The road from COP26 to COP27 – what role for the UK?

What: Expert panel discuss what approach the UK should take, in its continuing role as COP President, in the run-up to COP27 and as guardian of the Glasgow Climate Pact.

When: 13:00 GMT, Thursday 20 January 2022

Where: Webinar - please email George.smeeton@eciu.net to attend

Who: the panel

Bim Afolami Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group for Renewable and Sustainable Energy. Bim is Chair of the All-Pary Parliamentary Group on Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Vice-Chair of the All Parliamentary Group for International Conservation and is a member of both the All-Parliamentary Group for Climate Change and the Conservative Environment Network.

Bernice Lee, Hoffman Distinguished Fellow for Sustainability and Research Director, Futures, Chatham House. Bernice is an expert on the environment, the politics of climate change, innovation for sustainability, international trade and China, Bernice is a member of the UK Global Resource Initiative Taskforce, the UK Climate Change Committee’s International Advisory Board and the Energy Foundation China Board. Bernice was Director of Climate Change and Resource Security Initiatives at the World Economic Forum (2014 – 2016) and Research Director for Energy, Environment and Resources at Chatham House (2007-2013).

Lord Adair Turner, Senior Fellow at the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) and Chair, the Energy Transitions Commission. Lord Turner was the first chairman of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He also chairs the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), which has set out principles for global Governments to adopt low-carbon economic stimulus measures.

Chris Stark, Chief Executive, The Climate Change Committee. Chris has been Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee since April 2018. His previous role was Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government.

Sepi Golzari-Munro, Deputy Director at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

About

Last year’s crucial COP26 summit resulted in the birth of the Glasgow Climate Pact: an agreement calling for nations without Paris-aligned emissions reduction targets to return with net zero pledges and stronger targets before COP27 takes place in November in Egypt this year.

The baton, however, is not handed over to Egypt yet as the UK officially holds its presidency until the COP27 summit begins in November. Ten months lie between now and then in which the Glasgow Climate Pact will be put to test. The expert panel will discuss:

• The role and priorities of COP26 President Alok Sharma and his team in government over the following 10 months.
• The UK COP26 Presidency’s role in influencing nations to accelerate climate action, committing to stronger short-term targets.
• Support for developing nations – namely adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage – and the COP26 Presidency’s role in working with nations to secure and see through commitments.
• The COP26 Presidency’s role in driving and delivering sector deals agreed at COP26 and the impact of market signals sent by those deals and by more countries signing up.
• The role of the UK government’s own net zero strategy in maintaining credibility in its claim to be a ‘leader’.

For more information

Kathy Grenville, Communications Officer, ECIU, email: Kathy.grenville@eciu.net, Tel: 07501 874 214.

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, email: George.smeeton@eciu.net, Tel: 07894 571 153.