COP28 schedule | Leicester

In partnership with Engineers in Business, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Careers Team are running a hackathon with students from the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media on Monday 27 November and Monday 4 December 2023 in DMU’s UNAI SDG hub at Heritage House. The challenge set will focus on tackling a real world sustainability issue. The student groups will have one week to work on their idea and finally pitch to a panel with an opportunity to win £3, 000 to develop their idea further.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 6-8pm.

To get involved: For further information please contact enterprise@dmu.ac.uk

An interactive introduction to sustainable development. The content will cover what is currently happening at DMU, and how attendees can actively get involved with all the projects/events targeted at encouraging and supporting sustainable development. This event will follow the launch of DMU@Cop 28 and lunch will be provided.

Where and when:: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, or via MS Teams, 2pm-3pm.

To get involved: Sign-up

More than 14 million items of plastic get into our rivers and canals every year. The big river clean-up along the River Soar/Grand Union Canal will give 40 volunteers – both students and staff – the chance to do something about the pollution. Volunteers on boats and on land will help clean up the waterways around Abbey Park, the river banks and surrounding areas. The event will be followed directly by a COP 28 launch back on campus and volunteers will be presented with a certificate to mark their participation and have lunch.

Where and when: Lime Kiln Lock, Belgrave (transport provided), 10am-1pm.

To get involved: email engage@dmu.ac.uk

Students and staff are being asked to come up with ideas to improve sustainability on campus at DMU. Those ideas will be collated into a total of 28 initiatives to mark COP 28. The university pledges to investigate all those initiatives and the best of those that are practical will be introduced on campus in Leicester. Individuals don’t need to come up with all 28… one or even two initiatives will be fine.

Where and when: email and online.

To get involved: Send your sustainability ideas titled 28 for 28 to dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk

DMU staff and students are encouraged to join this lunchtime session (with refreshments provided) to explore what ambitious action to address the climate emergency could look like in DMU’s educational area. We’ll hear about best practices across the UK and globally and what is happening at DMU already. Attendees will explore together what could be done at DMU in specific courses and across the university, to generate ideas and recommendations for a sector-leading approach.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 12pm to 1.30pm,

To get involved: sign-up with our online form

Join this in-person workshop to gain an understanding of the different ways you can create effective sustainable change. We will encourage you to create an action plan based on the guidance we have been given to communicate this information with others. It will be led by Kedijah Eaves-O’Connor, Project Manager (Education) for Students Organising for Sustainability UK.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 12-1pm.

To get involved: Sign-up with our online form

There has been a significant shift in emphasis being placed on the value of research beyond academia. For example, the societal, economic or political influence of research, known as “impact”, now has a 25 per cent weighting in REF 2028 in a move designed in part to strengthen connections between academia and policy making. This 90-minute session by Dr Mark Charlton offers an insight in how to communicate research and influence policymakers to increase the chances of your novel findings and recommendations having real-world impact.

Where and when: Portland Building Room 0.05 (access via Doctoral College reception), 12.30 – 2.30pm

To get involved: Email researcherdevelopment@dmu.ac.uk and view further information.

A showcase of volunteering opportunities available for students at DMU and for students to gain more information on projects that are helping meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. There will be pavilions for each of the exciting opportunities on offer in a simulation of how COP 28 works in Dubai. Come and hear about how to use football to help achieve net zero, sustainability at DMU, and how you can help improve the narrative around refugees

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 5-7pm

To get involved: Email dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk

More and more businesses are interested in becoming B-Corps - it shows customers that businesses take environmental issues seriously, and are serious about protecting the planet. Richard Garner, who runs the popular People, Planet and Pint sessions in Leicester, will talk about why it’s the best next step for your business. This event is designed to guide businesses of all sizes and industries through the process of becoming a B-Corp.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 5.30pm.

To get involved: Invitation only. Contact megan.rome@dmu.ac.uk for more information.

Ideas will be shared for sustainable lifestyle choices. The session will cover what makes the biggest difference and allow open discussion to share tips and tricks between other attendees, as well as top tips for supporting others to live more sustainably.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, or via MS Teams, 1pm-2pm

To get involved: Sign-up

Students are invited to join us for free pizza and learn all about sustainability at the university and how they can get involved in volunteering opportunities and projects that positively affect the planet. There will also be reports from COP 28, where DMU is represented in the Blue Zone negotiating area of the climate change talks.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 6pm-7.30pm.

To get involved: All DMU students are invited to drop in, contact sustainability@dmu.ac.uk for more information

The planet is getting hotter and weather events are becoming more extreme. Young People, who are statistically in the group least likely to vote, appear energised to do more to help the environment and get behind the politicians who can make change. As the next General Election advances, we are bringing together first-time voters to consider whether they feel politics is failing them and the planet, and if so, what should be done? Policymakers, businesses and stakeholders in the climate debate will get the chances to hear these concerns.

Where and when: Vijay Patel building fourth floor, 9.15am-12.30pm.

To get involved: Invitation only, but email dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk

Next year, election fever will grip the planet as global superpowers India and the United States go to the polls to decide their next leaders. Furthermore, the United Kingdom could follow with either an announcement, or an early election in 2024. As international leaders meet for COP28, the state of politics and its ability to tackle the biggest challenge of our age – climate change – is being called into question. Young people, who often feel marginalised by mainstream politics, are suddenly being triggered into action by concerns over the environment and a lack of political action to tackle problems of fossil fuel pollution, damage from plastics and a failure to move at speed towards clean energy.

DMU students are being encouraged to have their say and come up with a manifesto for global leaders that will not only win back the missing votes of young people but also deliver policies that will help protect the planet for years to come. COP28 in Dubai provides the perfect backdrop to open discussions for Politics for the Planet 2024, engaging young people in elections around the world and giving them a say in the future they want to see. Combining the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) students are being encouraged to join the first scoping session of this innovative project on Friday December 8 at 1.30pm to 3pm. A free networking lunch will be provided, followed by short talks from politics experts and a workshop on how to shape this opportunity for the year ahead.

Where and when: Friday December 8 at 1.30pm, Room 2.06, Heritage House.

To get involved: To take part, simply email dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk to register your place by 5pm on Wednesday 6 December

Enjoy a free breakfast on DMU as a thank you for cycling to work. Just bring along your ID card and your bike helmet, or any form of equipment. Sustainability staff will also give you information on the lights and locks available for both students and staff as well as other useful information, tips, and hints. For non-cyclists, find out about free Learn to Ride a Bike lessons at DMU, which already has four times more cycling commuters than the average workplace.

Where and when: Food Village, 8am onwards

To get involved: Staff and students are invited to drop into the Food Village on campus after arriving and parking up their bike.

On the final day of COP 28, celebrate all that is best in the work by staff and students in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals at DMU. There will be 12 categories recognising everything from enterprise to health care to climate action and their contribution to the SDGs.

Where and when: UNAI SDG Impact Hub 2.05, Heritage House, 5pm-7pm.

To get involved: All nominees and their guests will be invited, for further information contact dmusdg16@dmu.ac.uk

This event seeks to showcase the outcome of research examining how social enterprises navigate the cost-of-living crisis. Alongside this, it seeks to facilitate a collaborative methodology with founders and directors of social enterprises to produce more resilient systems.

Central to this event is the intent to cultivate a dynamic space for the dissemination of knowledge and community involvement. It endeavours to offer invaluable insights into the preparedness, adaptability, and strategic pivots undertaken by social enterprises to weather the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis. The aim is to empower participants with actionable strategies while encouraging open dialogue and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders.

Where and when: Hugh Aston Building 9:30am - 7pm.

To get involved: See the schedule and book your place