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UNFCCC and COP

The UNFCCC Taskforce at the University of Leeds

The Priestley Centre has established a cross-University UNFCCC taskforce to ensure that the University of Leeds remains at the forefront of the international climate research-policy nexus by engaging with the UNFCCC process and making the most of our UNFCCC observer status.

The taskforce aims to involve a diverse community of staff and students, establishing a legacy from our UNFCCC activities that will enhance our research, innovation, education and knowledge exchange.

If you are interested in engaging with the UNFCCC process, please reach out to the UNFCCC taskforce by email at [email protected]

UNFCCC and the University of Leeds

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the sole inter-governmental forum dedicated to addressing climate change. The UNFCCC has universal membership of 198 nations that ratified the convention.

The convention works to agree on specific climate actions through its annual Conference of Parties (COPs). During COPs, nations convene to establish ambitions, formulate rules, and review progress on climate actions.

As official observers of the UNFCCC, researchers from the University of Leeds have the opportunity to attend UNFCCC and COP sessions and contribute to the process.

SB64

SB 64 refers to the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is a major intergovernmental climate conference taking place in Bonn, Germany, from June 8 to June 18, 2026.
It acts as the vital halfway point for international climate negotiations between COPs, convening global delegates, observers and media to negotiate the details of international climate policy ahead of COP31 (Türkiye).

SB64

SB64 refers to the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is a major intergovernmental climate conference taking place in Bonn, Germany, from June 8 to June 18, 2026.
It acts as the vital halfway point for international climate negotiations between COPs, convening global delegates, observers and media to negotiate the details of international climate policy ahead of COP31 (Türkiye).

Leeds at COP 30

In November 2025, Brazil hosted the United Nations climate change conference, known as COP30. 

Research and innovation from the University of Leeds contributed to important discussions and negotiations that took place in the run up to, and at, COP30. The University sent a small delegation to the conference in Belém, as well as having a larger online delegation in attendance. Members of this delegation were involved in events and activities across both the Blue Zone (UN-managed space which hosts the negotiations) and Green Zone (managed by the Brazilian Government, and open to the general public).

Since 1995, world governments have met every year to negotiate a response to global climate change. These 197 nations and territories, signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, are represented at the Conference of the Parties (COP), responsible for reviewing the implementation of the Convention. This was the 30th meeting of the COP, hence COP30. 

Find out about our activities at COP29, COP28, COP27.

Meet our COP30 team

Learn more about some of the staff and students involved with COP30

University of Leeds at COP30: Meet the delegation webinar

Hear directly from the Leeds delegation about their activities and hopes for the negotiations.

Expert Insights

Insights and commentary from our delegation and wider Leeds community about negotiations at COP30.

Why COP30 ran through the night, and What Might Help 

A blog by Priestley member Sajid Siraj.  I followed COP30, watching a negotiation end 27 hours late with agreements delivering a fraction of the emissions reductions that science says we...

Two worlds, one test: Climate leadership after Belém

Read this opinion piece by Priestley Principle Fellow, Professor Richard Beardsworth, as featured in the journal Open Access Government. Open Access Government is a digital publication...

A Tale of Two COPs

by Jan Selby*  Last year, the annual circus of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) travelled...

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