COP 26 resources
A collection of webinars, blogs and activities created by the University in the run up to COP 26.
If you have any questions regarding the University's involvement in COP26 or our own COP26 activities, please email cop26@ed.ac.uk.
Helpful summaries
Provided by our School of Geosciences.
- What is COP26?
- A guide to the Climate Crisis
- Summary of the latest IPCC climate report
- Summary of the School of Geosciences' climate research and action
Our School of Social and Political Science have also summarised their research that addresses the challenges of climate change & sustainability.
Free online courses
The University has a range of free online courses on topics such as:
- Climate solutions
- Learning for a Sustainable Future
- Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP26
- Carbon capture and storage
- Critical thinking in global challenges
- Sustainable Global Food Systems
- Nitrogen: a global challenge
Short online courses: environment and sustainability
Educational resources
The University has a vast array of open educational resources for learners of all ages.
- Climate Emergency: Library guide
- Environment and sustainability resources (Age 7 and up)
- Scotland & Nepal schools outreach: "Connecting the climate challenge: Partnering Communities in Scotland and Nepal to tackle the climate crisis"
- The Geographies of Social Justice research group have produced a booklet on Reflections of COP26
Networks
COP26 Universities Network
In 2020, the University became a member of the COP26 Universities Network: a group of over 40 UK Universities working together to assist all COP decisionmakers to stay on track to deliver a low-carbon, resilient world by easing access to evidence and academic expertise and taking action themselves.
Read COP26 University Network briefings
Listen to "The Climate Papers" podcast
Opinion & thought leadership
Teaching Matters: COP26
Dr Glen Cousquer - lecturer & coordinator for the MSc and MVetSci programmes in One Health and Conservation Medicine - has written a 3-part blog series exploring the pedagogical implications of COP26 and how to incorporate this global challenge into our teaching spaces.
Part one: COP26 is knocking on the doors of our classrooms
Blogs from the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute
Check out ECCI's countdown to COP26 blog series - profiling voices from across ECCI's community of climate experts, researchers, students and practitioners, in the lead up to the conference.
Webinars
COP26Cast
Big names from the energy sector, environmental campaigns and global policymaking share their thinking on COP26 as part of an on-camera interview series from the University's Business School. COP26Cast will provide you with much-needed information, discussion, and stimulus for continued attention and action on climate issues generally, and on the UK and Scotland's role as hosts of these crucial climate negotiations.
Watch recordings of each COP26Cast event
Climate, Covid and COP26
Thursday 26 May 2020
World-renowned climate scientist and communicator Professor Katharine Hayhoe is joined by leading experts drawn from across the University of Edinburgh community - including Prof Elizabeth Bomberg, Prof Gabi Hegerl, Dr Sarah Ivory and Dr Hannah Ritchie - giving insights into the politics, business, science and communication of climate change in a post-Covid world.
Part of ECCI's countdown to COP26 series, the event drew an incredible global audience with around 600 attendees signing up for the virtual session from all around the world.
Event summary: Ask the experts: Climate, Covid and COP26
Previous COPs
Since COP 15 we have had delegations attending all the annual COPs, giving staff and students the opportunity to experience the negotiations, participate in side events, and to build new partnerships. Find out how staff, students and alumni contributed to COP 25 in 2019.