Global Climate Change Week

Climate change poses a major threat to sustainable development. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ‘Poverty and disadvantage are expected to increase in some populations as global warming increases; limiting global warming to 1.5°C, compared with 2°C, could reduce the number of people both exposed to climate-related risks and susceptible to poverty by up to several hundred million by 2050 (medium confidence)’ (IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C, B.5.1.) (https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/).

For this reason, it is important for everyone concerned about sustainable development to take action on climate change. One way for academic communities in particular to do so is by taking part in Global Climate Change Week (GCCWeek) (http://globalclimatechangeweek.com/), an initiative designed to encourage academic communities – including academics, students, and non-academic staff at universities – in all disciplines and countries to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change. 

In this, its fifth year GCCWeek will take place on October 14-20. For examples of GCCWeek activities at various universities around the world in recent years see e.g. https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/global-climate-change-week-2018/; https://www.facebook.com/pg/AteneoGCCW/events/; https://www.facebook.com/gccwatuow/; and https://www.monash.edu/climateactionweek.

For advice on organising GCCWeek at your university see http://globalclimatechangeweek.com/how-to-organise-global-climate-change-week-at-your-university/.

Please consider taking part (register your interest now at http://globalclimatechangeweek.com/register-your-interest/ if you would like to take part, and register an activity later at http://globalclimatechangeweek.com/register-an-activity/ if you organise one.), follow us on twitter (https://twitter.com/gccweek), and help to spread the word about GCCWeek.