University of Copenhagen to host world congress on climate research – University of Copenhagen

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2007-10-02

University of Copenhagen to host world congress on climate research

Thousands of researchers convene in March 2009 in Copenhagen in order to contribute to finding a solution for reducing the world's energy consumption and CO2 emission. University of Copenhagen and the other universities in the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) organise the conference as agreed with the Prime Ministers Office (Denmark).

The congress takes place six months before the UN Climate Summit (COP15). The results from the research congress will form part of the final proceedings for the UN summit and function as a toolbox for CO2 reduction. The researchers will, among other things, focus on the importance of alternative sources of energy and on a new quota trade system.

The new star alliance, which University of Copenhagen helped form in 2006, also includes Australian National University, ETH Zürich, National University of Singapore, Peking University, UC Berkeley, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo, and Yale University.

"We are pleased, and a little proud, that the University of Copenhagen and our strong international network can ensure a foundation of the latest and most relevant research results for the negotiations. IARU is an ideal platform from which to arrange a world congress on climate politics because its 10 members includes the leading players in the climate negotiations, ranging from the US over Europe to Asia and Australia", says Rector Ralf Hemmingsen.

The congress itself, which will take place on 10-12 March 2009, will be environmentally friendly and reduce the event's CO2 emission as much as possible.

University of Copenhagen's climate priority

The world congress will be the centre of the University of Copenhagen's climate focus leading up to the summit. The climate focus includes a number of initiatives within the areas of education, public outreach and business cooperation. All of the University's eight faculties are involved and some of the initiatives are planned in cooperation with other Danish universities e.g. the Danish Technical University and the University of Aarhus that also sit in an advisory panel for the project.

The initiatives are, among others:

  • A public lecture series (Copenhagen Climate Lecture Series) featuring politicians and top researchers. The Prime Minister will open the series with a lecture on 30 November 2007 titled "Countdown to Copenhagen" exactly 2 years before the summit begins.
  • International summer school and new courses on sustainability.
  • International prize essay contest.
  • Moot court competition, where students from all over the world negotiate the Copenhagen Protocol in advance.
  • Development of educational material for primary to upper-secondary schools (elementary to high schools) and the formation of the University's "Flying Climate Corps".
  • Action Green Campus, where University of Copenhagen and IARU partners will set their own goals for reducing CO2 emission.
  • Green Relay, where students compete to develop the most innovative idea for creating a more environmentally friendly campus. Minister of Environment Connie Hedegaard will assist at an event on 3 December 2007 and SIEMENS will sponsor the further development.

To ensure a broad outreach that goes beyond the traditional target groups, the University of Copenhagen will use electronic media such as web logs and Youtube.