COP28 round-up: what really happened?

The University of Reading again had a strong presence at COP28 – the latest UN climate change conference which brought together world leaders on the issue of climate action.

A delegation of staff and students led by the Walker Institute were in Dubai ,United Arab Emirates, to present research at side events and provide expertise to policymakers from 30 November to 12 December.

Others, including the Vice-Chancellor and students as part of Walker’s COP Climate Action Studio (COPCAS), participated in the conference virtually from the UK.

The team shared their insights and experiences, with students producing a series of blog articles on the research topics discussed at COP28 and researchers providing expert comment the eventual agreement on a global phasing out of fossil fuels.

Walker will be holding an event titled ‘What really happened at COP28?’ at 11:00 on Friday 15 December on Whiteknights campus, where students and staff can hear perspectives on the conference from those who attended.

UoR COP28 highlights

• Students participating through COPCAS produced 25 blogs in total, reporting on side events and key stories emerging from COP28. Their content covered changing attitudes towards electric vehicles captured by exhibits, thoughts on the decision to hold COP in the UAE, the impact of potential sea level rises on the host city itself, and an interview with our delegate team.
  
  
• Several side events involving University colleagues, such as a look at the dangers of acting too late on climate change and a first side event for the Space4Climate research group featuring members of our Institute of Environmental Analytics.
• Reading representatives appeared in the media during and after COP. PhD student Fiona Spuler spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about her experience in Dubai, Professor Rosalind Cornforth was mentioned as a signatory in a letter to the COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, and Professor Chris Hilson and Professor Richard Allan provided analysis of the final deal in The Independent and Forbes.
• Formula E team Envision Racing launched its new car featuring Reading’s climate stripes at COP on Friday 8 December.