Events at COP30
The Earth Energy Imbalance: A Fundamental Indicator for a Changing Climate
Monday 10 November | 13:15–14:15 | Science Pavilion
Professor Piers Forster spoke at this event, which explored the accelerating Earth energy imbalance and its implications for sea-level rise and climate impacts. It featured speakers from Mercator Ocean International, Climate Analytics, and Small Island Developing States.
Organised by GCOS and Mercator Ocean International.
Earth Information Day – Updates on Observations Related to Global Climate Change
Monday 10 November | 15:00–18:00 | Blue Zone
Professor Piers Forster contributed to this session delivered during the opening plenary, focusing on the state of the climate, Earth observations, and gaps in observation systems.
Organised by UNFCCC.
Scientific Revisions, Policy Decisions: Climate Effect of Black Carbon and Methane in the Arctic
Tuesday 11 November | 14:00–15:15 | Cryosphere Pavilion
Professor Steve Arnold spoke at this session discussing the climate effects of black carbon and methane in the Arctic, with contributions from Finnish Met, NILU, CICERO, and AMAP.
Organised by Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP).
Flicking the Financial Architecture Switch to Keep Under 1.5 Degrees
Wednesday 12 November | 11:30–13:00 | Room 7
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel exploring financial architecture reforms to support climate goals.
Unlocking Food Systems Change Through Farmer-Led Research and Policy Innovation
Thursday 13 November | 15:00–16:30 | Side Event – Room 4, Blue Zone
Professor Piers Forster spoke at this session highlighting farmer-led co-research and innovation for inclusive, climate-resilient food systems.
Organised by Clim-Eat.
Other participants included Dhanush Dinesh, Katja Vuori, Ishmael Daniso Sunga, My Binh Bui, Jelle Maas.
Youth Contributions to Shape NDCs
Thursday 13 November | Youth Pavilion
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
Youth4Nature – Shaping Youth Protagonists Across the Globe
Friday 14 November | 11:00–12:00 | Resilience Hub
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
From Knowledge to Impact: Engaging Communities and Students in Climate Action
Friday 14 November | 14:30 | Higher Education for Climate Action Pavilion
Susan Ann Samuel spoke on a panel about her experience as a UNFCCC Taskforce student representative at the University of Leeds.
Organised by Simon Fraser University.
Super Pollutant Solutions – Indicators of Global Climate Change
Friday 14 November | 15:00–16:00 | Super Pollutant Solutions Pavilion, Blue Zone
Professor Piers Forster spoke at this session exploring super pollutant trends and their implications for climate and society.
Organised by Super Pollutant Action Alliance.
Cities and Local Solutions, Community-Based
Friday 14 November | 16:00–17:00 | Climate Mobility
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
National Carbon Budgets: Mapping Sectoral Pathways to Climate Neutrality
Friday 14 November | 16:30–18:00 | Ukrainian Pavilion
Professor Piers Forster spoke on behalf of the CCC. Participants discussed the importance of data-driven policy making on the path to climate neutrality, with a particular focus on the role of carbon budgets in shaping climate action at both global and national levels. The event highlighted recommendations for effectively integrating climate mitigation priorities into Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and economic recovery based on a detailed understanding of decarbonization pathways across sectors, their cost-effectiveness and co-benefits.
Financing Sustainability Strategies in a World Undergoing Critical Transition
Friday 14 November | 17:00–18:00 | Planetary Science Pavilion
Gary Dymski (Leeds University Business School) spoke on a panel exploring how global financial systems can be reoriented to support sustainable development trajectories, particularly in crucial regions such as the Amazon and the Global South.
The Importance of Young People in Politics and Climate Change
Saturday 15 November | 15:30–16:30 | Green Zone
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
Climate Analytics Side Event
Saturday 15 November | 16:00–17:00 | Evidence4Action Pavilion
Professor Piers Forster spoke about the Indicators for Global Climate Change (IGCC), presenting new scenarios on the highest possible ambitions under overshoot and how to get back below 1.5ºC before 2100.
Organised by Climate Analytics.
The Differences of Activism Across Brazil
Saturday 15 November | 16:30–17:45 | Green Zone
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
University Initiatives Working with Indigenous Communities Towards Climate Action
Saturday 15 November | 17:30–18:45 | Higher Education for Climate Action Pavilion, Blue Zone
Dr Syafiq Mat Noor spoke on a panel showcasing British Academy-funded projects including Voices of the Rainforest, PANACEA, and Amazon Indigenous Wisdom, highlighting equitable partnerships with indigenous communities.
Equitable Energy Transitions: Powering Local Action for Lasting Global Impact
Saturday 15 November | Nordic Pavilion
Susan Ann Samuel spoke on a panel about how educational systems in Thiruvananthapuram are helping in green transitions, and subnational governance initiatives to empower students in the Global South for collective and coordinated action.
COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion – Ocean Tipping Points Panel
Monday 17 November | 13:00 | Virtual
Dr Viktoria Spaiser spoke during a panel discussion on ocean tipping points and their role in climate mitigation.
Organised by NOC and Global Tipping Points.
Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
Monday 17 November | Cryosphere Pavilion
Susan Ann Samuel spoke about young negotiators and the push for oceans and cryosphere in the UNFCCC COP agendas.
Expert Panel Discussion on Policy Proposals
Tuesday 18 November | 08:30–10:15 | Korean Pavilion
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
Discussion of Youth Activism
Tuesday 18 November | 10:15–12:30 | Casa Amazonia (outside COP)
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.
CNEST Session – Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation
Tuesday 18 November | 14:30–17:30 | China Pavilion
Professor Piers Forster spoke at 14:40, delivering a keynote on how carbon budgets and emission caps have driven UK progress toward carbon neutrality.
Organised by Tsinghua University and partners.
UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub (UGIH) and ICON Session
Wednesday 19 November | 09:00–10:00 | Special Event Room Tapajos
Professor Piers Forster spoke, contributing to a keynote or panel on policy innovation and international collaboration, based on his journal article on carbon budgets.
Organised by ICON and UNFCCC.
Building Youth Alliance Across Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia
Wednesday 19 November
Matthaeus Menezes Assef spoke on a panel.