COP26 & EAUC
Date: 1 - 12 November 2021
Location: Glasgow
Click here to see EAUC's call on COP26
What is COP 26?
COP (Conference of the Parties) is the annual UN Climate Change Conference, at which UN representatives and observers meet to discuss a global response to the climate emergency. This will be the 26th COP, and it is being jointly hosted by the UK and Italy. It is predicted COP26 will attract 30,000 delegates. There was not much agreed upon in COP25, so the pressure will be on to have tangible outcomes from COP26, particularly on how UN member states will cut emissions. COP meets annually, and is well known for producing some of the most forward-thinking and collaborative global deals, such as the Paris Climate Agreement which came out of COP21 in 2015. This saw 189 UN member states agree to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C.
This is a huge opportunity for the UK, and the education sector in particular, to show the brilliant work that education institutions are doing on this agenda, and it is also a good time to stock take and look at how institutions can do more.
The event will be held in Glasgow; a city famed worldwide for sustainable business tourism, with impressive sustainability ambitions to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world-leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation. Of course, many of the discussions will take place outside of the UN organised events, in fringe events organised by the public and private sector. It will be a very exciting time to be in Glasgow!
What is EAUC doing on this?
Previous COPs
EAUC have represented members at several previous COPs, presenting an open letter in 2015 on behalf of a Global Alliance of networks and associations representing more than 10,000 universities and colleges worldwide to COP21 President, Laurent Fabius. In the letter to COP21 ministers and negotiators, governments were urged to acknowledge and strengthen the research and education role that universities and colleges play in finding and implementing solutions towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, placing it in the context of addressing wider issues of sustainability, including social and economic policies and practices.
EAUC presented a Global Climate Letter during COP25 in Madrid during a series of events that outlined what higher and further education institutions and networks in the world are doing to tackle the climate crisis. The Letter has commitments from over 600 Higher and Further Education institutions representing over 8 million students to go carbon neutral by 2030 (or by 2050 at the latest). The Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges is the official route for the sector to be part of the UN Race to Zero and signatories will be presented at COP26. Sign your institution up now.
COP26 Resources
A collection of COP26 resources for universities and colleges is available on the Sustainability Exchange.
COP26 JISC Mail
We have set up a COP26 JISC Mail list for people to share updates and progress. To join this list please email [email protected] and ask to join.
Creating resources – EAUC-Scotland have developed a resource entitled ‘10 things to do for COP26’. We will create a number of other resources to support COP26.
If you would like more information, or to work collaboratively with EAUC on COP26 activities, please click here to get in touch.
Additional Resources
COP26 Updates
Location: Glasgow
Click here to see EAUC's call on COP26
What is COP 26?
COP (Conference of the Parties) is the annual UN Climate Change Conference, at which UN representatives and observers meet to discuss a global response to the climate emergency. This will be the 26th COP, and it is being jointly hosted by the UK and Italy. It is predicted COP26 will attract 30,000 delegates. There was not much agreed upon in COP25, so the pressure will be on to have tangible outcomes from COP26, particularly on how UN member states will cut emissions. COP meets annually, and is well known for producing some of the most forward-thinking and collaborative global deals, such as the Paris Climate Agreement which came out of COP21 in 2015. This saw 189 UN member states agree to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C.
This is a huge opportunity for the UK, and the education sector in particular, to show the brilliant work that education institutions are doing on this agenda, and it is also a good time to stock take and look at how institutions can do more.
The event will be held in Glasgow; a city famed worldwide for sustainable business tourism, with impressive sustainability ambitions to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world-leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation. Of course, many of the discussions will take place outside of the UN organised events, in fringe events organised by the public and private sector. It will be a very exciting time to be in Glasgow!
What is EAUC doing on this?
Previous COPs
EAUC have represented members at several previous COPs, presenting an open letter in 2015 on behalf of a Global Alliance of networks and associations representing more than 10,000 universities and colleges worldwide to COP21 President, Laurent Fabius. In the letter to COP21 ministers and negotiators, governments were urged to acknowledge and strengthen the research and education role that universities and colleges play in finding and implementing solutions towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, placing it in the context of addressing wider issues of sustainability, including social and economic policies and practices.
EAUC presented a Global Climate Letter during COP25 in Madrid during a series of events that outlined what higher and further education institutions and networks in the world are doing to tackle the climate crisis. The Letter has commitments from over 600 Higher and Further Education institutions representing over 8 million students to go carbon neutral by 2030 (or by 2050 at the latest). The Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges is the official route for the sector to be part of the UN Race to Zero and signatories will be presented at COP26. Sign your institution up now.
COP26 Resources
A collection of COP26 resources for universities and colleges is available on the Sustainability Exchange.
COP26 JISC Mail
We have set up a COP26 JISC Mail list for people to share updates and progress. To join this list please email [email protected] and ask to join.
Creating resources – EAUC-Scotland have developed a resource entitled ‘10 things to do for COP26’. We will create a number of other resources to support COP26.
If you would like more information, or to work collaboratively with EAUC on COP26 activities, please click here to get in touch.
Additional Resources
- Environmental Economic Policy Timeline that includes exclusive commentary from world-renowned Nobel laureates
- COP101 Infographics
- COP26 Infographis
- Podcast: The Economy, Land & Climate Podcast - How are preparations for COP26 going?
- Check the latest updates for useful links and resources
COP26 Updates
Related Pages
COP26 Universities Network - March Briefing
