University of Hull speakers announced at pre-COP26 Climate Exp0 conference

Some of the University of Hull’s leading experts in climate change, energy and sustainability will share their insights at a major international climate conference next week.

Climate Exp0, the first conference held by the COP26 Universities Network and Italian University Network for Sustainable Development (RUS), will run from May 17-21.

Aligned with the key themes and values of the global COP26 summit due to take place in Glasgow this November, Climate Exp0 will showcase international research and provide a stage for world-leading climate change science and policy.

An array of University of Hull figures have been announced in the line-up for the virtual conference.

They include Professor Dan Parsons, Director at the University’s Energy & Environment Institute, Aura Director Louise Smith and Dr Briony McDonagh, who leads the University’s Risky Cities project exploring flood resilience and heritage.

Professor Dan Parsons, who leads the opening day at Climate Exp0 themed on a Green Recovery, said: “On the eve of COP26 in Glasgow, Climate Exp0 provides an opportunity to bring some of the world’s leading voices on climate change together to spark discussion, debate and collaboration on the greatest challenge facing humanity.

“The UK has laid out its ambitions to become net-zero by 2050, and in Glasgow, scientific and policy leaders will unite to shape agendas and future policy in decarbonising our global economies.

Professor Parsons will chair the opening session, ‘Global perspectives on a responsible green recovery,’ on the first day of Climate Exp0.

Sitting alongside Aura Director Louise Smith, the session will discuss how a successful green recovery should address aspects of social justice, protection of nature and climate change, as well as the roles of government, trade, industries and academia.

Dr Agota Mockute, a COP26 Research Fellow at the University’s Energy & Environment Institute, will also chair a session on Monday afternoon.

Featuring alongside speakers from the UK, Italy, Nigeria and Brazil, the session will see presenters, in 2 minutes, share their mitigation solution for green recovery and technologies that could prove pivotal in the quest for a greener future.

Topics will include bio-based solutions, artificial intelligence technology, decarbonisation and managing natural resources.

Elsewhere, Dr Steven Forrest, Lecturer in Flood Resilience and Sustainable Transformations at Hull, will chair the ‘Socially equitable green recovery’ event on Wednesday. In the session, speakers will discuss what measures beyond economics are critical in a just and socially equitable green recovery.

Also in the line-up at the Climate Exp0 are:

• Chloe Carter - Fluvial Geomorphology PhD candidate
• Dr Stewart Mottram - Senior Lecturer in English Literature
• Dr Lisa Jones - Senior Lecturer in Education
• Dr Pedro Beltran-Alvarez - Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
• Dr Briony McDonagh – Director, Doctoral College and Reader in Historical Geography
• Dr Irene Sotiropoulou – Energy & Environment Institute, University of Hull
• Katie Parsons - PhD Researcher in Human Geography
• Josh Wolstenholme - Research Assistant and PhD candidate

The University’s £330,000 Risky Cities project will be amongst the research on display at the Climate Exp0.

Led by Dr McDonagh, Risky Cities will use innovative arts and humanities approaches to build climate awareness and help communities become more flood resilient, today and for the future.

The project will gather Hull-based stories of flooding and use them in community-based arts and heritage interventions as well as large-scale cultural productions developed in collaboration with project partners, Absolutely Cultured and the National Youth Theatre.