The Role And Impact Of Science And Innovation In Climate Action

In this virtual space, you can explore examples of the impact science and innovation can have in informing climate action and helping achieve a net-zero carbon future.

By United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Research and innovation enriches and improves our lives and increases prosperity by creating knowledge that enables us to understand ourselves and the world around us.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation. For more than 50 years, UKRI and its research councils have invested in cutting-edge research and innovation to understand, tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change and embed evidence in decision-making and climate policy.

A Conversation Starter

Warming stripes - an emblem for climate action by University of ReadingUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

UKRI Will Be Championing The Climate Stripes At COP26

No words. No numbers. No graphs. Just 170 vertical coloured bars, showing the progressive heating of our planet in a single, striking image.

Warming stripes - an emblem for climate action (2021) by University of ReadingUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Professor Ed Hawkins On The Role and Use Of Climate Stripes

The climate stripes were created by Professor Ed Hawkins, UKRI-funded scientist, at the University of Reading in 2018.They show clearly and vividly how global average temperatures have risen over nearly two centuries.

Stripes images for more than 200 countries, states and cities are available to download for free from the showyourstripes.info website. People in every country can see how their home is heating and share the images, helping to start conversations about climate change.


At COP26 we want to start a conversation and demonstrate the impact of science and innovation in climate action. We will use the Climate Stripes to vividly show the impact of climate change and the need for action.

Stripes at Reading Festival (2019) by University of ReadingUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

The Climate Stripes Have Been Used Around The World...

...at festivals...

Greta Thunberg tweet (2021) by Greta ThunbergUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

...to start a global conversation on social media...

Stripes light show Copenhagen (2021) by UnknownUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

...through showcases at art installations…

London Fashion Week stripes (2021) by University of ReadingUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

...in fashion...

BBC News stripes (2021) by BBCUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

...and in the media.

Get involved, start a conversation, show your stripes.

Showcase

What will our food system look like in 2050? (2020) by UKRIUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

What Will Our Food System Look Like In 2050?

The way we produce food puts a lot of pressure on the planet. In the future, our food system will need to feed billions more people. How can we ensure it's sustainable, and meet global commitments like the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals?  

Daniel Becerra, BuffaloGrid - charging rural communitiesUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Improving Mobile Connectivity Across The Globe

The United Nations sees improved mobile connectivity as key to ending poverty, halting climate change and fighting injustice and inequality across the world by 2030. Buffalo grid developed a small home charger which can be charged centrally used at home to ensure phones have charge when the power is down.

Everyday life examples to help us understand the role of science and innovation in finding climate solutions (2019) by UKRI BBSRCUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Examples Of Science And Innovation Aiding Climate Solutions

Everyday life examples to help us understand the role of science and innovation in finding climate solutions (2019) by UKRI BBSRCUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Everyday life examples to help us understand the role of science and innovation in finding climate solutions (2019) by UKRI BBSRCUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Helping to power remote, off-grid communities (2020) by UKRIUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Helping To Power Remote, Off-Grid Communities

Engineering specialist Paul Andrews looks at ways to provide clean and sustainable energy to isolated areas of the developing world with unique engine 'Pulse-R'.

Finding ways to grow more food using less (2014) by National Geographic & Zero Carbon FarmsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Finding Ways To Grow More Food Using Less

There's a farm one hundred feet below London's streets. In an old World War II bomb shelter, innovators Steve Dring and Richard Ballard are growing salad greens with reclaimed water and lights powered by wind turbines. Finding ways to grow more food using less space will be key to feeding Earth's growing population.

Reducing the impact of fishing on the marine environment Asset (2020) by FishTekMarineUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Reducing The Impact Of Fishing On The Marine Environment

100 million sharks, skates and rays are accidentally caught every year by the world’s commercial fisheries, threatening several pelagic species with extinction. 

Fishtek Marine have introduced a solution to reduce the impact of fishing on the marine environment.  

Climate change education (2019) by Riera StudioUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Climate Change Education

Picturing Climate is a participatory photography and storytelling initiative bringing together artists, researchers and grassroots arts and culture organisations to explore the potential of arts- and humanities-based methodologies for developing local and international education capacity on climate change induced food and livelihoods insecurities.

Working in partnership to tackle climate change – UK and India (2020) by UK Research and InnovationUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Working As Partners To Tackle Climate Change: UK and India

Research and innovation collaboration between the UK and India – one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a major research power – drives shared prosperity and advances joint development goals. 

Plastics in the ocean (2018) by & UCLUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Plastics In The Ocean

Professor Mark Miodownik at UCL talks about the plastic waste crisis and the UCL Designing-out Plastic Waste project, which looks at new and innovative methods to recycle plastics. The project is funded via the £20 million Plastics Research and Innovation fund, managed by UKRI.

Natural flood management (2020) by UK Research and InnovationUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Natural Flood Management

A natural flood management programme aims to provide the scientific evidence we need to understand which programmes are effective in different contexts. The project will look at how local measures can reduce the risk of people getting flooded, reduce disruption to transportation and reduce the impact on the local economy.

Aircraft providing environmental monitoring (2020) by UK Research and InnovationUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Aircraft Providing Environmental Monitoring

The Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) is an airborne lab that will support scientists investigating climate change, pollution and severe weather. It will provide a world-class measurement platform for the benefit of the UK’s government, businesses and research community.

Wrapping film for industrial applications (2020) by Nopla by SuperunionUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Wrapping Film For Industrial Applications

8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the oceans every year. 
Enter Notpla: a revolutionary, seaweed-based material that can naturally decompose in around six weeks.

Lasers shine a route to net zero (2021) by University of SouthamptonUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Lasers Shine A Route To Net Zero

Scientists are helping to reshape the way manufacturing is done with lasers in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries, to cut carbon emissions. High-power fibre laser technology promises to make manufacturing more efficient and produce huge gains in power efficiency.

Net Zero gardens (2021) by UK Research and InnovationUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

Net Zero Gardens

Did you know that climbers growing up your walls can reduce the temperature inside your house by two to three degrees? The Net-Zero gardens of the future will be more unruly and dotted with wildflowers, and we'll grow plants for flood prevention and insulation too. 

Meanwhile, concrete and paving will be replaced with permeable surfaces which hold less heat in summer and allow water to drain more quickly, reducing flood risk. One of the biggest shifts our experts predict is a move to more shared green spaces, to limit urban temperatures.

What will your Friday dinner look like in 2030? (2021) by UK Research and InnovationUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26

What Will Your Friday Dinner Look Like In 2030?

Here we look at some of the UK’s favourite dishes and how they'll be changed by the climate crisis. Some changes show how the research we support can help produce our food in a more climate friendly way, and some show how our behaviour and expectations might need to change, too.

We are UK Research and Innovation, the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation. We have been investing in cutting-edge climate research and innovation for over 50 years.


Visit us at COP26 Green Zone Stand SS3, on Twitter, and Instagram.

Credits: Story

Visit https://showyourstripes.info/ to find your country can get your stripes.

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views and opinions of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The mere appearance of the story on this website does not constitute an endorsement by the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The UN Climate Change Conference COP26 does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of third party material included in the story featured.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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