Date: 13 November 2025
Time: 12:30-13:30
Location: Agriculture Building, Room 1L06
The event Connecting Reading to COP30 in the Amazon, part of the University of Reading’s Green Festival, hosted by The Pearl and moderated by Prof. Rosalind Cornforth, lead for The Pearl, provided a dynamic discussion linking local perspectives to global climate negotiations.
The session began with reflections from COP29 in Baku, where participants highlighted the strong presence and advocacy of small island states, emphasizing their vulnerability to rising sea levels and extreme weather. Lynn De Miranda shared insights on how representation of island voices and technical discussions on adaptation and satellite monitoring were prominent, illustrating the urgency for equitable climate action.
Thea Stevens and Juan Garcia Valencia, both meteorology researchers, explored the role of science at COP, noting its foundational importance despite limited visibility in negotiation rooms dominated by finance and language disputes over commitments. They described how side events and pavilions fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, connecting climate science to health and resilience planning.
Eme Dean-Lewis reflected on COP30’s opening week in Belém, where the Brazilian presidency introduced the concept of mutirão—a shared global project—setting a constructive tone focused on implementation rather than pledges.
Discussions also addressed adaptation metrics, the complexity of defining indicators, and the persistent gap between ambition and delivery.
Prof. Emmanuel Essah, Head of School of the Built Environment, reporting live from COP30, highlighted critical challenges: delays in climate finance reaching vulnerable communities, disputes over data ownership and satellite access, and indigenous protests demanding meaningful inclusion in decision-making. He noted tensions between Brazil’s net-zero ambitions and ongoing oil exploration, as well as the logistical and political impacts of protests on negotiations.
The conversation underscored systemic issues such as the inadequacy of adaptation funding, the need for bottom-up data collection, and the influence of private sector actors on climate finance narratives.
Panellists concluded by sharing how COP engagement reshaped their research trajectories—reinforcing the importance of bridging science, policy, and community voices to accelerate climate action.
The event closed with a call for collective responsibility, emphasizing that climate impacts are no longer future risks but present realities requiring urgent, coordinated responses.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Green Festival Team, Yasmin Noor, the AV Team, and Bassel Aboulhassan for their invaluable support in delivering this event.
More information about the Green Festival