Skip to main navigationSkip to main content
The University of Southampton
Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute

The University of Southampton present at COP26

Published: 13 November 2021
COP26

The SMMI-led an application by the University of Southampton (UoS) to the UNFCCC for Observer status at COP26. This team and others from across the University recently headed to Glasgow to participate at the climate change summit, which was held 31 October-12 November.

 

Nine members of UoS staff from four schools comprised the University of Southampton delegation to Glasgow.

Overarching themes highlighted throughout the summit (e.g. energy, nature, adaptation and transport) are at the heart of SMMI activities and interests, through research at the University of Southampton, and collaboration with research institutions, civil societies, and industry and policy stakeholders. Numerous events organised at the delegates’ pavilions in the UN Blue Zone provided fertile ground to network with fellow researchers, knowledge brokers and policymakers. This enabled the exchange of ideas and insights around our growing understanding of the impacts of human interaction with the planet’s natural environment and scope opportunities to translate this understanding into tangible solutions to avoid catastrophic climate change.

In the first week, Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong attended events which focused on financing a net-zero economy; accelerating net-zero energy technologies; the legal aspects of achieving net-zero and how bioenergy systems will play a critical role. Reflecting on her time in Glasgow, Lindsay-Marie said: “There was a clear underlying message that all sectors must navigate [the climate change] challenge collectively if we are to address the challenges in the swiftest manner.” Her presence at COP26 also allowed her to hold discussions with Rt Hon. Minister Kwasi Kwarteng on not only the UK priorities towards net-zero decarbonisation but also how the UK will work with communities adapting to the consequences of climate change, here and now; through to witnessing the launch of two of the UK industrial decarbonisation clusters, the HyNet and the East Coast (Humber and Teeside) Clusters from the recent UK Cluster Sequencing process.

 

COP26

 

 

 

Left to right: Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP and Rt Hon. Minister Kwasi Kwarteng.

On “Adaptation, Loss and Damage” day, Professor Damon Teagle, Professor Dominic Hudson and Dr Wassim Dbouk met with British Virgin Islands (BVI) Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon. Vincent O. Wheatley, MHA and advance talks - which were initiated through previous ministerial visits to the University in 2018 (in person) and 2021 (virtual) - about how expertise at the Institute would help deliver practical solutions needed to adapt to climate impacts and help decarbonise the BVI economy.

COP26

 

 

 

 

 

Left to right: Dr Wassim Dbouk; Hon. Minister Vincent Wheatley; Prof Dominic Hudson; Prof Damon Teagle.

The SMMI delegation also attended the Clean Maritime side event at the City of Glasgow College Maritime campus including a keynote speech from the Maritime Minister Robert Courts.  This event showcased a number of successful projects that were funded in the recent £23m Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, including a number of projects involving SMMI researchers. The event was followed by a networking session and an impressive presentation by Compagnie Maritime Belge, where latest hydrogen technology solutions for shipping were exhibited.

COP26

 

 

Robert Courts · Minister for Aviation, Maritime & Security - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Department for Transport (DfT) talking at the Clean Maritime Demonstration Showcase event at the City of Glasgow College

Wednesday, week 2 was Transport Day, the delegation split across venues to attend the announcement by Minister Robert Courts of the Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors in the Blue Zone, and a half-day seminar at the City of Glasgow College, jointly organised by the college and UoS strategic partners Lloyds’ Register (LR), on how shipping can proactively transition towards net-zero. The seminar was opened by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson MSP, and included presentations from representatives from BAE Systems, LR, and, bringing a legal perspective to the decarbonisation challenge, Stephenson Harwood LLP.

COP26

 

 

Michael Matheson · Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy & Transport, opening the half-day seminar at the City of Glasgow College.

Not all the action was taking place in Glasgow though, and as part of the Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival 2021, the University of Southampton’s Public Engagement with Research unit (PeRu) organised an online event for the Thursday night before the Summit ended. The event engaged University of Southampton experts with the public to discuss progress achieved at the Summit and whether the United Kingdom was on track to achieve its aim to unite the world to tackle climate change.

Last but not least, on 24 November 2021, Professor Damon Teagle, Professor Abubakr Bahaj and Dr Wassim Dbouk delivered a seminar as part of the Southampton Business School Evening Seminar series, focusing on what COP26 entails for the Solent. The event was delivered in person with registrations from business stakeholders from the region, and included presentations on general reflections on COP26, the climate challenge and impacts of decarbonisation on the Solent region (Prof Teagle); the repercussions of the Summit on the wider shipping industry (Dr Dbouk); and how cities in the Solent can become more sustainable in line with climate objectives (Prof Bahaj).

Overall, it was a truly valuable and rewarding experience for the SMMI to be involved in COP26 and boost the University of Southampton’s engagement in finding solutions to the existential climate crisis that our planet is facing. Attending the summit allowed us to get a first-hand experience of the diplomatic challenges at a global summit of this magnitude and to get a better sense of the situation faced by minority groups, indigenous people, civil society groups, and gender equality and youth activists. Efforts to raise awareness around the rights that these groups champion and for action for greater inclusion are absolutely essential components of sustainability. Our experience at COP26 reinforced our belief that collaboration amongst researchers on multidisciplinary projects that would help inform our understanding of key environmental issues and deliver solutions for all is more needed than ever before, but that it would never be enough without the transfer of the knowledge to  policymakers at local, national and international levels  as well as to various industries that would translate it into action. However, with growing consensus around the science of climate change and of the essential future societal direction to follow, the question remains whether such collaboration would succeed in creating the necessary momentum to develop and implement the required technical and societal changes at a rapid pace to avoid catastrophic impacts on our planet, its life and communities.

Privacy Settings