The Waterline Live - Connecting to COP26

The University of Hull deals with all aspects of water and oceans with respect to climate change which it presented at COP26 in Glasgow. Hiatt Jackson is the Technology Research Manager at the Flood Innovation Centre and explains how nature-based solutions can help us better manage flood water from extreme weather. The oceans not only threaten low lying land through rising sea levels but also offer a huge natural carbon sink to absorb excess carbon dioxide. However, this process can have damaging side effects: Dr Christina Roggatz, a research fellow in Marine Chemical Ecology at the University of Hull, has been looking into ocean acidification and its devastating impact on sea-life. The marine environment offers much potential for carbon sequestration which needs to be managed carefully to avoid further acidification. Economics determine the investment that will be made in this area as carbon values are attributed to natural absorption processes, plants and potentially to the ‘service' provided by living creatures from whales to elephants. We hear from Patricia Morales CEO of Filanthropia Cotés Solari, Ralph Chami, Co-Founder at Rebalance Earth and Assistant Director, Institute for Capacity Development, International Monetary Fund; and Paul Holthus, President and CEO, World Ocean Council, a global blue economy business and investment organisation. Our reporter Jonathan Levy compiled this report in our latest review from COP26

Rain Forests are a major natural climate regulator through the processing of gigatons of carbon removal from carbon dioxide to release oxygen. Sadly, deforestation is so bad in places where they have become net carbon emitters. It is claimed “Forests are critical to the survival of every living thing on Earth” and provide livelihoods for 1.6 billion people. In fact, conserving forests could cut an estimated 7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year—the equivalent of getting rid of every car on the planet! Our reporter Jonathan Levy talked to leading voices at COP26 to learn more. In this edition we hear from Emmanuelle Berenger and Abdul-Razak Saeed of the Rainforest Alliance. Representatives from the Amazon Sacred Headwaters initiative, including Domingo Peas from the Achuar Nation of the Ecuadorian Amazon. He has a long history of serving the indigenous peoples' movement and is the technical advisor and field representative for the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENAIE) - the organization that represents 11 indigenous nationalities from the region. In this capacity, Domingo is an official spokesperson for the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative for the protection of the basins of the Napo-Marañon Rivers. He is joined by Carla from Chile who helps translate and Suzanne from the initiative. Finally we hear from Janaina Dallan, a forest engineer from Brazil and founding partner of CarbonNext, who uses carbon offset funding to protect and repair the Amazon as a natural carbon-capture solution to climate change during the transition of industry to zero carbon processes.

Rights: Community: Action runs the Shorelines Project which is being delivered in Hull by DA Creative. The project connects climate activism with art and allows communities to express their thoughts in large scale murals around the city – see https://theshorelinesproject.com/ The project was extended outside Hull for COP26: The Scottish Opera House in Glasgow dedicated a wall at their studios for a new mural installation by renowned international mural artist, Gustavo Chavez Pavon who travelled from Mexico to be part of this exciting project. Jonathan Levy caught up with the artists and the team supporting the project during COP26 in Glasgow. This edition of the podcast features the Mexican artist Gustavo Chavez Pavon; Pedro Perez and Chris Jamieson from the Murals Tearing Down Walls project in Glasgow; Calvin Innes Artistic Director, Shorelines Project; Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Director, Rights : Community : Action; Alex Goodman, Environmental Lawyer.

An interview with David Croft – Global Sustainability Director at Reckitt who talks about the prospects for the company's research base in Hull to develop more sustainable products; his experience at COP21 in Paris and a comparison with this year's COP26 in Glasgow.

A few days before COP26 the UN convened the 16th Conference of Youth – COY16. Over 40,000 young people around the world were consulted in the preceding months and the conference concluded a statement of desired action to be presented to COP26. It was received at the COY16 closing ceremony by COP26 President Alok Sharma and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. Jonathan Levy spoke to delegates and dignitaries. He also caught up with Amy Meek, a Humber based youth activist from Kids Against Plastic to gain her impressions of COP26

The winning team from The Waterline Summit 2021 Student Challenge were invited to SSE's Glasgow headquarters to present their project during COP26. Our reporter Jonathan Levy was there and spoke to the Ron Dearing University Technical College 'Sustainability Crew' Jaden Taylor and Catherine Crees, and accompanying teacher Glenn Jensen, the UTC's Senior Assistant Principal and Head of Engineering. In addition, Kate Wallace Lockhart, Head of Social Impact for the SSE Group talks about the Student Challenge and her role with SSE's Just Transition programme.

In this second review episode, Jonathan Levy shares his exclusive interviews with world-leading authorities on climate change and the impact of greenhouse gases which continue to increase: World Meteorological Organization Secretary General Petteri Taalas; One of the authors of the latest climate change report from the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) June-Yi Lee, IBC Centre for Climate Physics, Associate Professor at the University of Pusan, South Korea; Dr Robert Mulvaney, Science Programme Coordinator at the British Antarctic Survey - leader of the Ice Dynamics and Palaeoclimate Team. Global temperatures continue to rise to record levels and the melting of ice at the poles and glaciers elsewhere is impacting on Sea Level Rise. At current levels, global warming could be almost double the target of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Sea level rise by the end of the century could be well above initial projections. This podcast opens with comments from UN Secretary General António Guterres at the WMO press conference at COP26

Following up on COP26, our reporter Jonathan Levy brings us a series of reviews with a selection of exclusive interviews. In this episode he talks to Joe Wilkins, a young activist and Head of Campaigns at UK For Nature. Joe was a guest speaker at this year's Waterline Summit. Here he reflects on his COP26 experience and concerns for the environment, nature and land use in agriculture.

The Humber has been well represented at COP26 in Glasgow throughout the UN Climate Change Summit. On the penultimate day Jonathan Levy spoke with Lee Pitcher from Yorkshire Water's Living with Water campaign and Professor Dan Parsons, Director of the University of Hull's Energy and Environment Institute. Prof Parsons has been accompanying Lord John Prescott, attending COP26 while recovering from a recent stroke – so we have also been talking to his long-term colleague and former MP Sir Alan Meale about Lord Prescott's legacy from helping to complete the Kyoto agreement.

In this latest instalment of The Waterline Live from COP26 the Humber remains in the spotlight as a global exemplar region At a session hosted by Scottish energy company SSE, which has a number of investments in the Humber, the region has been recognised as a front-runner in the race to be the world's first net-zero industrial cluster. Jonathan Levy talks to Melissa Stark, Global Renewables and Energy Transition Services Lead, Accenture; Ruth Herbert, Chief Executive, Carbon Capture and Storage Association; John Johnson, Director of Development - SSE Thermal. As COP26 looks at transport, the Humber has also been recognised as having a good strategic position in the transition of marine propulsion to low carbon substitute fuels and ultimately to new clean alternatives such as hydrogen. As we hear from Paul Holthus, CEO, World Ocean Council - The Global Blue Economy Business & Investment Organization - advancing "Corporate Ocean Responsibility" Stay tuned to The Waterline live from Glasgow, as we connect the Humber to COP26 A Blue Aurora Media production for Marketing Humber.

Zero Carbon Humber is one of four global projects selected by The World Economic Forum and its partners to launch a new initiative to accelerate the transformation of leading international industrial clusters to net zero at COP26. Jonathan Levy is there and sent us this report for The Waterline Live.

The Race to Zero: This week the UN launched its Sports for Climate Action targets and requirements, calling for a 50% cut in greenhouse gasses by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040. In this edition of the Waterline Live we hear from athletes and sports specialists with their concerns for the environment from the Extreme Hangout stage at COP26. This edition features: Hannah Mills, double Olympic Gold Medal sailor. Allegra Stratton, The UK Prime Minister's spokesperson on COP26 Julie Duffus, Sustainability Senior Manager, International Olympic Committee Alexandra Rickman, double Paralympic Bronze Medal sailor Joe Cooke, professional cricketer and sustainable champion for Glamorgan Lizzie Carr, paddleboarder, adventurer and campaigner. Founder Planet Patrol. Radha Balani, Director Design and Facilitation at Think Beyond Melissa Wilson, British Rower and environmentalist, Champions for Earth Dr Madelein Orr, Founder of The Sport Ecology Group and Head of Sustainability and Sport at Loughborough University Institute of Sport Business, London Lewis Pugh, endurance swimmer and environmental campaigner, UN Patron of the Oceans Lauren MacCallum, General Manager - Protect our Winters UK A Blue Aurora Media Production for Marketing Humber

Cities and regions have a major role to play in not only helping the world to achieve net zero but also in defending against the impact of climate change. Partnerships are key such as those found in Hull and the Humber between government, business, university, agencies and the broader community. COP26 Hygiene Partner and multinational brand Reckitt, which was founded in Hull, organised a number of panels where The Waterline Live presenter Jonathan Levy talked to some of the panellists in addition to other COP26 visitors. These included: Laxman Narasimhan CEO Reckitt; Lord Karan Bilimoria, President, CBI and founder and chairman Cobra beer; Daren Hale, Leader, Hull City Council; Tony Danker, Director General, CBI; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Jenny Durken, Mayor of Seattle; Carmine Di Sibio, Global Chairman and CEO, EY. A Blue Aurora Media production for Marketing Humber.

The final day of the Summit looked at Cities and the Built Environment and concluded with a special session by Equinor on not only the biggest offshore wind farm on the planet but also plans to create the world's first large scale Green Hydrogen production plant. The climate conversation continues...

Day 4 of the summit focussed on Adaptation, Resilience and Nature. Yorkshire Water has a pioneering initiative in Hull and East Yorkshire called Living with Water. Jonathan Levy had this climate conversation with Lee Pitcher, Yorkshire Water's Head of Partnerships.

Concluding Day 4 on Adaptation, Resilience and Nature was the launch of an inspiring arts project in Hull called Flood Lights.

Day 4 of The Waterline Summit and the climate conversation continues on the theme of Adaptation, Resilience and Nature. Jonathan Levy talks to speakers and delegates.

Chris Ramsey is a global adventurer with a difference - he drives half way round the planet in a regular electric vehicle - EV and is passionate about sustainability. After negotiating the Mongolian Rally from west to east, he's now planning to travel south to north: Pole to Pole! Hear his climate conversation with Jonathan Levy.

Benj Sykes is the Vice President of UK Offshore and Head of Market Development, Consenting & External Affairs at Ørsted - sponsor of the hackathon and partner with The Waterline initiative. Hear his climate conversation with Jonathan Levy

During day 3 of The Waterline Summit 2021 a hackathon supported by Ørsted was hosted at the Aura Innovation Centre and run by the Edenic Group. Innovation Thinking: Shaping a Greener Future.

The climate conversation continues on day 3 of The Waterline Summit 2021: Clean Road Transport Day. Jonathan catches up with speakers and delegates.

Join the climate conversation with Jonathan Levy as he talks to speakers and delegates at Day 2 of The Waterline Summit 2021 which focuses on 'The Future of Energy' at the Energy Transition Day

A summary of the launch of the third annual edition of The Waterline Summit on Monday 18 October 2021. Jonathan Levy talks to key speakers and delegates to get a flavour of the issues in the week ahead from the opening session: A Question of Carbon, plus the public premiere of the new COP26 film: Eyes on the Humber

Join the climate conversation with Jonathan Levy as this year's Summit in October 2021 counts down to and connects with COP26: He discusses the challenges and opportunities with a range of guests from around the world including Laura Paterson - the World Meteorological Organization's representative at the UN in New York, USA; Sunwoo Vivian Lee from Solutions for our Climate in Seoul, South Korea; Dan Pathomvanich of sustainable food company NRF who also sits on Thailand's UN Global Compact from Bangkok; Michael Sheldrick a co-founder of Global Citizen from Washington DC, USA; Catriona Graham is the UK Government's Director of Clean Growth for Europe and Consul General in Milan - host of the PRE-COP26 meetings; plus space scientist turned entrepreneur, musician and DJ who has just earned his Astronaut wings - space traveller Dr Chris Boshuizen. Discover more at www.TheWaterline.global

Join the climate conversation with Jonathan Levy: Listen to the extensive International Webinar from The Waterline Summit in October 2020. In Part 1 leading scientists from around the world assess the state of the Earth's climate's; in Part 2 we hear the 'View from The Waterline' on the latest developments in the Humber and opportunities top decarbonise; Part 3 concludes with an assessment of global trade opportunities for the Humber with UK Government trade representatives and other business guests from major international markets. For the latest visit www.TheWaterline.global

Despite the huge challenge of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge of climate change remains Listen as The Waterline Live takes stock of the state of the climate in comparison to targets set out pre-2000, and the clear demand for expertise, new technologies and processes of the type being developed here in the Humber region in the UK. Participants include: Clare Nullis, (Spokesperson/Media Officer) UN World Meteorological Organisation WMO Prof Emerita Lynne Frostick, Hon Fellow, Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull and Board Member (Flood and Coastal Risk Management), UK Environment Agency Rianke Krugel, Deputy Project Leader, Greenpeace Pole to Pole mission, Arctic Sunrise Jing Ming, (Geologist and Climate Scientist) Founder, Beacon Science and Consulting; MDPI Atmosphere Reviewer Board Member Claire Pengelly, Water Programme Manager, Green Cape The Waterline Live is produced for Marketing Humber in partnership with Blue Aurora Media.