COP26: reflections on the power of science as a force against climate change

Abstract

The COP26 began on 31 October 2021 and, over two weeks, world leaders, scientists, activists and delegates from across the globe congregated to devise a collaborative plan to tackle the climate crisis head on. Heralded by many as essentially a last attempt to save the planet, there were high expectations for the climate event. Global warming represents a very real and pressing threat to planet Earth, and research and innovation are crucial to the development of solutions to mitigate the detrimental impacts of climate change. How will key outcomes and commitments from the event impact on research and the scientific community?