COP28 - Adaptation and building resilience in a changing world

A panel discussion and networking with University of Birmingham experts, chaired by Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Lord Bilimoria.

Our COP28 programme, The University of Birmingham Dubai campus is hosting an afternoon reception to launch the NEW report ‘Adaptation and Building Resilience in a Changing World’.

Registration

To attend this in-person panel discussion on Wednesday 29 November, 15:00-17:00 GST, (11:00-13:00 GMT), please register via Eventbrite.

Alternatively, you can attend virtually via Zoom.

Summary

The COP28 summit will strive to refocus global attention, bringing nations together to agree the actions that still need to be taken to deliver the pledges within the Paris Agreement and wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This international effort requires new knowledge and innovation to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and inform adaption strategies to impacts around the world – universities have an important role to play.

Meet the academic contributors to this important new publication and hear how the University of Birmingham is supporting policy makers, business, and wider society to ensure a sustainable future for all.

This report brings together national and global policy recommendations on what can be done to address the consequences of climate change. Based on the latest research (including projects led by the University), this report considers the mitigations and adaptations necessary to support; water and food security; resilient transport and other infrastructure; health and environmental quality; and global finances and governance.

The University of Birmingham is leading research with real world application to help mitigate and adapt to the impacts associated with climate change and living in a much warmer world.

Find out more about COP28 

Panel Discussion (chaired by Lord Bilimoria)

Lord Bilimoria, the 7th Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, will chair an interactive panel discussion focusing on the themes explored within the four policy briefs and examining how to engage policy makers effectively. 

Lord Bilimoria is the founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited and of Molson Coors Cobra India, both joint ventures with the global brewing company, Molson Coors. He is also the founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council.  

In 2004 he was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to business and entrepreneurship, and in 2006 he was appointed an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and was made Baron Bilimoria of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, making him the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords. 

The panel comprises:

Professor David Hannah 
Professor of Hydrology; UNESCO Chair in Water Science, University of Birmingham

Expertise: water; terrestrial water cycle; climate and river flow; droughts; floods; glaciers; water quality; river water temperature; ecological and human impacts of climate change; environmental sensor technologies.

Professor Aleks Cavoski
Professor of Environmental Law, University of Birmingham

Expertise: Environmental Law; EU law; intersection of law, politics, science, public policy and language; Birmingham Plastics Network

Professor Hisham Farag
Professor of Finance; Head of Research, Birmingham Business School and Director of Sustainable Financial Innovation Research Centre, University of Birmingham

Research Centre Expertise: Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investments, ESG, Financial Innovation and FinTech, Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Dr Rebecca Heaton
Group Environmental Sustainability Director, Lloyds Banking Group

Expertise: Energy; climate change and land-use and the role business must play in enabling the UK to decarbonise.

Dr Rebecca Heaton has a 25-year global career working at the interface between business, science, and policy; she was a member of the UK Committee on Climate on Change from 2017 to 2021, and currently sits on the Natural Environment Research Council.  

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, has a PhD on climate change, energy and forestry from Cardiff University, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law from Bangor university for her work on climate change policy. In 2021 she was selected as one of ‘one hundred women to watch in business’ by Cranfield University.

Shruti Tamilselvan
Business Management and Marketing student, University of Birmingham Dubai

Event Itinerary -

15:00-15:15 GST (11:00-11:15 GMT) - Welcome & Drinks Reception

15:15-16:00 (11:15-12:00 GMT) - Opening remarks from Lord Bilimoria, followed by panel discussion

16:00-16:30 (12:00-12:30 GMT) - Q&A session 

16:30-17:00 (12:30-13:00 GMT)  - Networking and canapés

Further Information

For any enquiries, please contact Ceridwen Keeping (University of Birmingham, Dubai) - c.a.keeping@bham.ac.uk or Holly Young (Life and Environmental Sciences) - h.f.m.young@bham.ac.uk