This year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Glasgow, UK, starting Sunday 31st October and runs until Thursday 12th November 2021. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. World leaders will arrive in Scotland, alongside tens of thousands of negotiators, government representatives, businesses and citizens for twelve days of talks and to hear about global initiatives for tackling climate change.
Mission Innovation (MI) members, and our collaborating partners, will be represented throughout the two week programme in clear recognition that innovation will play a key role in catalysing the development of the clean energy solutions needed to achieve the Paris Agreements. A number of new announcements will take place and MI Missions, Innovation Communities and our collaborating partners are running events and panel discussions at Country Pavilions, and featuring in side-events and conferences, such as the COP Presidency Accelerating Innovation event on 9th November and the Sustainable Innovation Forum from 8-10 November.
The MI Secretariat has compiled a list of events where Mission Innovation will feature, or events of wider interest to MI members. Please note that the information below will be updated, as some details are still being confirmed.
Key events include (scroll further down for details):
Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment
2 November, 14:15 – 16:30, Blue zone (invite only)
Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation: Delivering on Clean Energy for the Climate
4 November 18:00 – 19:00, US Pavilion (invite only plus live streaming)
COP26 Presidency event: “Accelerating innovation: cooperation for a net zero future”
9 November, 15:30 – 17:30, UNFCCC Plenary Space – Meeting Room 4, Blue Zone
Those MI members attending in person, and with blue zone accreditation, are warmly invited to attend, and there is no need to register for these activities. We are also expecting some of the events to be live streamed, or made available to watch post-event, so that those of you following COP from home can also listen in to the discussions and outcomes. We aim to update the information below with details of live-streaming when they become known, but you can also subscribe to the COP26 YouTube channel, where we expect content from the two weeks will be made available: https://www.youtube.com/c/cop26 and https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/live for Presidency events.
Please do follow MI through our social media channels Twitter, LinkedIn and the #COP26 hashtags to find out about activities as they happen!
Summary of events (all timings are GMT)
1 November – World Leaders Summit
UNFCCC Innovation Hub launch
10:30 – 11:00, UNFCCC Innovation Hub, Blue zone
Head of MI Secretariat, Jennie Dodson, will speak at the start of the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub programme (UGIH). The UGIH initiative will facilitate expansion of the innovation space and bridge between demand and supply of SDG climate solutions clusters made up of technology, policy, finance, business models, leadership and capacity building solutions. It will also measure the impact of the solution clusters.
Agriculture Innovation for Net-Zero Food Systems
15:00 – 17:00, Box Hub, 50 Washington Street, Glasgow G3 8AZ
The “Agriculture Innovation for Net-zero Food Systems” event focuses on the role of low-carbon innovation in decarbonizing agriculture and land-use, and the need to increase the pace of innovation to achieve affordable, resilient, and efficient food and nature systems. The event includes the launch of a landmark new study funded by ClimateWorks Foundation and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Global Innovation Needs Assessments (GINAs).
Contact ana.barbedo@vivideconomics.com to register.
2 November – World Leaders Summit
Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment
14:15 – 16:30, Blue zone (invite only), watch live here.
This event will bring together countries and business leaders to discuss how we can work together to accelerate the innovation and deployment of clean technologies needed to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach so that they are accessible and affordable for all. The event will set out a positive vision for a clean, green future and all its benefits, including creating new jobs and growth globally. The spotlight will shine on new leading initiatives to drive action and set out ambitious plans for a decade of delivery and international collaboration.
3 November – Finance Day
Launch of the Sustainable Urban Cooling Handbook for Cities (developed in collaboration with the MI Innovation Community on Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings)
Time tbc, Nordic Pavilion, Blue Zone
4 November – Energy Day
Presidency Event – Making the global transition to clean power a reality
11:30 – 13:00, Cairn Gorm Room, Blue Zone
A Presidency event, convened by the Energy Transition Council, featuring two panel sessions, one moderated by IRENA, where senior figures from governments and international organisations will announce and discuss new measures to scale up clean power more quickly, shift away from coal and ensure access to affordable, sustainable energy for all.
Marrakesh Partnership Global Climate Action Energy Day
12:00 – 14:45, Location tbc
This Global Climate Action event of the Marrakesh Partnership will showcase the Climate Action Pathway on Energy, highlight ambitious initiatives and innovations driving transition and explore practical approaches for overcoming the barriers to deliver the 2030 milestones to net zero.
Official Launch: The Global Youth Energy Outlook
12:00 – 13:30, Glasgow Science Centre
The Global Youth Energy Outlook is the definitive tool at COP26 for understanding what today’s youth, 18 to 30 years old, want for the future of energy and climate. Student Energy has been working with a team of 12 youth Regional Coordinators worldwide over the past 18 months to develop a research methodology focused on doing a comprehensive study of our 30,000+ youth network’s ambitions on climate in their communities. The launch event will include an intergenerational programme where Student Energy’s Regional Coordinators will showcase key findings and regional insights from their research, as well as pathways for decision-makers to work collaboratively with youth on setting the agenda for achieving SDG 7.
IEA at COP26: Working together to accelerate clean energy technology innovation
14:00 – 15:30, Norway Pavilion, Blue Zone
Chair of the MI Steering Committee, Patrick Child, will join other high-level speakers to discuss how countries, companies and international organisations are responding to the challenge to speed up the pace of clean energy technology development.
Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation: Delivering on Clean Energy for the Climate
18:00 – 19:00, US Pavilion, Blue Zone (invite only plus live streaming)
This event will showcase the achievements of Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial. The host of MI-6, Chile, will officially handover the hosting responsibilities for the next Ministerial to the US.
Key speakers – John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate; Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy; Juan Carlos Jobet, Minister for Energy, Chile; Andrew Light, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy; Patrick Child, Chair of Mission Innovation Steering Committee; Jennie Dodson, Head of Mission Innovation Secretariat; Darren Miller, CEO, Australian Renewable Energy Agency; Dan Dorner, Head of Clean Energy Ministerial Secretariat.
5 November – Youth and Public Engagement Day
IRENA – Potential of offshore energy and green hydrogen to power the global energy transition
11:30 – 12:30, EU Pavilion, Blue Zone
The jointly organised session by IRENA and the European Commission will demonstrate the potential of offshore wind and green hydrogen as a secure, clean and economically viable option to drive the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
US DOE – Going Negative on Carbon
13:30 – 14:30, US Pavilion, Blue Zone
Join via livestream here.
Modelling by the International Panel on Climate Change indicates that removal of 100 to 1,000 gigatonnes of CO2 this century may be needed to achieve deep decarbonization and avoid exceeding the 1.5°C climate target. Join the event for the announcement of a new MI Mission.
8 November – Adaptation, Loss and Damage Day
Sustainable Innovation Forum Transition track stage
10:00 – 10:30, The Innovation Zone and online
Keynote speech from US Deputy Secretary of Energy Turk.
Zero-Emission Shipping Mission: The Pathway to 2030
13:00 – 14:00, Danish Pavilion (State of Green), Blue Zone
Join via livestream here.
For the maritime industry to reach the goal of decarbonized operations by 2050, the transition must be well underway by 2030. The Zero-Emission Shipping Mission has set a clear target for ships capable of running on zero-emission fuels to make up at least 5% of the global deep-sea fleet by 2030. The session is the opening event for the Zero-Emission Shipping Event at COP26, showcasing broad political commitment and discussing key next steps, challenges and milestones. This will focus on the collaboration between governments involved in the Mission to accelerate progress towards the 2030 goals, drawing inspiration from the Innovation Gap Analysis, Mission workshops and ongoing work on the Mission’s roadmap concept.
9 November – Science and Innovation / Gender Day
Leadership Group for Industry Transition Summit
10:00 – 12:00, Business Sweden Pavilion, Blue Zone (invite only)
As part of the LeadIT Summit, join for the announcement of a new MI Mission.
CSIRO and Mission Innovation Clean Hydrogen Mission: Research, development & innovation: global priorities in support of clean hydrogen industry development (featuring reference to MI Clean Hydrogen Mission)
12:30 – 13:30, Australian Pavilion, Blue Zone
Mission Innovation’s Clean Hydrogen Mission has the goal of increasing the cost-competitiveness of clean hydrogen by reducing end-to-end costs to USD$2 per kilogram by 2030. As part of Australia’s commitment to this mission, CSIRO has undertaken an analysis of international hydrogen RD&D priorities and directions, and how they might support this goal. Please join us online for a presentation of the key findings from the study, and to hear reflections on it from a panel of leading national and international hydrogen industry experts, including Dr Patrick Hartley (CSIRO), Dr Sunita Satyapal (DoE), and Professor Ken Baldwin of ANU.
Innovation-Driven Urban Transitions
14:00- 15:30, UNFCCC Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone
To meet our climate goals, national governments, local governments, the private sector, and civil society must quickly come together to develop, test, and widely disseminate low-carbon innovations for urban areas worldwide. Join the European Commission, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe, and panellists for a discussion on how governments and partners can advance net-zero solutions for cities.
COP26 Presidency event: “Accelerating innovation: cooperation for a net zero future”
15:30 – 17:30, UNFCCC Plenary Space – Meeting Room 4, Blue Zone
As the flagship innovation event on COP26 Science and Innovation Day, this event will bring together Ministers, CEOs and leaders from around the world to showcase clean energy solutions. The event will see the launch of new commitments that enhance international cooperation and ensure innovation delivers for all to meet our joint Paris goals. This will be the key event showcasing how Mission Innovation supports the outcomes of COP26 and delivering the Paris Agreement, featuring a number of announcements by Mission Innovation Ministers.
Green Powered Future Mission: launch of the Joint Roadmap of Global Innovation Priorities
15.30 – 16.00, UNFCCC Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone
The Green Powered Future Mission will publish a roadmap which provides a 10-year pathway to reach the Mission’s goal of demonstrating the integration of up to 100% variable renewable energies in different power systems. The event will feature key messages from committed countries and a panel discussion by business leaders and experts.
10 November – Transport Day
Sustainable Innovation Forum
08:00 – 08:20, The Innovation Zone and online
Keynote address from Patrick Child, Chair of MI Steering Committee
Green Shipping Corridors – Launch of Clydebank Declaration Initiative (featuring reference to MI Shipping Mission)
09:15 – 10:30, Blue Zone – Meeting Room 4
Join via livestream here.
The Clydebank Declaration is a global initiative within the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission, encouraging governments to support the establishment of ‘green shipping corridors’ – decarbonised shipping routes between two ports. This event will bring together Ministers and CEOs to launch the Declaration and start an evidence-based and collaborative discussion about the next steps in establishing green shipping corridors.
Addressing the Chicken and Egg Dilemma – What does it take to scale-up the supply infrastructure for zero-emission fuels? (featuring reference to MI Shipping Mission)
12:30 – 13:30, Norwegian Pavilion, Blue Zone
The decarbonization of international shipping hinges to a large extent on the timely availability and scale up of green fuels, including the necessary infrastructure for this. Robust supply commitment and clear demand signals can thus become critical elements in the solution, necessitating coordination and collaboration across the maritime and energy space. The objective of this session is to invite selected industry representatives and policymakers to discuss how to jointly ensure sufficient supply, demand and infrastructure for green fuels towards 2030 and 2050, as well as the key next steps needed to accelerate a systemic transition across segments and regions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Sustainable Innovation Forum: Mainstreaming Climate Innovations For Net Zero Transitions
15:55 – 16:25, The Innovation Zone and online
Head of Secretariat for Mission Innovation, Jennie Dodson, will join a panel to discuss how innovation can be catalysed and how the development of breakthrough technologies can be incentivised.
11 November – Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day
Hydrogen Transition Summit
09:00 – 17:00, The Innovation Zone and online
12:00 – 12:50 – Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director Clean Planet, European Commission, will participate in a panel on new policy and finance models for ‘hydrogen valleys’ / ‘hydrogen clusters’ / ‘hydrogen economies.
Further details on the official COP26 programme can be found on the official COP26 webpages here: https://ukcop26.org/ , or by following the links below: