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Academics and postgraduate students from Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ Leicester (Âéw¶¹´«Ã½) are going to showcase their pioneering research at the world’s biggest climate change conference, COP28 in Dubai.

Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ is believed to be the only UK university to be in the Blue Zone, a restricted space where the COP28 negotiations take place and brings together world leaders, Government officials, NGOs and observer organisations for panel discussions, side events, exhibits, and cultural events.

Âéw¶¹´«Ã½’s status as a UNAI SDG world hub for SDG 16 and UNFCCC Climate Observer means it will be able to showcase how researchers are helping to tackle some of the climate emergency challenges to politicians, policymakers and campaigners.

Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of Âéw¶¹´«Ã½, said: “Increasing concern over rising temperatures and extreme weather events is arguably making this COP the most important ever.

“Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ is rightly proud of its commitment to sustainability with students and staff working hard to decarbonise the campus, and to research ways of tackling the most pressing environmental issues.

“Our delegation will aim to meet with policymakers, businesses, NGOs and politicians to help shape the responses to the climate emergency which affects us all. 

“We will be representing our Leicester campus and our international campuses by sharing ideas that will support communities at home and around the world. We are grateful to be able to play our part on this global stage.”

COP28 will take place between November 30 and Dec 12 in Dubai. It is the first-ever ‘Global Stock Take’, a measure of how countries are doing against the target set in Paris eight years ago to limit global temperate rises to 1.5C.

Âéw¶¹´«Ã½’s research team is Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola, Professor Rafaella Villa, Professor Lipika Deka, Professor Farukh Farukh, and PhD researchers Silifat Okoya, Jennifer Dranttel, Emmanuel Odumosu, Ogemdi Anika, Kedar Mehta, and Kate Cubley.

Professor Oyinlola said: "Being able to represent Âéw¶¹´«Ã½'s work in sustainability on such an important stage is an incredible opportunity, particularly for our PhD students. They will have an unrivalled opportunity to build their networks, present their research and show how together, we are working to address some of the most crucial challenges facing our planet."

And alongside the work at COP, Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ will be running a series of events in Leicester across the two weeks celebrating sustainability, showing how our students, together with our partners, are making a positive difference to the planet. Âéw¶¹´«Ã½’s Dubai campus will also be hosting sustainability-themed events for students and staff.

There are many events happening on campus including:

• A big river clean-up on the River Soar, where students will join remove plastics from the water and banks around Abbey Park, Leicester, in a joint project with the Canal and River Trust, Leicester City Council and charity Roots.
• The 28 ideas for 28 COP initiative will ask staff and students to come up with ideas, plans, or projects to improve sustainability on campus. A shortlist of 28 ideas for COP28 will be investigated and the best put into operation across the campus.
• Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ Climate Awards, which will celebrate the best environmental projects happening on campus

details all the events Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ is putting together for COP 28, along with details of how to get involved. We will be adding to it in the coming weeks.

Dr Mark Charlton, Associate Director for Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ SDG hub, has led preparations for Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ attending COP28. He said: “We know that students and staff are passionate about sustainability and how they can make a difference.

“We’d encourage anyone who wants to get involved to sign up for the events here on campus and find out more about how we’re helping communities around the world through our impactful research.”

• Want to join our efforts to showcase sustainability at Âéw¶¹´«Ã½? Have an idea you’d like to share? Contact Dr Charlton on dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk