OXFORD NET ZERO AT COP27
The Oxford Net Zero community has been mobilising its collective expertise to help drive ambition at the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. This page is being updated to reflect events which were wholly or jointly organised by Oxford Net Zero, events featuring our researchers, and relevant media appearances.
OXFORD RESEARCHERS TALK ABOUT THEIR HOPES FOR COP27
ONZ IN THE MEDIA
COP27: NET ZERO GUIDELINES AIM TO DRIVE HIGHER STANDARDS AND COUNTER ‘GREENWASHING’ ACCUSATIONS
we must stop fossil fuels causing global warming, before the world stops using fossil fuels – prof myles allen
climate change: Expert says just saying no to fossil fuel doesn’t work
UN report calls for non-state emissions action: as new data shows 60% of top businesses have no net zero target
COP27 – Corporate climate pledges rife with greenwashing – U.N. expert group
Professor Thomas Hale in Reuters, Tuesday 8 November
Debt burden traps global south in a vicious circle
Dr Jessica Omukuti in the Financial Times, Tuesday 8 November
what to expect from cop27
Professor Sam Fankhauser in The Smith School blog, Monday 7 November
climate solutions start at home
Professor Sam Fankhauser in the Times (paywall), Monday 7 November
OUR MAIN EVENTS
Times stated in local EET time unless stated otherwise
High-level expert group (HLEG) on the net-zero emissions commitments of non-state entities
Tuesday 8th November, 15.30-16:30, Hybrid event, registration required.
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti
Description: This event will see the public launch of the Recommendations prepared by the High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities. Chaired by the UN Secretary-General, the Chair of the Group, Ms. McKenna along with all its members, will present and discuss the main recommendations. The event will be live-streamed through the UNFCCC Youtube Channel.
Demystifying sustainable finance for an intergenerational audience
Wednesday 9th November, 10.00-11.00, Children and Youth Pavilion
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti
Description: At this event organised by Youngo at the COP27 Children and Youth Pavilion, Jessica will talk about how private sector finance can advance or hinder intergenerational justice.
Could a cleaner economy be vastly cheaper?
Wednesday 9th November, 14.00-15.00, China Pavilion
ONZ people: Professor Cameron Hepburn
Description: Transitioning to a decarbonised energy system by around 2050 is expected to save the world at least $12 trillion compared to continuing our current levels of fossil fuel use. Discussions at this in person COP27 event will include an overview of the paper, Empirically grounded technology forecasts and the energy transition, and its implications for policy ambitions and trajectories.
science-informed standards: The bridging of evidence and practice in net zero policy development
Wednesday 9th November, 16.00-17.00, China Pavilion, watch on Zoom
ONZ people: Kaya Axelsson, Alexis McGivern, Dr Jessica Omukuti
Description: In the absence of robust and universal regulation on net zero, guidance for businesses has emerged in the form of guidance documents, investor frameworks, standards, and independent trackers (henceforth “voluntary initiatives”). Voluntary initiatives have played an important role developing net zero guidance for non-state actors in a range of different capacities.
Oxford Net Zero has mapped the voluntary initiatives and standards landscape to identify the key trends and best practices. In this session, we bring together leadings from the standards landscape to discuss these trends and the possibility for these to be integrated into the regulatory landscape.
Speakers:
- Kaya Axelsson, Policy Engagement Fellow & Alexis McGivern, Net Zero Standards Manager, Oxford Net Zero – presenting findings from research of the voluntary initiatives and standards landscape
- Dr. Luiz Fernando Do Amaral, CEO of SBTi – presenting overview of the SBTi development process and lessons learned after one year of SBTi’s Corporate Net Zero Standard
- Emily Faint, Net Zero Policy Manager, BSI and Our 2050 World – presenting key findings from the ISO Net Zero Guidelines process and how to position collaboration between initiatives
- Dr. Kennedy Mbeva, technical author on the ISO Net Zero Guidelines – presenting the work within the context of challenges and opportunities for emerging economies
- Dr. Jessica Omukuti, member of the High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities – presenting a summary of the HLEG recommendations and key challenges ahead
Our full report was released on 21 October in conjunction with our seminar “The Path to Net Zero Integrity: From Voluntary Best Practice to Policy”.
You can find the webinar recording here and the full report here.
Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83556477303?pwd=a3o5Tm00TE1XOUdsWlZtcEhteTJpdz09
Webinar ID: 835 5647 7303 Passcode: 668045
from commitments to action: the recommendations of the un secretary-general hleg on net-zero emissions commitments of non-state actors
Wednesday 9th November, 16.30-18.00, Spanish Pavilion
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti
Description: At this event organised by the Spanish Financial Markets Authority at the Spanish Pavilion, Jessica will talk about how just transitions, credits and regulation are reflected in the UNHLEG recommendations. Find out more.
net zero guidElines to accelerate business action and leadership
Thursday 10th November, 8.30-9.30, details tbc
net zero targets and climate transition plans: Where do new definitions and standards take us?
Thursday 10th November, 9.00-10.00, We Mean Business Pavilion
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti
comparing sustainability with a net zero score
Thursday 10th November, 15.00-15.45, Sweden Pavilion
ONZ people: Kaya Axelsson
THE CLIMATE DRIVE: HOW TO INDUSTRIALIZE CORPORATE CLIMATE IMPLEMENTATION AT SCALE
Thursday 10th November, 15.30-16.30, Business Pavilion
ONZ people: Alexis McGivern
NET ZERO GUIDELINES LAUNCH
Friday 11th November, 8.30-9.30, ISO Pavilion, Green Zone
turning net zero targets into action
Friday 11th November, 10.30-11.30, Innovation Zone, Climate Challenge Lab
balancing net zero integrity and momentum
Saturday 12th November, 16.45-18.15, Room 5, Blue Zone
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti, Professor Thomas Hale
Description: Non-State Actors (NSAs) are critical drivers of climate action – with the potential to ratchet up overall net zero ambition through the Global Stocktake (GST) process. The event will present the Net Zero Tracker’s latest evaluation of global NSA commitments, including the target setting trends and how pledges have evolved since the pre-COP26 G20 analysis. The event will evaluate progress by non-state and subnational entities towards global mitigation, adaptation, and financing goals, as well as outputs from the first Global Stocktake Hackathon.
ADAPTATION PRIORITIES IN THE INDO-PACIFIC AND AFRICA: CO-DESIGNED KNOWLEDGE AND SOLUTIONS
Monday 14th November, 11.30-13.00, Room 3 (Hatshepsut)
ONZ people: Dr Jessica Omukuti
Description: In this event organised by the University of Melbourne, Jessica will speak about Oxford Net Zero’s ongoing work in Africa on the importance and links between just transitions and adaptation to climate change.
taking stock of the global stocktake
Wednesday 16th November, 11.00-12.00, EU Pavilion, Online
ONZ people: Professor Lavanya Rajamani
Description: The conclusion of the 2nd Technical Dialogue (TD) of the Global Stocktake (GST) will take us past the midway point of COP27 and the GST, which concludes at COP28. In Egypt, Parties and non-Party stakeholders will have just engaged in dialogue on how the international community can go from where it is now, to the achievement of the Paris Agreement goals. What have they learned halfway through the GST process? What can be influenced next year and what do we hope to see at the conclusion of COP28?
SMITH SCHOOL COP27 ROUND UP
Thursday 17th November, 11.30-12.30 (GMT / UK time), Online
ONZ people: Professor Cameron Hepburn, Dr Steve Smith, Alexis McGivern
Description: Our expert panel will share their highlights of COP27 and take stock of progress. They will address the most significant developments as well as identifying areas which missed out and what this means going forward. The panel will also discuss the broader future of the COP process and its place in the fight for net zero. Join us and ask your questions of the panel. More info.
NET ZERO: SCIENCE-BASED NOT SCIENCE FICTION
Thursday 17th November, 17.30-18.30, Panda Pavilion, Blue Zone
ONZ people: Kaya Axelsson
OUR DELEGATion at COP27
Kaya Axelsson
POLICY ENGAGEMENT FELLOW | TEAM LEAD
THOMAS HALE
PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL PUBLIC POLICY
ALEXIS MCGIVERN
NET ZERO STANDARDS MANAGER
Jessica Omukuti
RESEARCH FELLOW ON INCLUSIVE NET ZERO