Orient Magazine Issue 82 - June 2021 | Page 17

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Researchers in Singapore Join the UK ’ s COP26 Universities Network to Develop ASEAN Policy Recommendations on Climate Change
The UK ’ s COP26 Universities Network and leading research centres in Singapore have announced a partnership to develop four reports that provide policy recommendations for climate action in the ASEAN region . This collaboration echoes COP26 President Designate Alok Sharma ’ s call to the global academic community to help deliver the strategic aims for COP26 . Minister Sharma noted this in his opening address at the COP26 Universities Network ’ s Climate Exp0 on 17 th May 2021 .
The COP26 Universities Network is a growing group of more than 70 UK-based universities and research institutes working together to raise ambition for tangible outcomes at the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow and beyond . The collaboration – the first of its kind for the COP26 Universities Network – will bring together leading researchers in the UK and Singapore , as well as other international academic partners , to address opportunities and innovation challenges related to achieving a shift towards a lower carbon and sustainable economy in ASEAN countries .
The four reports are aimed at supporting policy development and the UK ’ s international COP26 objectives in Singapore and across Southeast Asia , focusing on the following areas :
• Adaptation and resilience : Led by University of Glasgow ( UK ) and the Earth Observatory of Singapore
• Energy transition : Led by Newcastle University ( UK ) and the National University of Singapore ( NUS ) Energy Studies Institute and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ( ISEAS ) - Yusof Ishak Institute
• Green finance : Led by Imperial College London ( UK ) and the Singapore Green Finance Centre
• Nature-based solutions : Led by the University of Nottingham ( UK ) and National University Singapore ( NUS ) Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions
The reports will be published ahead of COP26 – the UN Climate Change Conference that will be hosted by the UK , in partnership with Italy , in November 2021 . As COP26 President , the UK is committed to working closely with like-minded partners across the world and though multilateral groupings such as the G7 to accelerate climate leadership in the form of more ambitious NDCs and long-term strategies , and real-world climate action .
H . E . Kara Owen , British High Commissioner to Singapore , said ,
“ We all know we will get nowhere on climate change without the most effective international collaboration . This is at the heart of the UK ’ s COP Presidency . Our desire to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future is also driving our science and research partnerships . The SG-UK Partnership for the Future rests on our two countries tackling priority issues in a way that makes a broader difference . I am pleased to see researchers in Singapore join the growing family of COP26 Universities Network .”
H . E . Lim Thuan Kuan , Singaporean High Commissioner to the UK , said ,
“ We are delighted that researchers in Singapore and the UK are teaming up to contribute to this important and groundbreaking project . The joint reports will not only enhance our science and innovation collaboration under the Singapore-UK Partnership for the Future , but also our understanding of the challenges and opportunities arising from climate science and policy-making in the ASEAN region as we seek to transition to a greener economy .”
Alyssa Gilbert , Chair of the COP26 Universities Network said ,
“ It is really exciting to see UK and Singapore university experts pool their skills to provide solution-focussed evidence to our respective governments at this key moment for climate action .”
This UK-Singapore partnership comes at a time when Southeast Asia is recognised as one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change globally , with four ASEAN countries among the top 10 in the world adversely impacted by the effects of climate change .
The project is jointly commissioned by the UK Science and Innovation Network and the Climate Change and Energy Network , based at the British High Commission in Singapore .
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