Global Carbon Budget

Professor Pierre Friedlingstein leads the annual Global Carbon Budget (GCB). Now in its 21st year, GCB tracks the trends in global carbon emissions and sinks. More than 140 scientists from over 90 organisations now work on GCB. This year’s report will be published on 10 November at COP31, with the findings presented at various events during the conference (see listings below).

Convex Seascape Survey

The Convex Seascape Survey is filling important knowledge gaps on how the ocean and climate are connected, uncovering vital evidence about the ocean’s largest store of organic carbon – seabed sediments. Professor Callum Roberts, from the University of Exeter, is the survey’s chief scientist and will discuss its findings at COP31. Convex Seascape Survey is sponsoring the Ocean Pavilion and representatives will be there from November 16-18 to talk to about the survey.

Parliamentarians’ Global Guide to Climate Change and Climate Solutions

The Parliamentarians’ Global Guide to Climate Change and Climate Solutions will be published at COP31. It is an updated version of the guide published at COP30 in Brazil – and has reached more than 200,000 people so far.

Cryosphere Pavilion

Researchers from the University of Exeter and the British Antarctic Survey will launch the Global Tipping Points Report: Cryosphere Briefing at the Cryosphere Pavilion. The briefing assesses the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Subpolar Gyre and permafrost, and updates the Global Tipping Points Report 2025 with new research. It emphasises that parts of the cryosphere may already be at or past their tipping points, and stresses the importance of limiting peak warming and the time spent above 1.5°C.

Coalition for Rainforest Nations Pavilion

The University of Exeter is a partner of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) Pavilion. CfRN is not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to support rainforest nations in their efforts to reverse deforestation by 2030 under the Paris Agreement. CfRN supports sovereign governments with international climate treaties, national implementation and enabling finance as well as data collection and capacity building.

We Are The Possible

The University is partnering with the British Council and the Met Office to champion the role that arts and education can play in communicating the issues of climate change. The anthology, Climate, Cafe Culture, Change, containing micro stories, graphic stories and poetry, will be shared with delegates, along with new climate cards for storytelling. The Schools Across the Ocean initiative, twinning schools in the UK with counterparts in Turkey and other recent COP-hosting countries, will also be running through the 26/27 year.

Nature and Climate Impact Team

The University’s Nature and Climate Impact Team (NCIT) aims to accelerate action on climate change and biodiversity loss by bringing together world-leading research, business expertise and strategic communications. Dr Marcos Oliveira Jr will be representing NCIT at COP31 and will speak at events across the two weeks on topics ranging from AI and climate misinformation to how universities and football organisations can contribute to climate action.