The first ‘Earth Summit’ was held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and brought nations from around the globe together to form a legally binding contract to stabilize greenhouse gasses.

This year will mark the 21st annual meeting of the original signatories to the agreement plus additional members who have subsequently signed up. 

The conference will be held in Paris, from November 30 to December 11.

Lancaster University researchers attending the conference include:

• Professor Nigel Paul – Professor of Plant Science and Director of Lancaster’s Centre for Global Eco-innovation, and Dr Ruth Alcock – Head of business partnerships in the Lancaster Environment Centre - will be hosting a side event with the African Development Bank – “Eco-innovation strategies for tackling climate change in Africa” scheduled for Monday 7th December at 12:00–13:30 in Salle 1 of the Africa Pavilion.
• Professor Gail Whiteman – Professor of Sustainability, Management and Climate Change and Director of The Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) will host its annual CEO/Council member meeting during the COP21.  As Professor-in-Residence at WBCSD, Gail Whiteman will attend the Council meeting and report on the key global processes to scale up business solutions for climate change and sustainability.  The WBCSD Council Member meeting in Paris is exclusively for WBCSD Members and invited guests.  Professor Whiteman has also facilitated the participation of Lancaster students at the WBCSD event together with Dr Alison Stowell – Lecturer in Organisation Work and Technology - and Lancaster University Students' Union.
• Dr Giovanni Bettini – Lecturer in Global Climate Politics will be hosting, with a number of partners, a side event on “The importance of social science research for understanding climate change induced migration”, scheduled for Tuesday 1st December, 11:30-13:00 in The Conference Centre, Paris, Room 8, Le Bourget Site.