Durham University Delegates at SB62

Engagements with the Research Dialogues

Professor Chris Stokes was involved in the Research Dialogue at SB62. Discussions on the loss of glacier mass and the accelerated melting of polar ice sheets informed the Research and Systematic Observation (RSO) negotiations. Have a look at the informal summary of the research dialogue.

ICCI Press Conference at SB62

Professor Chris Stokes joined colleagues from the ICCI at the press conference: Latest Science: Tipping Points Well Below 1.5°C for Ice Sheets and Glaciers

YOUNGO NGOs SB62 Strategy Meeting

Mustafa Kamran represented Durham University at the YOUNGO Strategy Meeting 

YOUNGO NGOs Meeting with the UNFCCC Secretariat

UNFCCC Secretariat invited the accredited NGOs to discuss the changes in the registration and communication processes with the UNFCCC. Mustafa Kamran represented Durham University. 

Wise counselling in uncertain times: how lawyers can keep the international climate agenda on track

The International Bar Association invited Mustafa Kamran to attend a Side Event on climate litigation and discussions on how lawyers can keep the international climate agenda on track.

IPCC Event on Adaptation

ACE & Children and Youth at SB 62 

The ACE agenda was one of the main focuses at SB62. Mustafa Kamran attended several sessions around efforts related to implementing Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. 

More information on ACE at SB62

Meetings with Colleagues from the International Bar Association 

A meeting was arranged with colleagues from the International Bar Association to share the JusTN0W project and invite them to the second JusTN0W conference. 

Meetings with Colleagues at NDC Partnership Office

Mustafa Kamran was invited to attend a reception at the NDC Partnership office in Bonn, Germany. Durham University is looking forward to becoming a member of the NDC Partnership with the endorsement and support of potential partner countries. 

Annual GST NDC Dialogue at SB62

As part of our efforts under ELEVATE ProClima, Mustafa Kamran attended the annual GST NDC Dialogue at SB62. 

Response Measures – Just Transition

9th PCCB – Paris Committee on Capacity Building

COP Steering Group Meetings

Durham University COP Steering Group pre-COP meetings include allocation of on-site and virtual badges, making travel and accommodation arrangements, and setting marketing and communication strategy. At COP30, Durham University's representation includes 7 on-site delegates (with one on-site badge allocation to a partner NGO) and 11 virtual badges. The virtual badges are allocated to staff members and students, and also to two academic partners - one to the University of São Paulo and one to the European Center of Just Transition Research and Impact-Driven Transfer (JTC) at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenber. This is done under the new transparency requirements as introduced by the UNFCCC.

ELEVATE ProClima Launch

Gender Equality Workshop under ELEVATE ProClima

The Elevate ProClima teams (from Durham University and the  Univeristy of São Paulo) held a Gender Equality Workshop, an interactive session between team members exploring key questions and issues surrounding gender equality. The discussions included exploring how gender is defined in different cultures, and looking at questions such as: what are the biggest challenges people of different genders currently face?; and how can we set out to achieve empowerment and transformative change in terms of gender through our research project. 

Drafting the concept note for the UNFCCC Side Event

Drafting and submission of the concept note to the UNFCCC for COP30 side event on the SEORS system - 16 July 2025. 

Title: Implementing evidence-based NDCs 3.0 through integrated, gender-responsive Just Transitions

Meeting with DNV

Meetings with DNV for potential collaborations at the UNFCCC side event. 

Meetings with CARE International

Meetings with CARE International for collaboration and co-hosting of the UNFCCC side event. Successful collaboration at the side event. 

NDC Analysis Report

The NDCs 3.0, to be submitted in 2025, are to be informed by the outcome of the first global stocktake and need to be progressive and more ambitious. The ELEVATE ProClima Team is actively involved in analysing NDCs 3.0 to understand the extent to which science, evidence, and gender are incorporated.

Badge Quota Allocation 

Badge allocation request to UNFCCC – allocation of two badges

Badge Quota Increase Request

Communications with and requests to the UNFCCC Secretariat for the increase in badge quota – allocation of three extra badges

BBC Interview

BBC Interview Elisa Morgera 

RINGO COUNCIL Pre-COP Meetings

Engagements and interaction with RINGO at pre-COP Meetings. 

YOUNGO COUNCIL Pre-COP Meetings

Engagements and interaction with YOUNGO at pre-COP Meetings. 

Student Engagment

Pre-COP meetings with Durham students at CSDLP for pre-COP and post-COP events.

Joining the Working Group on Human Rights and Climate Change - 9th of November

Professor Elisa Morgera joined the working group on human rights and climate change just before COP30 in Belém. 

Opening Plenary of COP/CMP/CMA Opening Plenary of the SBs

Climate Change and Human Rights - event with the Council of Europe

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak at the event on Climate Change and Human Rights organised by the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The event was held at the Joint MDB Pavilion at COP30. 

Meeting with Al Jazeera

Professor Elisa Morgera had a meeting with Al Jazeera to discuss the content of her interview for an upcoming documentary on COP30. 

Integrating human rights in climate action - dinner discussions with OHCHR and CIEL

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to join the discussions around human rights and climate change organised by OHCHR and CIEL. The event welcomed delegations from Luxembourg, Belgium, Costa Rica, and Vanuatu. 

Climate Disinformation: Responding to Youth – Official Side Event by CoE

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak at the official side event on Human Rights and Climate Disinformation: Responding to Youth. The event was organised by the Council of Europe (CoE) and with members from Youth and Environment Europe (YEE).

Reclaiming our Energy Future: Overcoming Inequalities for a Just Transition – Oxfam and CAN

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak at the OXFAM side event: Reclaiming our Energy Future: Overcoming Inequalities for a Just Transition at the WWF Pavilion.

Climate Policy for All: Advancing LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Gender-Transformative Climate Action 

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited as the keynote speaker at an official UNFCCC side event organised by Out for Sustainability (OUT4S), Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA), Global Greengrants Fund, Inc. (GGF), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Women’s Environment & Development Organisation (WEDO).

Just Transition or Just Extraction: Safeguarding People and Planet in the Transition Minerals Rush 

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak at the official UNFCCC side event organised by Climate Rights International, Transforma, and Natural Resource Governance Institute. 

Launch of the European EHRD Forum – Portugal Pavilion at COP30

Professor Elisa Morgera joined the colleagues to launch the European EHRD Forum – Environmental Human Rights Defenders Forum

Organizers: Council of Europe and OHCHR. 

Participation in the meeting of the Indigenous Caucus

Professor Elisa Morgera joined the meeting of the Indigenous Caucus, convened by the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), with the presence of COP30 Special Envoy for Indigenous Peoples, Sineia do Vale.

ECO2 Smart Schools Climate Conference 

Professor Chris Stokes joined online from Belém.

ECO2 Smart Schools Climate Conference 

Addressing the Point of No Return: Human Rights and Climate Tipping Points

Professor Elisa Morgera moderated a formal UN high-level dialogue event, 'Addressing the Point of No Return: Human Rights and Climate Tipping Points', organised by OHCHR, Just Atonement Inc, AwareNearth, at the UN Brazil Pavilion. 

A Hora é Agora: Direitos Humanos e Obrigações dos Estados na Ação Climática.

Launch of the journey toward a new pledge on human rights and climate action by the event: A Hora é Agora: Direitos Humanos e Obrigações dos Estados na Ação Climática – The Time is Now: Human Rights and State Obligations in Climate Action. Professor Elisa Morgera contributed and spoke at the event. 

Organizers: Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights, COP30 Special Envoy, OHCHR, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate. With the participation of Janja Lula da Silva (Special Envoy for Women), Jurema Werneck (Special Envoy for Racial Equality), and other constituency representatives.

Higher Education as a Climate Catalyst: From Regional Cooperation to Global Scale – Durham Declaration Launch at COP30

Professor Petra Minnerop represented the Coimbra Group of universities at the Union for the Mediterranean pavilion at COP30. The main highlight of the event was the launch and introduction of the Durham Declaration at COP30, as well as the sharing of expertise on Climate Change and Sustainability. The Declaration, adopted during the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium, reflects the shared commitment of 39 prestigious universities across Europe to tackle climate change and embed sustainability in all areas of academic life.

The event also allowed showcasing progress on our ongoing research project ELEVATE ProClima - Enhance and Leverage the Architecture on Evidence for Proteção Climática (Climate Protection). 

Youth-led Climate Forum - Part II

Mustafa Kamran's engagements through YOUNGO

YOUNGO COP30 Coordination Meeting

Mustafa Kamran and Owen Boyle attended the YOUNGO Coordination Meeting to discuss the key issues around negotiations and to highlight engagements and activities of Durham University at COP30. 

The Time Is Now: The Imperative of Defossilizing Our Economies' 

Prof Petra Minnerop and Prof Elisa Morgera were invited to a closed workshop organised by the Brazil Special Envoy at COP30. 

ECO2 Smart Schools Climate Conference 

The second day of the ECO2 Smart Schools Climate Conference. From our on-site and virtual delegation, Mustafa Kamran joined from the COP30 venue, and Katalin Sulyok joined online. 

Generation Emergency: Youth Growing Up in Climate Crisis  

Prof Elisa Morgera spoke at the event at the Children and Youth Pavilion and shared reflections on youth in emergencies. Organisers: Climate Justice for Rosa

Meeting with the Youth Negotiators Academy

Prof Elisa Morgera attended the meeting with the Youth Negotiators Academy

Workshop on Defossilization 

Prof Elisa Morgera joined the Special Envoy for Human Rights, Denise Dora, at the Federal University of Pará Pavilion to discuss key issues around defossilization. 

After the COP of Truth: Putting Climate Information Integrity into Action in Canada

Prof Elisa Morgera spoke and contributed at the side event.

Organisers: CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment)

More information on this event. 

Warming of 1.5°C is Too High for Polar Ice Sheets

Prof Chris Stokes shared his research on ice sheets melting in an event organised by the ICCI.

Research and Systematic Observation – RSO negotiations

Prof Chris Stokes, Owen Boyle, Mustafa Kamran, and Zonash observed the RSO negotiations for reflections on the failures to give due consideration to science and the omission of glaciers from the key documents. 

Meetings with the German Delegation

UN Special Rapporteur Press Conference

Justice, Climate and Human Rights

Reparar el daño: voces comunitarias y justicia climática desde Centroamérica

Repairing the damage: community voices and climate justice in Central America. Prof Elisa Morgera speaker and contributor at the launch of the Art Gallery – Climate Reparation Hub. 

Organisers: La Ruta del Clima, Oxfam, Heinrich Boll Stiftung Centro America

Academia Connected Through Climate Action

Prof Petra Minnerop was invited to an international event collaboratively organised by the Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará (CESUPA) and Tecnológico de Monterrey. 

Closing event of Human Rights Day

Prof Elisa Morgera at the Ford Pavilion, BLue Zone COP30

Launching the ’State of the Cryosphere Report 2025' Report

Prof Chris Stokes joined colleagues from ICCI to launch the 2025 State of the Cryosphere Report, noting thresholds likely at just 1°C of warming for the stability of the polar ice sheets, and even lower temperatures for many glaciers. The Report also notes that the most proactive climate pathways, also released today (Nov. 6 2025), can bring down temperatures below 1.5°C by 2100 and below 1°C next century – but only if reductions begin immediately

Key takeaways from the first justice and human rights days at the climate negotiations

Prof Elisa Morgera

Building a Roadmap for human rights-based climate action at COP30 and beyond

Prof Elisa Morgera

Al Jazeera Interview

Prof Elisa Morgera - interview will be published after COP30

Durham University UNFCCC Official Side Event at COP30: Implementing evidence-based NDCs 3.0 through integrated, gender-responsive Just Transitions

Cryosphere Tipping Points: Glaciers and Ice Sheets, and Sea-level Rise

Professor Chris Stokes was invited to speak at an official side event organised and co-sponsored by ICCI, SCAR, Iceland, CPC, GWU and Karuna Foundation. 

Investment Treaties as a Barrier to Achieving Climate Goals 

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak and contribute at the official UNFCCC side event hosted by IISD.

More details about this event.

 Co-organisers: E3G and the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Prospects and Challenges for Real, Gender-Just, People-led Climate Solutions

Professor Elisa Morgera joined the UNFCCC official side event as a reactor. The event focused on how the frontline communities are forging climate solutions grounded in their lived realities and struggles for rights and justice. Despite their transformative potential, they face systemic barriers. What needs to be done to shift the policy ground for real, gender just, and people-led climate solutions?

The event was organised by APWILD and partners. Click here for more details. 

The Belém Health Action Plan: Accelerating Action on Climate Justice and Health

Professor Elisa Morgera was invited to speak and contribute at the official UNFCCC side event.

Hosted by UNU-IIGH and WHO

More information on the event. 

International Law for Climate: Advisory Opinion and Litigation.

Professor Petra Minerop was invited to share legal insights on the recent international advisory opinions on climate change at an event in the science pavilion. 

Elevate ProClima Survey Form Distribution

Launch of the Report: State Obligations in Relation to Climate Change

Trading Fairly in a Warming World: Embedding Just Transition Principles in Trade Agreements and Redirecting CBAM Revenues toward Global Resilience

New Research Frontiers in Law and Science:  from the deep Sea to rising Sea levels

Protecting our Indigenous Food Systems in the Climate Crisis.

Accelerating Sustainable and Climate Resilience in Health Systems: A Zero Regrets Strategy

Legal Strategy, Attribution Science, and Climate Accountability - with FILE and LACLIMA.

YOUNGO Coordination Meeting

Zonash Asim attended the YOUNGO Coordination meeting. 

RINGO Coordination Meeting

Dr Owen Boyle attended the RINGO Coordination meeting. 

Meeting with Dr Kilaparti Ramakrishna at the Ocean Pavilion

Prof Petra Minnerop and Mustafa Kamran met Dr Ramkrishna, a senior advisor and former UN expert on strategic planning at the Green Climate Fund. The discussions included planning for a future conference in Geneva. 

Shaping the Future of Mineral Governance

Prof Elisa Morgera had a meeting with senior colleagues (including from Global Witness) in a policymakers' roundtable to discuss critical mineral governance. 

Organisers: Grassroot Movements for Climate by Ana Paula, OHCHR. 

Meeting with the Ugandan Head of Delegation 

Prof Petra Minnerop and Mustafa Kamran met the Ugandan Head of Delegation and Ministers. 

Engagements with the Paris Agreement Article 6.4 Negotiations

Professor Petra Minnerop 

Translating the Advisory Opinion into Equitable Climate Action

Meetings with the State delegation of the Marshal Islands 

Dr Owen Boyle met a senior state delegate from the Marshal Islands to share insights from our research project, ELEVATE Pro-Clima.

Engagements with the UAE Dialogue Negotiations

Dr Owen Boyle and Mustafa Kamran 

Working Group on Human Rights

Prof Elisa Morgera joined a gathering organised by OHCHR to share her views on human rights and climate change as the special rapporteur. 

Meeting with young leaders from the Life of Pachamama organisation

Prof Elisa Morgera met youth leaders from the Life of the Pachamama organisation. 

Meeting with the Mesoamerican Caravan for Climate and Life.

Prof Elisa Morgera met climate activists and leaders from the Mesoamerican Caravan for Climate and Life. 

Live From COP30 for Durham University Students

All delegates joined live from the COP30 Blue Zone venue in an online seminar with undergraduate and postgraduate students from Durham Law School and Durham Business School. Students were given a view of the main plenary during the negotiations, the country pavilions, and the delegation offices. 

From Voluntary Action to Legal Obligation: Science-Driven Corporate Climate Responsibility

Prof Petra Minnerop joined a panel discussion at the Science for Climate Action Pavilion. She discussed three different lines of development for voluntary leadership and accountability at the law/science/policy intersection:

1. Voluntary reporting - disclosures on financial, climate and sustainability risks.
2. Mandatory reporting to participate in the carbon market ecosystem.
3. Corporate accountability in a post-AO world: States' obligations to regulate the private.

More details on this event. 

Meeting with colleagues from the NDC Partnership

Prof Petra Minnerop, Mustafa Kamran, and Dr Owen Boyle met colleagues from NDC Partnership to discuss the membership processes and requirements. 

Meeting with the State delegation of Somalia

Prof Petra Minnerop and Dr Owen Boyle met the delegation of Somalia. 

Meeting with the head of the Pakistani delegation

Prof Petra Minnerop, Mustafa Kamran, Dr Owen Boyle, and Zonash Asim had a meeting with the head of the delegation of Pakistan. The discussions include potential collaborations on capacity-building initiatives. 

Meeting with the State delegation of Namibia

Prof Petra Minnerop and Dr Owen Boyle met the delegation of Namibia. 

ACE in Action: Gendering the Just Transition and Enhancing Climate Education and Youth Diplomacy

Dr Owen Boyle was invited to speak at the event at the Rotary International Pavilion, organised by the British University in Egypt under the COP30 Simulation project. 

More information about this event. 

Climate Disinformation 

Prof Elisa Morgera was invited to a panel discussion at the France Pavilion to share her views on the link between human rights and climate disinformation. 

International Courts and Advisory Opinions on the Climate Emergency - with FILE and LACLIMA

Prof Petra Minnerop joined colleagues from FILE and LACLIMA for discussions around two topics: normative developments in advocacy and regulation following the advisory opinions, and litigation as a change pathway for climate accountability and responsibility at the international and national levels.

Youth Voices for Food Security & Human Rights - Launch of the Global Survey Outcome

Prof Elisa Morgera was invited to speak at an event organised by YOUNGO, IAAS, and the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security. 

Bridging the Finance Divide: investing where markets don’t reach

Professor Laura Marsiliani participated in an International Chamber of Commerce event on ‘Bridging the Finance Divide: investing where markets don’t reach’. 

Launch of Gender Equality and Climate Policy Scorecard - by UN Women

On COP30 Gender Day, Dr Owen Boyle attended an event which launched the Gender Equality and Climate Policy Scorecard, an innovative monitoring tool that assesses how effectively national climate policies address gender inequalities. This engagment is part of our ELEVATE ProClima project. 

Practitioners of Law Advancing Climate Mitigation & Adaptation Through Pro Bono & Beyond

Prof Petra Minnerop and Mustafa Kamran were invited by the International Bar Association, American Bar Association and Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association to a joint official UNFCCC side event. 

From GC26 to COP30: Building Child-Sensitive Climate Action through Knowledge, Capacity, and Advocacy

Prof Elisa Morgera represented as a champion of children`s rights at this space together with other children speakers from YOUNGO and other groups and child organisations. She spoke on the importance of the GC26 as a rights-based guidance and the gaps that it can fill in the UNFCCC process, especially ACE.

Organisers: Terre des Hommes Germany and YOUNGO

Scaling Urban NbS through Integrated Planning and Robust Finance: Practical tools by the Naturescapes Project 

Prof Elisa Morgera was invited to speak on engagement of IPLCs in urban and peri-urban Nature-based Solutions design and implementation, and opportunities for benefit-sharing in high-integrity projects with the support of science-based tools.

Organisers: Naturescapes

COP Steering Group Meeting - Reflections on COP30

Post-COP Catch-up with Students

COP30 Castle Debrief - TBC