To coincide with COP28 UCC collaborated with the University of Plymouth and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell to host an online lunchtime discussion to provide a local perspective and opportunity to engage with COP28 themes. Guest speakers were: 

• Prof Brian O’Gallachoir, UCC Associate VP for Sustainability and ERI Director, University College Cork, Ireland
• Dr Munira Raji, Sustainable Geoscience and Natural Capital Research Fellow, University of Plymouth and member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Task Force on Just Energy Transition, Plymouth, UK
• Professor Juliette Nicole Rooney-Varga , Professor of Environmental Science, Director - Climate Change Initiative, UMass Lowell, USA

Speakers described their top three hopes for what COP28 could achieve, including the tripling of renewable energy by 2030, phasing out of fossil fuels & progress on loss & damages; Closing the energy poverty gap, people-centred just energy transition, energy security & affordability; That our shared goal will overcome differences between nations; a pace & scope of decision-making matches that of science; a phasing out of fossil fuels that is *real*.

In case you missed the event – you can watch it back right here: