Social scientists call for ambitious actions at UN Climate Change Conference COP29
Launching today, the UN Climate Change Conference for 2024 (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, will bring together around 200 countries to develop renewed plans for addressing climate change. With global progress currently ‘falling miles short’ of that needed to avoid catastrophic climate change, there is urgent pressure for these negotiations to result in more ambitious actions. A delegation of University of Oxford researchers will be attending the conference in person, with many more following the proceedings virtually. Throughout the summit (11-22 November), they will be contributing their expertise and presenting new research findings to inform the discussions.
Professor Thomas Hale. Photo credit: John Cairns
The Oxford delegation includes representatives from the Department of Biology, School of Geography and the Environment, Blavatnik School of Government, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Faculty of Law, and Saïd Business School. Their expertise covers a broad range of critical areas including climate finance, carbon trading, climate justice, and environmental law.
Leading Oxford’s COP29 delegation is Thomas Hale, Professor of Global Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government. He studies the challenges raised by globalisation and interdependence, with a particular emphasis on environmental, economic and health issues, and co-leads the Net Zero Tracker and the Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hub.
He said: ‘I hope COP29 will send countries a clear signal that they need to upgrade their pledges under the Paris Agreement, due next year, and match top-level targets with concrete rules and regulations that drive implementation. A trust-building deal on the new finance goal can give countries confidence to reach their maximum ambition.’
