University of Exeter plays key role at Climate Week NYC
Professor Tim Lenton on stage in New York with Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group
University of Exeter researchers played a key role at Climate Week NYC.
Exeter’s experts took part in multiple events – including the launch of a new report on “positive tipping points”.
Held each year, Climate Week NYC brings together “business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world” to help accelerate the green transition.
The University of Exeter’s involvement included:
Professor Tim Lenton launched the positive tipping point report at Climate Group’s opening session on Monday morning. He also features alongside Christiana Figueres in a Covering Climate Now briefing, joined a live recording of the Outrage & Optimism podcast, and was keynote speaker at the World Climate Summit. Professor Lenton said: “It was great to see the warm reception that our report on how to trigger a positive tipping cascade in power, transport and heating received. I enjoyed helping launch Climate Week NYC and recording Outrage & Optimism live in front of hundreds of people.”
Professor Gail Whiteman joined actor Rainn Wilson to give away vegan hot dogs in Union Square, in an event called “Saving the Things We Love – Again”. Professor Whiteman also spoke at various events, and announced the launch “impact team” to accelerate action on climate and nature. Professor Whiteman said: “We are very excited to announce the Hoffmann Impact Team for Accelerating Action on Nature and Climate, made possible thanks to the generosity and foresight of André and Rosalie Hoffmann. This unique, high-performing and multi-disciplinary team will use scholarly evidence and combine it with innovative communication and engagement plans. We think this strategic combination can contribute to positive action on the climate and biodiversity crisis.”
Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, who leads the Global Carbon Budget, took part in an event with Professor Michael Mann at the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media and The Rockefeller University.
Professor Richard Betts MBE, of the University of Exeter and the Met Office Hadley Centre, took part in a World Economic Forum event on Amazon rainforest, went to the NASA GISS (the US’s main climate modelling centre) and was part of a G20 Science Ministers visit to AmazonFACE in Brazil. He said: “A highlight for me was zipping around Manhattan between meetings by bicycle. On my last visit five years ago, I would never have considered this – but these days New York has a pretty good network of bike lanes and off-road paths, making cycling definitely the most efficient and fun way to get around this great city. Other cities in the world should learn from this fantastic example.”
Dr Steve Smith, who leads part of Exeter’s research on positive tipping points, was among the researchers who spoke at an event for University of Exeter alumni. Dr Smith said: “The message we brought to Climate Week NYC was a straightforward one: if we’re serious about cutting emissions in half within this decade, we need to trigger ‘positive tipping cascades’ across the global economy. And to do that we need clear mandates – what needs to be achieved, and by when. The ‘policy-as-usual’ taxes and subsidies by themselves aren’t going to be enough.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement, Stuart Brocklehurst, delivered the keynote speech at the New York Stock Exchange’s Climate and Capital summit, hosted by NYSE’s parent, Intercontinental Exchange, which operates a trillion-dollar global carbon market. He described the significance of climate change for financial markets and set out the vital role of capital markets in driving effective action. He said: “Climate Week NYC is the world’s largest gathering of climate activists, innovators and decision makers. The University of Exeter’s mission in part is to drive meaningful action on climate change; the key role our academics played in so many events across the week helped to deliver that, ensuring that science sits at the centre of decision making.”
