Climate action within universities and colleges can have an impact that reaches well beyond institutional boundaries. Join this free global event, co-hosted by EAUC and the International Universities Climate Alliance, to explore how leading institutions are using their climate commitments, expertise and resources to work alongside local government, businesses, communities and other partners. Through examples spanning green skills, employment, innovation and community engagement, our panel of international speakers will share insights on how to achieve lasting benefits for the communities that universities and colleges serve. 

You will learn about:

• Approaches for building effective cross-sector partnerships 
• Ways to align campus climate action with local and regional priorities 
• Ideas on how to maximise the community benefits of your own climate action work 

Our panel of expert speakers will feature winners and highly commended initiatives from the International Green Gown Awards – 2030 Climate Action category. Proudly supported by IUCA as category ambassador, this award recognises and celebrates organisation-wide and innovative approaches to achieving operational net zero targets. 

This event is open to anyone working in or with universities and colleges. If you are not an EAUC member, select the option to book as a guest, and provide the name of your institution in the ‘other company’ field.

The International Green Gown Awards are delivered by EAUC:

How can researchers contribute to international climate policymaking beyond COP side events?

Join Professor Tracy Bach for a webinar exploring how research and expertise can inform climate policy through the UNFCCC process and beyond. A law professor specialising in international climate change law and policy, Tracy has attended climate COPs and Subsidiary Body (SB) meetings since 2009, led university delegations, and co-led research and NGO engagement with COP presidencies, the UNFCCC Secretariat and conference leaders.

Organised by Tracy Bach in collaboration with IUCA, the webinar will explore how researchers can contribute throughout the year, from responding to calls for evidence and submissions to participating in workshops, technical meetings and other policy discussions.

Participants will gain a better understanding of how research informs the UNFCCC process, where opportunities to contribute arise, and how to identify relevant entry points for their own expertise. The session will also highlight opportunities to engage internationally through the IPCC, Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal Protocol and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Where could your research contribute? Discover how to engage more meaningfully with international climate policymaking and help ensure research informs decisions on climate change.

Pre-COP | What to expect for COP31?
📅 27 October 2026 | 17:00 – 19:00 EET (Find Local Time)
📍 Tiedekulma, University of Helsinki

Join them for Part 1 of the event series on 27 October at Tiedekulma or online for a look at the key issues, negotiations and wider COP ecosystem ahead of COP31. Hear perspectives from researchers, businesses and policymakers, and explore how different actors are preparing for the conference.

Join them for Part 2 of the event series on 26 November at Marsio (Aalto university) or online for a look back at the key outcomes, discussions and experiences from COP31. Hear perspectives from policymakers, researchers, business and youth, and explore what happens next and how different actors can contribute towards COP32 and beyond. 

Post-COP | What just happened at COP31?
📅 26 November 2026 | 16:00 – 18:00 EET (Find Local Time)
📍 Marsio, Aalto University

Registration is required by 21st October 2026

• Date: 3 November 2026, 9:30-18:00
• Venue: ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, Reading RG6 6DL, UK
• Format: One-day conference with a keynote address, two panels, and academic and industry research presentations.
• Attendance: Both in-person and online participation are available. However, conference speakers are required to attend in person.

Webinar | 11am -12 pm, AEST (Find Local Time)

Join Macquarie University for a webinar organised by the United Nations Academic Impact SDG 15 Hub, bringing together experts from Australia, Malaysia and the United States to explore how cities can move beyond low-carbon development towards a nature-positive future. Discover how biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and climate action can be integrated into urban planning to create more sustainable, resilient and liveable cities.

Moderated by James Balzer, Extreme Heat & Foresight Lead, Sustainable Living Lab (SL2) Group.

Speakers include:

Prof Melanie Bishop, Director Macquarie University Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University

Prof Joe Steensma, Washington University in St. Louis

Dr Anumitra Mirti, Practice Leader Sustainability, Stantec

Mr Chau Loon Wai, Co-Director UTM-Low Carbon Asia Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Mr Rudzaimeir Malek, Deputy Director Community Services Department Commission for the City of Kuching North

Seminar | 11:30am – 1:30pm, EAT (Find Local Time)

Duration: 2 Hours

Platform: Zoom

Description: The session will serve as a platform to accelerate climate policy to implementation and multi-stakeholder collaboration for scalable solutions. The session will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share lessons and demonstrate the impact of their work in the climate value chain. The institutionalization of research enables better uptake of findings and strengthens climate adaptation and resilience of communities in Africa. Speakers will share project impacts, climate adaptation solutions, climate policies that increase resilience of countries and minimize the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities. 

Objectives

1.To contribute to national plans, policies and strategies for effective adaptation and climate resilient pathways.

2. To discuss adaptation solutions such as tools, data, technologies, models, and approaches being adopted by institutions and communities. 

3. To build the technical and institutional capacities of decision-makers and stakeholders.

 Expected Output

· To strengthen science-informed policy in Africa

· To mainstreaming climate policy in government initiatives 

· To enhance devolved climate action

· To promote innovate climate solutions

Seminar | 9am – 11am, EAT (Find Local Time)

Duration: 2 Hours

Platform: Zoom

Description: The session will serve as a platform to accelerate climate policy to implementation and multi-stakeholder collaboration for scalable solutions. The session will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share lessons and demonstrate the impact of their work in the climate value chain. The institutionalization of research enables better uptake of findings and strengthens climate adaptation and resilience of communities in Africa. Speakers will share project impacts, climate adaptation solutions, climate policies that increase resilience of countries and minimize the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities. 

Objectives

1.To contribute to national plans, policies and strategies for effective adaptation and climate resilient pathways.

2. To discuss adaptation solutions such as tools, data, technologies, models, and approaches being adopted by institutions and communities. 

3. To build the technical and institutional capacities of decision-makers and stakeholders.

 Expected Output

· To strengthen science-informed policy in Africa

· To mainstreaming climate policy in government initiatives 

· To enhance devolved climate action

· To promote innovate climate solutions

Seminar | 11am – 11:45am, CLST (Find Local Time)

Duration: 30 minutes Presentation + 15 minutes Q&A

Platform: Zoom

Description: The ocean is a central component of the climate system and a foundation for human well-being, yet it is undergoing rapid and unprecedented change. The Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) provides the most comprehensive global evaluation to date of the state of the marine environment, integrating scientific, socioeconomic and governance perspectives.

This seminar will translate key findings from WOA III into an accessible and policy-relevant overview for decision-makers. It will examine accelerating ocean warming, sea-level rise, acidification, deoxygenation, biodiversity loss and the growing concentration of climate impacts in coastal areas. Particular attention will be given to the implications of these changes for human health, food systems, livelihoods, coastal resilience and sustainable development.

The session will also explore how ocean literacy can help bridge the gap between scientific evidence, public understanding and policy action, supporting more informed and inclusive responses to climate change.

Panel Discussion | 4pm – 4.40pm, IST (Find Local Time)

Duration: 30 Minutes + 10 Minutes Q&A

Platform: Zoom

Description: Cities are increasingly witnessing climate change related uncertainties due to evolving and expanding infrastructure and development to meet the livelihoods, for job creation, and for business and product manufacturing to meet the growing needs.