University of Reading at COP 29
The Walker Institute has led the University's COP involvement for almost a decade
Climate scientists from the University of Reading are in Azerbaijan for this year's COP29 climate summit.
The Walker Institute has led the University's COP involvement for almost a decade and is an accredited official observer.
A team from the Institute will share groundbreaking research and contribute to international climate policy discussions.
For each COP, the Walker Academy runs a Climate Action Studio – COPCAS – where doctoral students can immerse themselves in the unfolding climate policy process and link up with participating students and staff who will attend COP in person.
The meeting is being held in the wake of the latest deadly weather events including floods in Valencia and Hurricane Helene in the US, which scientific analyses show were made more likely and intense by rising temperatures.
This year is on course to break temperature records once again and, as countries prepare to submit new plans for climate action by early next year, the UN has warned that existing policies are falling so far short the world is on track for a "catastrophic" 3.1C of warming.
Countries will also be grappling with Mr Trump's return to the White House, in what analysts say is a trend of climate scepticism in elections this year.
The next President of the US, the world's second biggest polluter, is expected to boost fossil fuels, roll back green incentives domestically and take America out - again - of the global Paris Agreement on tackling climate change, which commits countries to pursue efforts to curb warming to 1.5C.
A key part of the negotiations in Baku will be agreeing new finance commitments for the cash that developing countries need to green their economies and cope with the already inevitable impacts of climate change.
Wealthier countries previously pledged 100 billion US dollars a year in private and public finance to help poorer nations, as part of efforts to secure the Paris treaty.
But they must now iron out a new finance agreement that meets Paris commitments for sufficient cash flows for cutting emissions and adapting to climate change, with experts saying one trillion US dollars needs to be flowing into developing countries each year by 2030.
While money is key to what has been dubbed the "finance Cop" there is also a need - in the light of the US election - for countries to reaffirm their commitment to global cooperation, according to think tank E3G's Harry Camilleri.
"The economic forces underpinning the global transition are unstoppable," he said.
"Now is the time for forward-looking countries, from the EU to the UK and beyond, to step up and lead the global fight against climate change."
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