University of Hull experts head to Glasgow for vital COP26 climate summit

• A live streaming of ‘On the Edge’ – a National Youth Theatre and University of Hull climate-themed performance – is taking place at Middleton Hall on Friday 5 November, 12:30pm-2pm. To book, click here. The performance will also be available to view live on the COP26 YouTube channel.
  
  
  

Leading University of Hull experts in low-carbon energy, flood resilience and sustainability will head to Glasgow next week for the global COP26 climate summit.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

World leaders will meet at the summit to discuss global actions which can be taken to combat climate change and protect our planet for future generations.

The University of Hull has a strong presence at COP26, with a variety of projects and partnerships being exhibited.

Among the partnerships on show is the University’s work with the National Youth Theatre on a trilogy of climate-themed productions – one of which will be performed live in Glasgow.

Professor Dan Parsons, Director at the University’s Energy & Environment Institute, said: “COP26 provides the world with an opportunity – an opportunity to agree on the actions and policies needed to combat the climate crisis and decarbonise our global economy.

“This week, the World Meteorological Organisation declared that levels of warming gases in the atmosphere rose to record levels in 2020 – despite the economic disruption caused by COVID19.

“I hope they will say that COP26 was the pivotal moment in history, when world leaders agreed on the scale of the challenge we face, and took the steps needed to act on it.”

University of Hull delegates at the COP26 summit include:

• The Right Honourable Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone – Chancellor
• Professor Dan Parsons – Director, Energy & Environment Institute
• Professor Briony McDonagh - Professor of Environmental Humanities, Risky Cities Lead and Director of the Doctoral College
• Dr Stuart McLelland - Deputy Director of the Energy and Environment Institute
• Dr Christina Roggatz – Research Fellow
• Hiatt Jackson - Technology Research Manager, Flood Innovation Centre
• Dr Kate Smith - Researcher
• Dr Agota Mockute – Researcher

On Friday 5 November, at 12:30pm, the University’s partnership with the National Youth Theatre will see ‘On the Edge’ performed live.

The performance will explore young peoples’ eco-anxiety in the face of climate uncertainty through the power of spoken word, poetry, music, and short film.

'On the Edge' is underpinned by research gathered through the University's Risky Cities project, and its Energy & Environment Institute. Risky Cities uses innovative arts and humanities approaches to build climate awareness and help communities become more flood resilient, today and for the future.

‘On the Edge’ will be live streamed at Middleton Hall, on the University of Hull campus, enabling staff, students and the public to view the performance. Details of that can be found here.

Elsewhere, the University’s Hedgerows project – ‘Mapping the Gaps’ – will be showcased, looking at the benefits planting new hedges can have on absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere.

The University’s expertise in ocean acidification will also exhibit at COP26. Dr Roggatz’s ‘Crabby’s Reef’ will highlight how video games can be used to educate about the hidden impacts of climate change on our ocean habitats.

The Flood Innovation Centre at the University is taking its SuDS interactor – known as “SuDSy” – to the summit, to explore the subject of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change.

Also making an appearance at the Summit is INSECURE – a project led by the University of Hull which has created a short film with pupils at Withernsea High, who share their experiences of coastal erosion through poetry, spoken word, music and more.

Ongoing research into low-carbon heating and cooling technology will also feature. A team at the University of Hull, including Dr Zishang Zhu, is currently working on a project to explore whether these systems could be fitted into existing public buildings to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.

You can follow all of the University’s involvement at COP26 on social media, via Twitter @UniofHull and Facebook at ‘University of Hull.