“Geoscience cannot afford to wait to be invited to join critical climate conversations: we need to show up and speak up about the many ways in which geoscience can provide solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change“
Flo Bullough, head of policy and engagement at the Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London was granted observer status at the United Nations (UN) COP26 climate conference in Glasgow last month.
Observer status meant access to the “Blue Zone”, the little area of Glasgow that became UN territory for a few weeks, and where the climate negotiations took place. Entry to the Blue Zone involved tight security; those inside had applied for observer status months in advance. Inside the Blue Zone, the climate negotiations took place mostly behind closed doors, but there were many events and activities for observers to engage with. These ranged from major plenary sessions in huge tents where statements from various government ministers and dignitaries were made, to the smaller ‘pavilions’ where countries and organisations were running events of their own.
We asked those who represented the Geological Society at COP26 to sum up their feelings about the experience. Was geoscience talked about? What is next for the Earth science community, in light of the commitments that were made in the Glasgow Climate Pact?
Dr. Gareth Johnson
Dr. Gareth Johnson researches energy geosciences and CO2 removal at the University of Strathclyde. Gareth sits on Geol Soc’s Decarbonisation Working Group, and attended the second week of COP26.
“I left COP26 believing more than ever that geoscience has a fundamental role in climate change negotiations”
COP26 for me was a little overwhelming. Firstly, it’s been a long time since I’ve been around that many people! But aside from crowds, queues, and Covid-19, COP26 was an emotional rollercoaster, and I really wasn’t expecting that. My emotions swung from optimism at new climate mitigation and adaptation solutions being showcased at the different pavilions (think: trade show), to despair at bearing witness to statements from delegates on the current impacts of climate change, and in particular on small island states.
From a professional view, I left COP26 believing more than ever that geoscience has a fundamental role in climate change negotiations. Through geoscience, we can understand climate change and impacts, get the resources we need for climate resilient infrastructure, and develop climate mitigation technologies (carbon dioxide removal, energy storage). We have a huge challenge ahead of us in the next decades to completely transform our societies and geoscience has a huge part to play.
Dr. Megan O’Donnell
Dr Megan O’Donnell is Policy and Communications Officer at The Geological Society of London, and is passionate about communicating geoscience for policy and raising the profile of geoscience. Megan attended the second week of COP26.
“I watched announcements be made, and international partnerships form, that I never thought I would witness in my lifetime”
Attending COP26 was undoubtedly the highlight of my career. Being able to see, first hand, up close and in real time, how science played an integral part in high-profile and politically-critical international negotiations was mesmerising. Working at the science-policy interface can be deeply satisfying if you have an interest in how science plays out into the wider world. The opportunities for geoscientists to have a say in how their science contributes to society are more pertinent than ever before.
I was surprised by how much progress took place in the side-lines of COP26. In the second week of negotiations I watched announcements be made, and international partnerships form, that I never thought I would witness in my lifetime. It’s these small markers of progress that enabled me to leave Glasgow feeling strongly that COP26 is important, valuable, and essential for delivering international progress towards climate action.
The Beyond Oil and Gas Association (which was announced at COP26) demonstrated transformative leadership by committing to producing no further fossil fuels. Renewable energy is now one of the most cost-competitive options on the global energy market. Industries have developed the technology to produce low-carbon steel, which could cut up to 7% of our global emissions. Carbon capture and storage is now an accepted part of climate policy. These changes signal the beginning of a movement away from our energy systems of the past, and towards an innovative, science-led and sustainable future.
Dr. Alicia Newton
Dr Alicia Newton is a paleoclimatologist by background, and Director of Science and Communications at the Geological Society, working to support the personal and professional development of Earth scientists and geoscience professionals. Alicia attended the first week of COP26.
“The fact that many countries had experienced damaging climate extremes during 2021 was evident in the COP26 discussions…There are a number of challenges that we’ll face as we turn climate goals into action, and Earth scientists will be at the heart of the solution”
I think I was most struck by the sense of urgency and commitment I felt throughout the conference. Seeing influential ministers and secretaries talking about the steps they were taking and the proposals their countries were making was inspiring, and showed that countries from all situations were willing to take steps to limiting warming to below 1.5oC. But there are a number of challenges that we’ll face as we turn climate commitments into action, and Earth scientists will be at the heart of the solution. From delivering critical minerals to securing the infrastructure needed to make offshore wind and the hydrogen economy a reality, geoscience skills and knowledge are going to be needed at an increasing scale.
More soberingly, the fact that many countries had experienced damaging climate extremes during 2021 was evident in the COP26 discussions. According to climate experts, all inhabited areas of the Earth are experiencing the effects of climate change. And these effects will worsen in the coming decades, even if we deliver our goal. Engineering geologists, hydrogeologists and other skilled geoscience professionals will be needed to protect existing homes and infrastructure and ensure that new developments are built to withstand worsening climate extremes.
Dr. Nick Gardiner
Dr Nick Gardiner researches metals and minerals, is a Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, and Theme Leader for the Geological Society’s Energy Transition Theme. Nick was at COP26 in the first week.
“The voice of geoscience was very quiet at COP26…there was no real mention of the role of geosciences in enabling climate mitigation and adaptation”
The official programme for COP26 lasted 2 weeks, and each day had a theme – I was at COP26 for two days: Finance Day and Energy Day.
My first takeaway from COP26 was how confusing it was! Once inside the Blue Zone, it was clear that it was in fact a huge climate conference and showcase which took place alongside and outside of the international negotiations (which we could not access). It took at least a day to get orientated;the events schedules and locations kept moving about, too. Team “Geol Soc” had a group chat set up to share real-time updates and insights to help figure things out and keep track, and, crucially, to arrange coffee meetings! That group communication really helped to make the most of being there.
“the principle of a “Just Transition” for an equitable future for all was a very strong theme throughout COP26”
Another thing that struck me was how the small nations, many of which are extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts, and who often don’t get a seat at the table, were being listened to. Really listened to. And the principle of a “Just Transition” for an equitable future for all was a very strong theme throughout COP26.
At Finance Day, it was exciting to feel the buzz of the big announcement of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (or “GFANZ” for a short mouthful), led by the well-known economist and banker, Mark Carney. This Alliance of global banks were pledging that the $130tn of assets under their management would be focused towards future investment in net zero initiatives.
At Energy Day, the main focus was on removing coal from the global energy system. But the feeling was mixed; while announcements and pledges were made by countries to phase out coal, there was concern about what this would mean for the many hundreds of thousands of people working in the coal sector: what does this mean for their jobs and their livelihoods?
“my experience at COP26 really highlighted that we need to continue to speak up about the role of geoscience and how it is uniquely placed to actually provide solutions. And we need to move beyond talk, to action”
Remarkably, to me, there was no real mention of the role of geosciences in enabling climate mitigation and adaptation; the voice of geoscience was very quiet at COP26. Nothing was said about the metals and materials needed to resource our net zero future: materials for wind turbines don’t magically grow on trees. But geoscience plays a critical part in reaching our climate goals. And so my experience at COP26 really highlighted that we need to continue to speak up about the role of geoscience and how it is uniquely placed to actually provide solutions. And we need to move beyond talk, to action.
Florence Bullough
Flo Bullough is Head of Policy and Engagement at the Geological Society. Flo attended the second week of COP26.
“it was fascinating to watch peer pressure and diplomacy between nation states and leaders actually working in real time”
COP26 was both incredibly important and urgent but also enormously intellectually stimulating: it was a place where policy, society and science all overlapped. I found it fascinating to watch the wheels of international politics and diplomacy in action.
COP is quite unique in terms of its international scope, and consensus decision making, on a topic that affects everyone around the world. It was fascinating to watch peer pressure and diplomacy between nation states and leaders actually working in real time. For example, how the formation and announcement of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance during COP26 put implicit pressure on other nations to become signatories.
Geol Soc’s journey to COP26 was a long one: the Society applied for observer status in Spring 2020, and learnt that it was accepted in August 2021, just 2 ½ months ahead of the conference. Many organisations don’t get ratified, so geosciences is clearly deemed important to include in climate negotiations. However, when it came to the side events, the hall of pavilions and stands in the Blue Zone, as well as the public and fringe events going on around COP26, geoscience was not very present. Technologies for emissions reduction which rely on geoscience such as CCS and geothermal were frequently discussed but representatives of the geoscience sector were not really in the room.
Collectively, our experience at COP26 showed us that a fundamental science like ours cannot afford to wait to be invited to join critical climate conversations: we need to show up and speak up about the many ways in which geoscience can provide solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Great content! Keep up the good work!