Manchester Met representatives to attend COP26

Representatives from Manchester Met will attend the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow to help accelerate action to tackle climate change – the biggest risk facing us all.

The UK is hosting COP26 between 31 October and 12 November. The Manchester Met team will observe negotiations, provide insights to guide action, and promote the university’s work to tackle climate change through its education, research and business practices.

Manchester Met has been granted access to COP26 through its United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) observer status and partnerships with other organisations.

Expert representatives

The representatives come from a wide range of disciplines and have experience in helping individuals and organisations embrace zero carbon sustainable futures.

They are:

• Dr Delia Dimitriu – Research Fellow (UN representative of Sustainable Innovation Forum)
• Dr Rachel Dunk – Principal Lecturer in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development and certified Carbon Literacy Consultant
• Amer Gaffar – Director of the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre
• Prof Paul Hooper – Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability and Head of Enterprise Development
• Prof Walter Leal – Professor of Environment and Technology (through Hamburg University of Applied Sciences)
• Dr Hannah Mossman – Senior Lecturer in Ecology (through Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)
• Dr Paul O’Hare – Senior Lecturer in Geography and Development and UK Climate Resilience, an embedded researcher working with Manchester Climate Change Agency
• Prof Liz Price – Professor of Environmental Education and Academic Lead for Environment
• Paul Strzelecki – Visiting Professor
• Hailey Tan – exchange student from Taylor’s University (representing Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) through University of Arizona)
• Helena Tinker – Head of Sustainability

Working in partnership

In the run up to the summit and during COP26, the University is are working with a range of people as part of its conversation on tackling climate change.

Activities include:

• Participating in the COP26 Universities Network, a growing group of over 80 UK universities and research centres working together to promote a zero carbon, resilient future, which aims to ensure that the UK academic sector helps deliver a successful COP26.
• Being the official partner of the Greater Manchester Green Summit 2021, where our key messaging will focus on GM Green priorities and our contribution to Net Zero skills and Carbon Literacy.
• Hosting a mock COP26 which allows students to reflect the COP26 summit in Manchester and take part in discussions on the Earth’s future. The event will be supported by members of the UN World Food Programme, who will provide context and join discussions about the votes.
• Promoting events at the ESRC Festival of Social Science with a focus on climate change, environmental sustainability, COP26 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.