Professor Ric Williams presenting at the NW Net Zero event
Professor Ric Williams, Chair in Ocean and Climate Science and co-lead of the University of Liverpool's Climate Futures Research theme and Vicki O'Kelly, Senior Partnerships and Innovation Manager, Partnerships and Innovation:
The international spotlight is on the climate negotiations as part of COP28 which opened in the United Arab Emirates last week and closes on 12th December.
The University of Liverpool has two representatives attending the summit, Dr Elisa Puzzolo will present on Clean-Air Africa and Professor Tariq Ali is running an Institute of Physics day event there.
The University, through our Climate Futures research theme, is also making a contribution at a more regional level, participating in a Northwest Net Zero Hub event as well as providing a briefing to students and staff, alongside online web activities.
The North West has been making great strides to become the UK's first net zero region and recently held an inspiring 'Scaling Up to reach Net Zero' conference.
More than 300 delegates attended the event at the World Museum in Liverpool which explored how we can achieve a step change in accelerating this transition through scaling up.
Professor Ric Williams presented the scientific evidence on climate change, which provided the backdrop to a series of presentations and panel discussions on how the region can build on the net zero innovation already underway, accelerate investment and create more green jobs, whilst ensuring poorer areas were mot left behind.
Key messages from the event included the need to consider different levels of influence and action, the importance of continuing to strengthen the joined-up approach across the region and the need to get on with it through delivering 'pace not perfection'.
The two Metro mayors, Steve Rotheram for Liverpool and Andy Burnham for Manchester, joined the event and emphasised their commitment to the Net Zero agenda, as well as emphasising the need for the Northwest to operate effectively together and provide the necessary training for the next generation to benefit from and enable this transition.
In addition, staff and students are invited to attend a briefing on COP28 hosted by Professors Ric Williams and Karl Whittle in the Brodie lecture theatre room 302 on Wednesday 6 December 12.00 to 13.00.
