Climate institute planning under way

Colleagues from the across the university have this week come together to begin scoping out the proposed new LJMU climate institute.

The commitment to develop a research institute to make a meaningful impact in the global effort to tackle climate change was set out in the LJMU Climate Action Plan.

Staff from across our faculties and departments met on Wednesday to review our progress on climate and sustainability initiatives to date and identify the focus and key strategies for the new institute.

Led by Professor Tony Wall (Liverpool Business School) and Professor Jason Kirby (School of Biological and Environmental Sciences), the session analysed in detail the areas the institute might focus on and the assets that may be drawn upon to help deliver its targets.

The work of the institute will complement other key climate and sustainability activity across the university, including the delivery of the Climate Action Plan and our commitment to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Laura Bishop, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Faculty of Science), opened the session and said: “We are bringing people together to develop a climate institute as a way of making a real impact and doing something real to tackle the climate emergency.

“The climate emergency is an immediate problem which requires an immediate response. One of the themes of our Climate Action Plan is research and we are harnessing our tremendous talent and impactful research to drive this work forward and make a real difference.”

The findings of the session will inform the scope, strategy and timeline for the launch of the institute in 2024.