What is COP28?

As the only Irish University with observer status, UCC once again sent a delegation of students, academics, and researchers to the United Nations' 28th "Conference of the Parties" (COP28) global summit in Expo City, Dubai in November 2023.

COP 28 brought together nations to assess global efforts to limit the levels climate change against targets set by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and other international accords.

Who was in the UCC delegation?

The delegation was composed of academics, researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate students including:

• Niamh Guiry (Environmental Research Institute (ERI)),
• Dearbhla Richardson,
• Claudia Hihetah,
• Dr Kian Mintz-Woo (ERI),
• Dr Marie Aronsson-Storrier (ERI),
• Dr Archishman Bose (ERI), and
• John Barimo

For the first time, this year UCC allocated 3 of its badges to climate activists from the global south to ensure representation for those most impacted by climate change.

Why was UCC in attendance?

UCC President Prof. John O’Halloran

Sustainability is core to UCC’s ethos – it is one of the five key goals outlined in our five-year strategic plan launched this year. Whether it be through day-to-day initiatives such as our Plastic Free UCC policy, or at a macro level by attending COP28, we will not be found wanting in our relentless efforts to address the single greatest challenge of our age.

Associate Vice-President of Sustainability at UCC and Director of the Environmental Research Institute Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir

UCC was the first Irish University to secure official observer status at COP meetings, and we believe it is important for universities to maintain a presence at the talks. We need observers to stand witness to these important international negotiations and to critically assess the decisions made, in order to ensure the outcomes shape a better future for us all.

Mock COP28

UCC also hosted a mock COP28 to understand COP’s challenges and to see if a global agreement can be reached, organised by UCC Green Campus and the ERI, and supported by UCC Sustainable Futures Lab, with thanks also to UCC Students Union, UCC BEES Society, UCC Environmental Society and UCC Global Justice Society.

COP28 Online Discussion

In addition, to coincide with COP28 UCC collaborated with international partners 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:

• Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir, 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

British Ambassador meets UCC President’s delegation

The British Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mr Paul Johnston, met with the UCC President’s delegation upon their return from the United Nations COP26 conference. UCC President Prof John O’Halloran presented the Ambassador with UCC’s COP26 Declaration. This includes UCC’s commitment, while working collectively with peers along both north-south and east-west axes of the islands of Ireland and Britain, to develop knowledge-based solutions and innovations to address the challenges of climate change mitigation and associated environmental degradation, in tandem with research to inform future policies.

"Through my discussions today with the President John O’Halloran, staff and students from the President’s delegation, and through visiting the UCC’s sustainability mural, I can see first-hand the University’s strong climate action agenda and its commitment to tackling the climate crisis. I look forward to exploring further how UCC and the British Embassy can work together beyond COP26 to support the achievement of our climate targets." - British Ambassador, H.E. Mr Paul Johnston