IIES Co-director Margaret Graham represented the IIES and the University of Edinburgh at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30). This year’s conference was held at the Hangar Convention Centre in Belem, Brazil from November 10-21, 2025.
The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Climate Change Action
Professor Graham was awarded a 75 minute time slot for her session titled “Partnerships are key to HEIs playing an impactful role in advancing climate action and sustainable development” in the Education Pavilion within the conference’s Blue Zone, a pavilion which highlights the critical role of higher education in advancing climate action and sustainable development. With over 60 sessions, it showcased how universities contribute to the implementation of climate action through education, research, innovation, community engagement, and institutional leadership.
During her session, Professor Graham spoke about the power of the collective voice that comes through engagement in local, national and international networks. She highlighted the IIES as an example of a growing international network, focused on sustainability, climate research and education, that fosters collaborative approaches to address global environmental challenges.
Ahead of COP30, Professor Graham and her colleagues at the Edinburgh Earth Initiative released a collaborative publication on their research and reflections for COP 30 and the future. This work highlights the scientific, economic, social, and political factors influencing our current climate crisis and offers a number of paths to building a more
sustainable future.
