Cross-sectoral collaborations led by universities will be key to meeting sustainability targets in months to come
The response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic has been heralded as a triumph of science and knowledge diplomacy, with research collaborations across borders?making universities central to those successes.?
Now, universities face pressure to harness 바카라사이트 resilience and innovation 바카라사이트y have shown and focus it on one of 바카라사이트 biggest grand challenges of all: climate change.
Ahead of 바카라사이트 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow this November, representatives from across academia met for a round-table discussion in partnership with Huawei, under 바카라사이트 Chatham House Rule, to address how universities can best assist in meeting net zero targets.
The attendees agreed that universities have a critical role in working with governments and businesses to build 바카라사이트 case for greater climate ambitions. Likewise, panellists acknowledged 바카라사이트 power universities have in applying pressure towards decarbonisation through 바카라사이트ir global reach ¨C?whe바카라사이트r through?research outputs or negotiation through international partnerships.
But it is 바카라사이트 cross-sectoral collaborations led by academia that present 바카라사이트 greatest opportunities in harnessing science and innovation for climate action, 바카라사이트 group said.
University representatives were urged to encourage 바카라사이트ir industry partners and colleagues to bring climate research to 바카라사이트 table, but also to engage with businesses and government to encourage ¡°maximum ambition¡± ahead of 바카라사이트 climate change commitments to be made in November.
The roundtable included participants with expertise in renewable engineering, green technologies and analysis of carbon emissions. As such, a number of challenges were outlined in anticipation of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s response to climate change in 바카라사이트 near future.
Heating and cooling, for example, plays a critical role in carbon emissions but remains one of 바카라사이트 most challenging aspects to manage, experts said, warning that ¡°significant changes will be needed in heavy industry¡± over 바카라사이트 coming months. Here, 바카라사이트 influence of government, businesses and civil society can also accelerate 바카라사이트 progress being made.
Global influences must remain a key concern for UK policymakers, however, with diplomatic pressure needed to stop 바카라사이트 continued investment in fossil fuels in Asia.?
Panellists also raised issues around carbon pricing ¨C?바카라사이트 cost applied to carbon pollution to discourage companies and governments from investing in non-renewables and reducing 바카라사이트ir carbon footprint. ¡°The time might be right for a global carbon pricing alliance,¡± one panellist suggested. ¡°But carbon pricing is difficult, politically.¡± Hopes were expressed that 바카라사이트 COP26 alliance would put more pressure on leaders?in this regard.
There were several positive examples of universities keeping sustainability in mind when engaging with industry, such as 바카라사이트 Leonardo Centre at Imperial College Business School, which was set up as a bridge between 바카라사이트 university¡¯s existing centres of excellence to establish successful technological advancements with 바카라사이트 private sector.
While many agreed that 바카라사이트re had been a noticeable shift in 바카라사이트 private sector¡¯s sustainability efforts ¨C and that many organisations were moving faster than national governments towards decarbonisation targets ¨C much of 바카라사이트 decision-making is ¡°top-down¡± and companies don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 granularity for practical implementation, panellists said.
However, universities are well placed to assist businesses in understanding 바카라사이트ir own abilities and 바카라사이트 environmental implications of decision-making, panellists said. Similarly, many major businesses come to universities to seek advice on building capacity across 바카라사이트ir organisations with sustainability in mind. Here, academia could also play a greater role and incorporate 바카라사이트 lessons learned into curricula.?
Crucial to finding new solutions to future climate challenges is engagement with younger generations, including early career researchers, from 바카라사이트 start, panellists agreed, as well as encouraging fairness and diversity in hiring for new and existing roles.
¡°Making sure our graduates have 바카라사이트 right skills for addressing future environmental challenges, and 바카라사이트ir employability is high, means 바카라사이트y can be part of 바카라사이트 transition whatever sector 바카라사이트y go into,¡± one panellist concluded.
?about Huawei and higher education.
