COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments will discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change. The summit is being held this year in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 through December 12, and University of Toronto’s Climate Positive Energy is pleased to be participating.
As part of COP28, Climate Positive Energy will be hosting 3 panel discussions in various venues in the Blue Zone. On December 8, CPE’s Shatha Qaqish-Clavering will moderate a panel discussion on Western Canada’s Innovation plans to tackle climate change. During this session, CPE will host representatives to discuss various innovative initiatives in Alberta and Saskatchewan aimed at addressing climate change, and obstacles to adopting solutions. Speakers will be from Emission Reduction Alberta, the Clean Resource Innovation Network, and CCS Knowledge in Saskatchewan.
“This panel presents a unique opportunity for U of T to convene players from Western Canada to talk about climate change,” said Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Director of Strategy and Operations at Climate Positive Energy. “Discussions like this one at COP28 will underscore the importance of collective action and a unified all-hands-on-deck approach in tackling the climate challenge.”
CPE is also hosting a UNFCCC side event panel on December 9, centered on the role of universities in the energy transition. The panel will discuss real life examples of how universities are working with communities and industry to support 2050 net zero emission targets through various research and conversations in the fields of innovation, policy, buildings, and strategic partnerships. The panel will also shed light on the role of universities in driving social justice, equity, and youth leadership, and ensuring no one is left behind in the energy transition. In this panel, Climate Positive Energy is chairing the session composed of 8 other institutions.
“Universities can play a significant role in advancing progress towards 2050 net-zero emission targets, and engaging our students in these critical conversations is crucial to achieving a just energy transition,” said Shatha Qaqish-Clavering. “This next generation of youth leaders is going to be living in the future that we collectively create, and will bear the greatest impacts of climate change and climate action.”
A third panel on December 10 will investigate innovation and the role of universities in stepping up to meet the needs of communities and industry for a net-zero future. Panelists will discuss innovation adoption issues across industries, and where are the gaps exist between universities and the society when it comes to unified action against climate change. The discussion will also examine the role of “blue skies” research in enriching the wealth of scientific knowledge, as well as the applied research that resonates with the current needs of the society – and the importance of balancing both.
Shatha adds, “Universities are not observers, but they are doers through innovation, partnerships, policy, and social justice. Our panel at COP28 will provide various examples of how universities are stepping up to the needs of the communities and industry to contribute to the fight against climate change.”
Keep reading for additional details on the panels.
December 8 – Canadian Energy: Innovation, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Era of Climate Change
Titled “Canadian Energy: Innovation, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Era of Climate Change,” this panel presents a unique opportunity for U of T to convene players from Western Canada to talk about climate change.
- Date and Time: December 8, 2023 at 3-4pm local time
- Panel Location: Blue Zone – Higher Education Pavilion
Speakers include:
- Chair and Moderator Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Director of Strategy and Operations at Climate Positive Energy, University of Toronto
- Glen McCrimmon, Director of Operations, Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN)
- Dale Friesen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Chief Government Affairs Officer, ATCO
- Beth (Hardy) Valiaho, Vice President, Policy, Regulatory & Stakeholder Relations, International CCS Knowledge Centre
- Nannette Ho-Covernton, Sustainability Leader, Spartan Controls
December 9 – Decarbonization Ecosystems: The Impact of University Partnerships
Titled “Decarbonization ecosystems: the impact of university partnerships,” this panel features the University of Toronto’s 46-partner decarbonization project, the Italian University Network (RUS)’ university decarbonization guidelines, the Climate Leadership Network’s 450+ institution decarbonization plans, and the UK Universities Climate Network and U7+ network leadership initiative.
- Date and time: December 9 at 6:30-8pm local time
- Location: Blue Zone
Speakers include:
- Chair and Co-moderator Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Director of Strategy and Operations at Climate Positive Energy, University of Toronto
- Co-moderator Beth Martin, Professor at Washington University St. Louis, Second Nature
- Erwin Franquet, Professor of Engineering at Universite Cote D’Azur
- Patricia Crifo, Director of Smart Cities and Urban Policy Master at Ecole Polytechnique
- Patrizia Lombardi, Professor of Urban Studies at Politecnico di Torino
- Michela Gallo, Professor at Università degli Studi di Genova
- Carmela Cucuzzella, Dean of Faculty of Environmental Design at Universite de Montreal
- Paola Visconti Arizpe, Second Nature
- Respect Musiyiwa, MSC Student at University of Edinburgh
- Kimberly R. Marion Suiseeya, Associate Professor at Northwestern University
December 10 – Unleashing Innovation: How Universities Can Drive Progress Towards Net-Zero
The third panel CPE is chairing is on December 10 at 11am-1pm local time in the Higher Education Pavilion. The panel details are still under planning.
Speakers include:
- Chair and Moderator Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Director of Strategy and Operations at Climate Positive Energy, University of Toronto
- Patricia Crifo, Professor of Economics at Ecole Polytechnique from Paris
- Stella Fors, PhD student in Chemistry, Northwestern University, US
- Ahmed Hanafy, Director at Dunsky Energy, Montreal
Stay tuned for more updates, and please reach out to us if you are planning to attend COP28, we would like to meet you there.