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Piers Forster 

Piers ForsterName:

Piers Forster 

Job title:

Director, Priestley International Centre for Climate 

Area of work and why it’s important

 I explore causes of climate change and how temperature and rainfall is affected by emissions. It’s important as it determines the changes we will see in the next few decades and also helps us interpret what national targets and level of ambition mean for the Earth’s climate in the future and future risk. 

What will you be doing at COP26? 

I am involved with COP26 in several ways, wearing several different hats: 

  • Our EU research project (CONSTRAIN) is briefing national negotiators on the latest climate science   
  • For the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, I will be highlighting key developments in this year’s report and interpreting its results for the negotiations, again focused on the climate science. 
  • For the UK Climate Change Committee, I will be meeting with other national climate council representatives to share and learn best practice.  

What are your hopes for the COP26 negotiations?

Global cooperation and coordination bringing hopeful positive messages, quickly followed by measurable and sizable actions. Especially on coal and cars this time. Maybe also an agreement on Article 6: how to run international offsets.  

Any tips for readers about climate action?

Every tonne matters. Don’t criticise failures, quickly learn from them and go again.