Workshop 1 | Hosted by UNSW Sydney | Registration Link

How can students use their research knowledge to help inform and protect biodiversity hotspots?

The latest reports from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change highlighted devastating impacts to biodiversity around the world due to climate change, yet in many parts of the world legal protections for natural environments have been diminished to meet populist demands for economic uses for resources. How do conservationists generate meaningful changes in policy to protect our environment and what role can students have in building awareness and support in the community for these important initiatives?

Workshop Facilitator:

UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture brings together a leadership team as diverse as the faculty itself. Together, we are equipped with the expertise, creativity and problem-solving skills required to tackle society’s most pressing problems relating to people, place and cultures.

Dr. Deborah Barros Leal Farias is a Brazilian-born Senior Lecturer at UNSW Sydney’s School of Social Sciences, where she teaches Politics and International Relations. She has a multidisciplinary background: PhD in Political Science from UBC (Canada), as well as an MA in International Relations, and bachelor’s degrees in Economy and in Law from Brazilian institutions. Her current main areas of interest involve global governance and the international political economy of developing countries. She also researches Brazilian policy, both domestic and international.

Workshop 2 | Hosted by the University of West Indies | Registration Link

Reimagining the future of climate resilient communities

From the small island communities in the Caribbean through to the coastal communities of Australia, students are increasingly aware of how climate change is impacting their communities and want to help. What can students do with their skills and help drive transformation towards more sustainable systems to create resilient climate communities?

Workshop Facilitators:

University of West Indies started as a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI has evolved into a modern, future-driven, activist, top-ranked academy with over 50,000 students. Our mission to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean is centred on producing critical thinkers and leaders who serve the needs of the 21st century society. Learn More

Lance Scott is a Research and Policy Specialist with a focus on Climate Change, Rural livelihoods, and Climate Risk Insurance. Lance holds a BSc. in Geography and Geology and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI). Lance has worked on several projects, including being a Trainer and Assistant Project Manager on projects commissioned by the National Environment Planning Agency (NEPA) through the UWI. He specializes in research design, data collection, data management, data analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.

Lance’s research focuses on Weather Index Insurance, and he has represented Jamaica at the International Dialogue on “Creating a Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Evidence Roadmap” organized by Munich Climate Insurance Initiative based in Germany, where he contributed to the Working Paper which went on to advising key government officials and other stakeholders such as policymakers, international development agencies, and agribusiness owners. Lance also holds certifications in Understanding Disaster Risk Financing and Economic Policy and Cartography. Lance has always held the belief that small island developing states (SIDS) in the Caribbean are not susceptible to “double exposure”, but rather “multi-exposure” as their internally weak systems reduce their chances of and the speed of recovery. He intends to lead the charge by proposing and enacting key and transformational policies that will contribute to the accessibility of climate risk financing across the region.

Leneka Rhoden is a Natural Scientist and Project Management Professional with over 5 years of experience in the fields of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Education/Training. Equipped with skills in Climate Strategic Management, Communications, Research, Process Design, and Optimization, Leneka functions as a Development Project Manager, Grant Writing Trainer, Science Educator, and Business Development Consultant. She is currently the Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network at the Commonwealth Secretariat where she is responsible for overseeing the management of the Network including supporting the 54 national chapters in developing and executing their initiatives.  As a result, Leneka holds extensive experience in strengthening global advocacy campaigns, and convening capacity-building training for youth as climate leaders, in research, policy, and management. Nationally, Leneka has been awarded the Governor General’s Award for Excellence and the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in Community Service. Leneka holds an Honors BSc. Degree in Marine Biology and International Relations and is currently an MPhil candidate in Environmental Biology (Renewable Energy) at the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI). Her graduate studies research explores the potential of the macroalga, Sargassum natans, and microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, to produce biodiesel. With the inconsistency of the spread of oil and gas reserves in the Caribbean, Leneka’s research amplifies energy security in Small Island Developing States (SIDs). Additionally, Leneka holds Project Management certifications from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),  University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa),  the University of Adelaide, Australia.  Leneka also has post-graduate training in Law and Policy from the University of Bradford (United Kingdom) with specializations in Global Changes, Climate Change, Energy, and Bioremediation.

Workshop 3 | Hosted by IBM | Registration Link

How can technology be harnessed to improve climate literacy?

At IBM, we believe in uniting experts and technology to tackle environmental issues at scale. That’s why we’re supporting the Internal Universities Climate Alliance’s Earth Day Climate Talks Student Forum with a human-centred design workshop. Throughout the experience, IBM experts will guide activities using Design Thinking methodologies to ensure our student’s voices are being heard in relation to some of the world’s most pressing climate challenges. The captured statements will be consolidated and presented to the Climate Alliance university leadership ahead of the World Academic Summit in New York during October 2022.

Workshop 4 | Hosted by Foundations for Tomorrow | Registration Link

Reimagining the future of climate resilient communities

From the small island communities in the Caribbean through to the coastal communities of Australia, students are increasingly aware of how climate change is impacting their communities and want to help. What can students do with their skills and help drive transformation towards more sustainable systems to create resilient climate communities?

Foundations for Tomorrow is a non-partisan organisation driven by tenacious young Australians with the mission of protecting Australia’s future interests. We are committed to being proactive and constructive participants in the design of a prosperous future for all Australians. We operate as a Strategy Hub, operating in the nexus of think tanks, policy advocacy and incubators. We bring fresh eyes to intergenerational inequities and creative solutions to Australia’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. By bringing ambitious, yet pragmatic and evidence-based, perspectives to these critical conversations, we intend to meaningfully contribute to future-proofing Australia. Learn More

Workshop 5 | Hosted by IBM | Registration Link

How can technology be harnessed to improve climate literacy?

At IBM, we believe in uniting experts and technology to tackle environmental issues at scale. That’s why we’re supporting the Internal Universities Climate Alliance’s Earth Day Climate Talks Student Forum with a human-centred design workshop. Throughout the experience, IBM experts will guide activities using Design Thinking methodologies to ensure our student’s voices are being heard in relation to some of the world’s most pressing climate challenges. The captured statements will be consolidated and presented to the Climate Alliance university leadership ahead of the World Academic Summit in New York during October 2022.

Workshop 6 | Hosted by AIESEC | Registration Link

How can we use our university campus as a living lab to help students develop a sustainable mindset? 

AIESEC is a global platform for young people to develop their leadership potential through international internships and volunteer opportunities. Founded in 1948, AIESEC is a non-governmental, and not-for-profit organization entirely run by youth for youth.

Workshop 7 | Hosted by Climate Student Movement | Registration Link

What role can students have to help ensure campuses have effective Climate Action Plans?

Many students and youths are passionate or care about the climate crisis. However, it is common for students to feel helpless or unable to create an impact. With climate scientists from higher education institutions (HEIs) warning society about the urgency of climate issues, it is time that HEIs practice what they teach and take action to improve their campuses and education to be in line with climate science and equity. Learn about how students have been working towards making their own campuses more sustainable and how you can get involved. The session will involve discussion about how HEIs can be preparing students to become climate leaders at the workplace and how sustainability in campuses should incorporate the training of such skills.

Workshop Facilitators:

The Climate Students Movement was officially founded in August 2020 by students from the forerunner Climate Students Sweden, as well as by students starting up Climate Students groups in Kenya, Singapore, and the UK. Currently, we are working to mobilise, organise and strengthen student groups, networks and organisations in their work to push higher education institutions to become brave climate leaders in our societies. Our role is to ensure that they act on the best available climate science, and that they adapt to it in order to follow the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement while taking climate equity into account. At the moment, we have expanded to include members from Brazil, Nigeria, Colombia, Finland, Malta, the Netherlands, and Tanzania. We’re currently expanding and hope to reach out to more students worldwide to advocate for more change within the universities, with a few potential future members from Austria, Estonia, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Uganda. Learn More

Workshop 8 | Hosted by Sustainability Academy | Registration Link

What does a climate informed workplace look like?

Sustainability Academy | Brings climate literacy to the workplace. The workshop shares how they delivered sustainability training, with particular focus on the SDGs, to the workforce of Thames Water. Employees talk about the impact this has had on their professional and personal lives and a representative of senior management at Thames Water talks about the importance of sustainability in the workplace. Graduates in sustainability talk about their work experience. Learn More

Workshop 9 | Hosted by SOS UK | Registration Link

How can students use their education or research knowledge to encourage policies that support climate action?

Workshop Description | As communities around the world seek support to understand and respond to climate change, researchers will be more important than ever to help industry, government and other diverse stakeholders understand the complex implications that climate change mitigation and adaptation pathways might hold.

Workshop Facilitators:

SOS-UK | A student-led education charity focusing on sustainability. We know environmental sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation, so our work spans across issues of justice and wellbeing as well. Learn More

Kelo Uchendu is a Clinton Global Initiative Fellow, the founder of Gray2Green Movement and Co-founder of Zentrum a social impact startup that recently won the global Rockefeller Foundation and Acumen Academy Social Innovation Challenge. Kelo is passionate about building a just, equitable and sustainable system. For the past 4 years his leadership strategy in transformative activism is rooted in environmental conservation particularly climate justice and air-quality advocacy, youth engagement, grassroot mobilizing and capacity building, as well as governance and polices. Away from campus life Kelo has helped his community build more climate resilience through his activities at Gray2Green Movement. Kelo is a member of the Global Coordination Team (GCT) YOUNGO the official youth constituency of UNFCCC. In 2019 He was selected as one of the top 50 promising engineering student globally to attend EuroBrake 2019 in Dresden, Germany by the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Society (FISITA).

Phoebe Hanson is passionate about creating an informed, kind future generation that can tackle the climate crisis. Building knowledge, skills and power in young people, platforming their voices, and influencing the public policy that affects them to shape a resilient world. Phoebe co-coordinated Mock COP26, a conference uniting youth from 140+ countries to share opinions, innovative ideas, and lived experiences surrounding the climate crisis. A Board Trustee of youth movement-building charity Raleigh International and supporting the UK Department for Education to convene a joint event of education and environment ministers at COP26 to advance climate teaching and learning.