Leading the Race to Resilience

​Glasgow Caledonian University will provide expert analysis to the United Nations at COP 26 in a bid to help people better cope with the impact of climate change.

The global climate conference, hosted in Glasgow and taking place in November, will see the two collaborate as part of the Race to Resilience campaign – which aims to create a step-change in global ambition for climate resilience.

The partnership will involve a physical and virtual ‘COP Resilience Hub’ to help business, investors, civil society, academia, cities and regions act in shaping climate resilience by sharing best practice and building collaboration; helping amplify messages on resilience and adaptation at COP 26; and helping set the direction for future action on adaptation and resilience beyond COP 26.

GCU’s Centre for Climate Justice will act as the as the Resilience Hub’s ‘cross-cutting climate justice champion’, providing analysis on increasing the quantity and quality of finance for adaptation and resilience; empowering women, girls, youth, indigenous people, and people living with disabilities; and putting knowledge and best practice into use.

The Resilience Hub will be a physical pavilion in the COP26 Blue Zone, a space in the centre of Glasgow that will be open to all, with a large virtual platform running every day throughout COP, connecting people across the planet.

A number of Hub events will also be held on GCU’s Glasgow campus. Professor Tahseen Jafry, Director of GCU’s Centre for Climate Justice, will be present at the Hub’s launch on November 1.

She said: “Climate change is damaging people on the front line of the climate crisis. Building resilience and supporting communities to adapt to, and cope with, their changing environment is vitally important.  We are delighted to be working alongside the Resilience Hub to guide and direct what that looks like through a climate justice lens.”

The Hub has more than 30 private and public organisations involved in developing its programme, and a steering committee that includes directors from the COP 26 presidency.

Largely financed by private sector and philanthropic support, it is managed by three non-state institutions: the Global Resilience Partnership, the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center at the Atlantic Council, and The Resilience Shift.

The Resilience Hub programme will mirror the official COP 26 programme.

It is built on the Race to Resilience Pillars: Rural Resilience, Coastal Resilience and Urban Resilience, and aligned to COP Presidency Days. It will be underpinned by events on arts, culture, storytelling and resilience.

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *