In Collaboration with: Nottingham Trent University | QS ImpACT | UNPRME | UNPRME Working Groups | University of Technology Sydney | Climate Literacy Training for Policymakers September 2026

These were a series of 8 sessions:

• Session 1 – Having an impact: climate solutions for policymakers
• Session 2 – Transport: pricing the road, electrifying the fleet
• Session 3 – Energy: auctioning the grid, powering the household
• Session 4 – Urban design and construction: locking in low carbon by design
• Session 5 – The AI Dilemma, Cryptocurrencies and Policy Pathways
• Session 6 – Climate change science · food and agriculture
• Session 7 – Policymaking under disruption, the role of effective communication
• Session 8 – Assessment session (certificate pathway)

Climate TRACE | Satellite & AI-Based Tools for Climate Action Planning

This interactive webinar explored how satellite imagery, AI-driven data and emissions monitoring could support climate action planning. Climate TRACE’s global, independent dataset provided detailed information on greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, linking individual emitting assets to targeted mitigation solutions and their potential for decarbonisation.

Participants explored how asset-level data and transition planning tools could help national, subnational and local policymakers identify high-impact opportunities, assess climate policies and develop effective decarbonisation strategies. The session also featured insights from a subnational climate organisation on how these tools were being used in practice.

Oxford Brookes University | Book launch: An organisational guide to skills for green workforce transformation

This panel discussion explored the role of skills development in supporting a green and just transition, drawing on themes from An Organisational Guide to Skills for Green Workforce Transformation.

The discussion considered how organisations can respond to climate change, decarbonisation, biodiversity and social equity, highlighting the need to develop skills across the whole workforce, not just among technical specialists.

Drawing on perspectives from employers, organisational leaders and industry experts, panellists explored the skills needed across different sectors and regions, and how learning and development professionals, sustainability leaders, educators and policymakers can support workforce transformation towards a greener and more socially equitable future.

University of Oxford | Children and Climate Change: How the Climate is Shaping Early Childhood Development

This panel discussion explored how climate change affects children’s development and the implications for education and health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Drawing on research from the Children and Climate Initiative, speakers shared findings on the impacts of extreme weather, malnutrition and displacement, and discussed how research and community participation can inform policy and support child-centred climate adaptation.

The panel highlighted the importance of placing children at the centre of climate adaptation and developing evidence-informed responses to protect their health, wellbeing and development.

University of Reading | Envisaging Climate Adaptation Pathways in the Built Environment: Insights from a Participatory Workshop

This talk explored how participatory, multi-stakeholder approaches can connect climate adaptation policy with the operational realities of organisations and communities.

Drawing on findings from a co-production workshop in Türkiye, the session examined three interdependent adaptation pathways and the need for capacity building and collective action. Key themes included climate governance, resilient infrastructure, climate finance and managing climate-related risks in projects.

The discussion highlighted how collaboration between different stakeholders can support practical, context-specific approaches to resilience and adaptation in the built environment, and presented a framework that could be applied in similar research and engagement settings.

Association of Commonwealth Universities |  From Climate Commitments to Policy Action: Lessons from the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition Pilot

The session showcased the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC), a pilot programme supporting the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation, endorsed by all 56 Commonwealth governments in 2022 and 2024.

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the pilot brought together universities, built environment professionals and governments through Action Groups focused on housing, urban finance and integrated planning.

The discussion explored how research can inform policy, the value of cross-sector collaboration, and lessons from bridging research, policy and practice to address climate change and rapid urbanisation.

Central Queensland University, Australia and University of Melbourne | Australia | Harvesting Resilience: SecondBite’s Strategy for Managing Unpredictability in Agricultural Supply Chains

This case study explores SecondBite, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit organisation that rescues and redistributes surplus food to communities in need.

It examines how SecondBite collaborates with farmers, supermarkets and food producers to reduce food waste and address food insecurity, while navigating challenges such as logistics, food perishability, funding and reliance on donations and volunteers.

The case study encourages critical discussion around how social enterprises can strengthen supply chain resilience, improve operational efficiency and develop sustainable strategies to expand their impact in an uncertain environment.

University of Nottingham | Bridging the ESG Compliance Gap How AI-Assisted Reporting Can Scale Proportionate Disclosure for SME

This presentation explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) meet ESG reporting requirements across frameworks including IFRS S1/S2, GRI and VSME.

Developed through a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship, the project showcased three AI systems designed to generate ESG reports, explain AI-generated outputs and support human evaluation.

Validated across approximately 400 UK SMEs, the research reported factual accuracy of 87% and a hallucination rate below 3%. The findings highlighted AI’s potential to make ESG reporting more accessible and cost-effective while maintaining expert oversight, and considered the implications for responsible AI use and clearer regulatory guidance.

Monash University | MECCE | University of Melbourne | Accessing the Evidence Base for Climate Education: How Education Policy Makers Can Advance Climate Action

The session explored how evidence can strengthen climate education policy and support countries in delivering their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Speakers highlighted international initiatives, including UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership and the MECCE Project, showcasing tools, indicators and frameworks to monitor progress and measure impact.

The discussion emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking, international collaboration and stronger partnerships between governments, researchers and civil society to embed climate education across schools and training settings and accelerate climate action.

Dilip Kumar Thakur | AI-Driven Methane Management for Sustainable Rice Cultivation: From Research to Climate Policy

This interactive workshop explored how artificial intelligence can strengthen climate governance and evidence-based policymaking through AI-driven Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (AI-MRV). Drawing on research from Nepal and international best practices, the session examined how satellite imagery, weather data, field observations, and machine learning can improve greenhouse gas monitoring and assess mitigation measures such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice cultivation.

The workshop also highlighted opportunities for AI-MRV to support transparent climate reporting, climate finance, carbon market readiness, and national climate commitments. Through practical examples and discussion, participants explored the opportunities and challenges of integrating digital innovation into agricultural and climate policies, particularly in developing countries, emphasizing the importance of science, technology, and cross-sector collaboration in advancing effective climate action.

Cultura Oceánica en 360º – Universidad de Valparaíso |  The Ocean in a Changing Climate: What the Third World Ocean Assessment Means for Policymakers

This seminar explored key findings from the Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III), providing a policy-relevant overview of the changing marine environment and its implications for climate action and sustainable development. The session examined critical challenges, including ocean warming, sea-level rise, acidification, deoxygenation, biodiversity loss, and increasing climate impacts on coastal communities.

Discussions highlighted the implications of these changes for human health, food security, livelihoods, coastal resilience, and sustainable development. The seminar also emphasized the role of ocean literacy in bridging scientific evidence, public understanding, and policymaking, supporting informed, inclusive, and effective responses to climate change.

Key focus: Advancing ocean literacy, strengthening science-informed policy, and promoting resilient and sustainable ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Maasai Mara University (MMARAU) | Research to Inform Climate Policies and Practice in Africa | Session One: Adaptation and Resilience | Session Two: Opportunities and Risk

These two sessions focused on accelerating climate policy implementation and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration for scalable climate solutions in Africa. Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners shared evidence, lessons, and innovations to strengthen climate adaptation and community resilience.

The sessions explored integrating research into national climate plans and policies, advancing adaptation tools and technologies, and building the technical and institutional capacity of decision-makers. Key outcomes include strengthening science-informed policymaking, mainstreaming climate action in government initiatives, enhancing devolved climate action, and promoting innovative solutions for climate resilience.