Inspirational model and activist Sabrina Elba leads crunch climate conference panel

An inspiring model and activist, experts from a leading charity, and influential academics will reveal how we can all fight the climate crisis at a crunch conference hosted by The University of Essex.

United Nations’ Goodwill Ambassador Sabrina Elba, the wife of Hollywood star Idris Elba, will be on the panel as world leaders meet for the international organisation’s COP26 climate conference.

Next Tuesday’s free It’s Now or Never: Inspiring global action to protect the planet talk will take place in collaboration with Global Citizen - a charity which aims to build a movement of 100 million action-taking people to help end extreme poverty by 2030 and defend the planet.

Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Relations Officer at Global Citizen, and former University of Essex student Kindred Motes, Founder and Managing Director at KM Strategies and Senior Impact Advisor at Global Citizen will also speak.

The inspiring conference comes after the university declared a climate and ecological emergency and will move to net zero by 2035 to fight the looming global catastrophe.

Kindred Motes, who studied for his master’s degree in International Relations at Essex, said: “It is really exciting to talk at the university, as I know it has committed to achieving net zero by 2035.

“It is also really exciting to bring Global Citizens campaign to defend the planet to Essex and talk to students about why their actions matter, why their voices count and how they can make an impact in their own communities and countries.

“As an alumnus I’m really proud to come back at the same that the UK is playing host to UN climate conference, it is a really important time.”

As part of The University of Essex’s commitment to fighting the climate emergency research, education and operations will now focus on climate change.

To combat the crisis the university is committed to cutting emissions, moving to renewable energy, supporting biodiversity, and encouraging all staff, students and academics to innovate to find solutions to the potential catastrophe.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Lorna Fox O’Mahony will chair the event.

Professor Fox O’Mahony said: “The world is at a crossroads. Here, at the University of Essex, we know that time is running out to act.

“This is why in 2020 we declared a climate and ecological emergency, to reflect our commitment to action for change, to make the difference we need to slow climate change before it is too late.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with Global Citizen, and this important event will help us explore together what we all need to do to deliver on our commitments and achieve the changes that we so urgently need. We hope this talk will inspire and empower our communities to take decisive action.

“We recognise the considerable role that the University has to play in tackling climate and ecological change, and we are committed to helping to find solutions to one of the biggest threats facing the world right now.”

The talk will run from 2-3pm at The Lakeside Theatre, on the university’s Colchester Campus, on the 9thof November.

Anyone attending is encouraged to take a lateral flow test on the day of the event or 72 hours before it starts.

Face coverings are advised.

For tickets head to the university’s events page.