University of Bradford gains official COP26 ‘observer’ status as students and staff travel to conference
Students and staff travel to COP26
The University of Bradford has been given permanent ‘observer’ status by the organisers of the COP26.
The news comes as a delegation of staff and students travel to Glasgow to participate in the climate conference (on Friday November 5).
Professor of Public Policy & Sustainability Prathivadi Anand received notice confirming the status from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
He said: “Our observer status is no longer provisional, but now permanent. This means we will get the opportunity to participate in future COPs as well as this one. This is great news for the University.”
Prof Anand will travel to Glasgow, along with Prof Amir Sharif and a group of students, on Friday November 5.
Bubotu Hachitapika, originally from Zambia, who is studying a Master’s in Sustainable Development, is one of the students who will travel to COP26.
She said: “It’s important for me because my degree is in sustainable development and this is one of the key things that will determine policy for the next few years. It is also important in terms of countries coming together to agree what actions they want to take forward to meet the challenges of climate change.
“To be given an opportunity to attend an important conference as this one is a privilege. I remember learning about how policies were made at COP25 and the other COPs, and how these decisions affect countries like my own. To be able to be there and see how these policies are formulated is exciting. It will also be interesting to see how different countries are represented and how participants reach a consensus.”
Sustainability launch
The University of Bradford recently launched its Sustainability Project, signing up to the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals.
Last week, it also announced that all film studies courses will now adopt the ‘Albert’ industry standard for ensuring sustainable practice.
It held a ‘Pedal for the Planet’ event on Wednesday November 3, in which students cycled the equivalent of 200 miles (the distance from Bradford to Glasgow).
A raft of other events are planned for coming weeks and months.