Our work
We have several ongoing strands of work, coordinated by a small steering committee.
Through our activities, we aim to showcase the UK’s efforts on climate change to the international community, demonstrate the power of UK universities and world-leading science in innovation in contributing to the changes necessary, and exemplify how UK universities can work together on this important shared priority.
Our work areas
Policy engagement
Conduct outreach and consultation with policymakers, such as UK government officials, to facilitate the dissemination and development of evidence for climate action
Support capacity building across the academic community, through ad hoc training and secondment opportunities
International
Promote international knowledge sharing, collaboration and capacity building to expand the impact of universities in the context of UNFCCC negotiations, through engagement with other academic networks and host country institutions.
Strengthen engagement with international climate and nature fora across the UK research and higher education community
Education and skills
Raise the profile of university in supporting green jobs/future jobs
Promote collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening action across the higher education sector
Innovation
Showcase and facilitate knowledge sharing on the role of universities in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship
Develop innovative opportunities to engage the broader UK public in climate solutions
Net zero universities
Foster collaborative activities to develop guidance, share and realise good practice across the network and key sector bodies focused on HEIs delivering a resilient net zero transition for their own institution
Connect people supporting our institutions net zero transition and seek to facilitate alignment between operational and academic approaches
Briefings
We coordinate and publish briefing papers to share evidence on key climate change topics, written by more than 100 authors from across our member universities.
Case studies
We highlight case studies of best practice in climate action from our member universities.
Latest news
UKRI COP26 Fellows
Five researchers have been awarded UKRI fellowships to support international climate negotiations ahead of COP26 through the provision and interpretation of scientific evidence. See their ... Read more
ActNowFilm to showcase at COP26
We’re pleased to announce that ActNowFilm – a global youth voices film from the COP26 Universities Network, and part of the Voice Track of the Global Youth Summit on Net-Zero Future (Climate x ... Read more