Christine Unterhitzenberger

Job title:

Associate Professor in Project Management, Director of Leeds Centre for Projects

Area of work:

My area of expertise is project management and this is important because the goals agreed at COP28 need to be delivered. This delivery typically happens through projects. There need to be clear plans and an understanding of how the delivery will happen. Through my work I can advise on organising the transitions and the change, including on:

• Appropriate governance arrangements
• Engagement with stakeholders (including at different political levels)
• Development of suitable organisational structures considering accountabilities

What are the big issues that COP28 needs to address? What are your hopes for the negotiations?

Continued commitment to reduce emissions and most importantly, get concrete on how it will be achieved. We know what we need to get to (achieve emissions reductions by at leats 43% by 2030), but it is unclear how we get there. There are only seven years left and the change needs to happen now. We need to plan and deliver this change rather than discuss what we already know.

What’s your message for world leaders at COP28?

Very simple: We need action to secure our future.