Professor Jafry joins Scotland's First Minister at COP 28 in Dubai

Cop 28 logo

University climate justice academic Professor Tahseen Jafry is set to engage in discussions with Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf, during COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates this week.

The international climate conference, organised by the United Nations, marks its 28th edition and will unfold from November 30 to December 12 at the Expo City in Dubai.

Professor Jafry, Director of the University's Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice (MRCCJ), will contribute her expertise to the discourse on crucial environmental matters alongside the Scottish First Minister and a panel of distinguished speakers at an event titled Financing Loss and Damage Globally: Malawi and Scotland Climate Justice Leadership. Hosted by the Scottish Government, the event will highlight the efforts of Scotland and Malawi in addressing loss and damage, and building global ambition for finance and action, in terms of climate resilience.

Professor Jafry will discuss the vulnerability of climate-displaced communities, particularly women, to the impacts of climate change. Research conducted by the MRCCJ in Blantyre, Malawi, a region affected by Cyclone Freddie, underscored the importance of creating safe spaces as a crucial approach to protecting, preventing, and preparing for climate emergencies, especially for women.

Professor Jafry will also be part of an official delegation during COP 28, collaborating with the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the British Chambers of Commerce, and the British Chamber of Commerce as part of Abu Dhabi's global business-focused programme. The focus of this engagement is on fairness, justice and the process of energy transition.

The MRCCJ is also working on a research project funded by The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) which is a collaboration of leading global cities working to achieve carbon neutrality in the next two decades, with a consortium consisting of Glasgow City Council, the Centre for Civic Innovation, and the Village Storytelling Centre in Glasgow.  Together, they are investigating how climate action and the transition to a greener future can be enhanced by developing a system for fair and equal public participation. This initiative, intended for scaling up across the city, aims to deliver a just transition.

The event will be livestreamed here.