts.
• ‘Countdown to COP26’ - a civil society conference, organised by Green Alliance (of which EAUC is an active member). Opened by Cabinet Minister Michael Gove and closed by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, this was a really interesting conference that allowed a lot of knowledge transfer and discussion about how civil society can work together.
• COP26 Youth Roundtable launch (ongoing as EAUC is a member) run by the COP26 Cabinet Office. Other members include the British Youth Council, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Future Leaders Network, SOS-UK, among others.

Scotland events - there was an initial ideas event on the 4th of February for the FHE sector and one for the Scottish Government at the same time which focused on Ambition & Action, Wellbeing & Just Transition and Inclusion.

• Working with Climate Coalition and the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit on coordinating an education sector group to input on civic society activities around COP26
• Working with Museums and Galleries in Scotland to coordinate activities
• Working with UNFCCC and UNEP on profiling the SDG Accord and Global Climate Letter at COP26
• Liaising with institutions who have Observer Status to attend COP to help represent education within COP itself

Climate Commission – Together with Association of Colleges, GuildHE and Universities UK, we have partnered to establish a Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders. This was launched in November 2019. 

Working with academics – We have been having constructive conversations with “UK Universities’ support for COP26 Glasgow 2020”. This is a growing an academic network representing 21 institutions that can be used as an information resource and we are discussing further crossover and work we can do with these researchers and academics.