COP26Cast: The inside track from those leading the change
Big names from the energy sector, environmental campaigns, and global policymaking are set to share their thinking on the next major climate summit as part of an on-camera interview series being launched by the University of Edinburgh Business School this November.
While media headlines this autumn are understandably dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the US election, and Brexit, for people planning a company strategy or seeking to influence government, the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions remains high on the agenda.
The next global summit to agree action, COP26, was supposed to take place in Scotland this November, but has been postponed until next year. To help ensure this extra time is put to best use, the Business School is planning COP26Cast, a series of on-camera interviews and Q&As with leading figures who will shape the outcome of the talks, in discussion with climate experts from across the University of Edinburgh.
COP26Cast will broadcast on a dedicated Facebook page every evening at 19:30 between 9 and 19 November. Topics will include the role of financial markets in tackling the climate crisis, energy transition, the circular economy, wellbeing economies, the global south, and business transformation, as well as the impact on the climate agenda from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speakers will include:
- Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of power giant SSE
- Niklas Hagelberg, Coordinator of the Climate Change Programme at the UN Environmental Programme
- Sue Bonney, UK Head of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms
- Dr Katherine Trebeck of the Wellbeing Economies Alliance
- David Lockwood, Chief Executive of infrastructure and engineering giant Babcock International
Dr Sarah Ivory, Director of the Centre for Business, Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh Business School, said:
“Now is the time to take stock and understand what’s going through the minds of those who will shape the outcome of COP26, and to influence their thinking. Given the importance of climate change to the strategy of every private business and public organisation, the creation of COP26Cast will feed the thirst for insight and discussion that exists.
“Our aim is to produce programmes which answer burning questions and spark ideas to really drive action to tackle this great global challenge. We’re delighted with the senior figures who have already signed up and we have others in the pipeline, so this promises to be a hugely inspirational series.”
