COP26 brought together parties from across the world to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.<\/p>\n
The two weeks of negotiations resulted in the Glasgow Climate Pact<\/a>, which the UN Secretary General says is ‘far from enough’ and advises that ‘every country, every city, every company, every financial institution must radically, credibly and verifiably reduce their emissions and decarbonize their portfolios, starting now’.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Open\u00a0University\u00a0had\u00a0official observer status at COP26 and has taken learnings from the conference to inform\u00a0the\u00a0university\u2019s wider sustainability mission\u00a0and inspire students and staff to\u00a0take action.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at some of the conference\u2019s week two highlights, as told by some of our Open University observers:<\/p>\n David Edwards, Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths: <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt has been quite an experience to be an Observer at such a large conference bringing together so many disparate voices. My head is buzzing with so many interesting and impassioned perspectives – I\u2019ll be reflecting on this for years to come. Today, the EU negotiator spoke powerfully, making climate change personal by relating it to his grandson\u2019s future \u2013 climate change is personal to all of us!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rosalie Faithfull, Team Assistant, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI think the highlight of my week was when I was able to \u2018parade\u2019 through the blue zone with my fellow observers demanding climate justice and then outside where I was able to join some of my friends on the street. I’m very glad the UN Constituencies were willing to work with the COP26 Coalition on organising this – I think it went a long way at breaking down barriers between the worlds inside and outside the COP and in that way was a demonstration of true democracy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sabine Gundel, Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing for me was experiencing and being able to participate in a rising global justice movement which formed outside and inside the COP26. People power and global solidarity will be needed to move forward from words and pledges to climate action. The march out of the COP26 by thousands of COP observers should be recognised as a significant statement against the lack of significant progress.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Gillian Mawdsley, Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Business and Law:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCOP26 – size, passion, commitment, conflict, complexity, diversity, narrative, and repetition. Our message to action is: How do we make a difference personally, professionally, academically and globally and add value and delivery to the need to change as the Glasgow Agreement once reached.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Stephen Peake, Professor of Climate Change and Energy, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cMy highlight of the week is the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres\u2019 remarks<\/a> to the Global Climate Action High-Level Event on November 11th. A rare and stunning, authentic piece of diplomacy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Open University is committed to being \u2018net zero\u2019 by 2050 and will achieve net zero for what are known as scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, investing millions of pounds to achieve this. The University has also committed to divestment from fossil fuels, on which work has started and will complete by 2023.<\/p>\n As part of its commitment to climate change, the Open University has just launched a new microcredential \u2013 Climate Change: Transforming your Organisation for Sustainability<\/a>. Delivered on FutureLearn, this microcredential will equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and courage to transform their organisation\u2019s response to the climate and ecological crisis, whatever their level, role or sector, and wherever they are in the world.<\/p>\n