Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England, addressed leaders of 39 European universities at a climate symposium held at Durham University this week.
He called for a closing of the gap between knowledge and action with universities playing a huge potential role in drawing together cross-disciplinary research agendas and inspiring the young minds coming through universities.
Climate symposium
The opening speech was part of the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium which brought together 39 prestigious universities from across Europe to affirm their shared commitment to tackle climate change and embed sustainability in all areas of academic life.
Dr Juniper, who has just been reappointed for a third term as chair of Natural England, stressed that climate change is no longer a "future threat" but that "we are living in the era of consequences".
He said: "We've known about climate change now for more than a century, and over the last 30 years have put in place ever more ambitious goals and targets to do something about it. But the simple truth is that we're not acting with the speed and scale needed to avoid potential crisis in the coming decades. Now, the Coimbra group is in an incredibly powerful position to do something about this."
"This is not a small job, this is not an environmental issue, this is about the future of human civilisation."
Decarbonisation progress
He expressed pride in some of the progress in the UK with the moves towards decarbonisation of electricity, transport and heating. But he warned that climate change has become very divisive and that the global picture is worrying with the highest levels of emissions in human history seen in 2024.
"The simple truth is that we're not acting with the speed and scale needed to avoid potential crisis in the coming decades."
Addressing the leaders of the European member universities, Dr Juniper acknowledged the powerful position of the Coimbra Group as an influential network of higher education institutions, encouraging the network to lead by example, inspire future generations, create zero carbon places and consider wider questions.
"These universities can be in the vanguard of a necessary programme of global change that needs to get underway right away."
