Man and Bird True Friendship

Tilly Metz (Luxembourg)

A Luxembourgish Member of the European Parliament since July 2018. She represents the Greens/EFA group in the committees of Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Transport and Tourism and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Health and health care is one of her key topics and she has contributed to the implementation report of the directive on cross-border health care. Furthermore, she is member of the disability inter-group and MEP advocate for the treatment of rare diseases and epilepsy.

Protecting the most vulnerable in our society has always been a key objective of her work, and 2019, she has received the « EU for animals » award for her commitment for animal rights and animal protection. Tilly is Vice-president of the animal welfare intergroup in the European Parliament.

Professor Sir Brian Hoskins (UK)

A weather and climate scientist who is a member of the scientific academies of the UK, USA and China. He has been at the University of Reading for many years and was the founding Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London. His advisory roles include membership of the UK Climate Change Committee for its first 10 years.

Quote: „Climate change poses a great threat to us and will not wait for us to sort out our other problems. However, it has also provided a major stimulus and opportunity for us to move rapidly towards a new and better way of living.”

Alice Hubbard (UK)

Organisation: School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute, with Expertise and interest: youth participation transnational governance networks responding to climate change and social justice, international climate governance. Secretary Global Young Greens (2017-2020), Policy Leader Fellow at EUI (transnational youth networks).

Quote: “Young people and the Global South are integral to tackling the climate emergency.”

Adam Leckius (Sweden)

Adam works on climate ambition and governance, at present with the EU 2030 target and the European Climate Law, as well as on stakeholder engagement with youth and mobilizers. Prior to joining the CAN Europe secretariat in Brussels, he was active for five years in a Swedish youth organisation and CAN member, PUSH Sweden, since 2017 serving as the international coordinator and leading delegations to the UNFCCC negotiations.

Alexis McGivern (UK)

Education Director for Oxford Climate Society, one of the most active student groups at the University of Oxford. She directs the School of Climate Change, an eight-week seminar series that covers essential knowledge on climate change. At Oxford, she is a graduate researcher examining the relationship between social deprivation and the siting of waste incinerators in the UK.

Patrick Harvie MSP (Scotland)

Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), Scottish Green’s Co-Leader.

Quote: ‘Scotland has been congratulating itself for over a decade about “world leading climate targets”. But setting them wasn’t enough, and we’ve now been missing them. We urgently need to show renewed leadership when the COP comes to Glasgow.’

Simonetta Spavieri (Venezuela)

Simonetta works at Royal London Asset Management as a Responsible Investment Analyst, where she conducts engagement with companies to advance their climate action. Previously she worked for five years at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Climate Change and Energy Officer in the British Embassy in Caracas. She studied a Master in Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford, and a Master in Public Administration at IESA Management School. She is Venezuelan.

Dr Douglas Parr (UK)

Chief Scientist and Policy Director at Greenpeace UK. He has specialised in climate change policy in across power, heat and transport sectors for many years, and also monitoring issues such as bioenergy, agriculture and land use. He has previously worked on a number of issues including chemicals policy, green refrigeration, waste and marine conservation.

Natalie Bennett (UK)

A Green member of the House of Lords in the UK,. She’s a former member of the board of the Green European Foundation and has particular interests in food and farming, universal basic income and feminism.

Quote: “We are currently trashing the planet and creating an insecure and unstable society. The good news is that there are many ‘superpolicies’, from supporting active transport and insulating homes to moving to a largely plant-based diet and cutting working hours, that can deliver positive system change in tackling both environmental and social challenges”.

Hans Kåre Flø (Norway)

Special adviser at Tekna, Norway’s largest trade union, for masters in science and engineering, and president of the Industrial board of The Norwegian Academy of technological sciences.

Jean Lambert (UK)

A former Green MEP, representing London for twenty years up to 2019. As a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee, she worked on issues including social justice, ‘Just Transition’ and migration policy. Jean is now a member of the Committee of the European Greens and sits on the Boards of organisations working on citizens’ rights and statelessness.

Anjikwi Mshelbwala (Nigeria)

Currently works in ICT at ActionAid Abuja, has interests in Green Economics, Green ICT, Climate Change, Sustainability and ICT4D.

Dr. Djana BEJKO (Albania)

Professor and lecturer, Biological Science PhD, Masters degree in ‘Fresh Water`s Ecology’. More than ten years, has successfully run the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Southeastern Europe – Office in Albania, with the main contribution to nature conservation among South-Eastern Europe countries shared natural resources. Her contribution has been extended in the Decentralization and Regional Development program for Governmental Units in Albania through Swiss Cooperation program).

Mrs. BEJKO is the author of several publications in a field of biodiversity and planning: sustainable use of natural resources, water resources management and environmental security approach. From 2013-2015 she has served in the Ministry of Environment, Deputy Minister Position while her current position responds to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Head of Environment.

Dr. Alexandra Harrington (Canada)

Research Director and Lead Counsel for Peace, Justice

and Accountability with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law and Fulbright Canada Special Foundation Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Canada. She was the 2018 – 2019 the Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Global Governance, based at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and holds a doctoral degree in law from McGill University Faculty of Law.

Dr. Harrington has served as a consultant for entities such as the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation and the UNEP. Dr. Harrington’s publications address a variety of fields relating to international law, including international organizations, governance issues, environmental law, legal issues relating to climate change, international child’s rights, natural resources regulation, international human rights law, international trade law, corporate social responsibility, and criminal law.

David Flint (UK)

David is a chemistry graduate. For most of his professional life he worked in IT, mainly as a management consultant on emerging technologies including database, telecommunications, e-commerce and business process management. He was a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Cass Business School for six years. He has twice been a Greens Parliamentary candidate. Quote: “Preventing the climate emergency becoming a full blown climate catastrophe will be the greatest challenge that humanity has faced. The test for every political decision in every parliament, council chamber and board room must now be this: Does it help us avoid catastrophe?”

Miriam Kennet (UK)

A specialist in Green Economics, she is the Co-Founder and is CEO of the Green Economics Institute.

She also founded and edits the first Green Economics academic journal in the world, the International Journal of Green Economics, now in its 14th year and also GEIClimate TV.

She has been credited with creating the academic discipline of Green Economics. Green Economics has been recently described by the Bank of England as one of the most vibrant and healthy areas of economics at the moment.In 2014 she was given the main Honour Award at the Green Business Summit by the Minister in Luxembourg.

She was named one of 100 most powerful unseen global women by the Charity One World action at an event with Jon Snow from the BBC, for her achievements internationally in creating change in the world for the benefit of humanity.

Having researched at Oxford University, Oxford Brookes, South Bank University and KeeleUniversity, she is a member of Mansfield College, Oxford University and the Environmental Change Institute. She leads a Climate Research Official Delegation to the UNFCCC Climate COP Conferences and is the author of over 100 books and book chapters.

Anna Olerinyova

A Dphil Student at Oxford University in Biophysics and molecular biology, and an active member and organiser of the student-led Oxford Climate Justice Campaign, which successfully campaigned for Oxford University to divest from fossil fuels and follow a net-zero investment strategy. She was also one of the leaders of the high – profile St John’s College occupation protests organised by Direct Action for Divestment earlier this year, demanding fossil fuel divestment and ethical investment from the college. She is a keen activist with Extinction Rebellion and Global Justice Rebellion, working both locally and on national level.

Rt Hon Dr Liljana Popovska (Macedonia)

Former MEP (North Macedonia), Member of the Green Economics Institutes Delegations to the United Nations Climate Conferences COP, Member of the Green Institute of North Macedonia, Former Long Term Member of the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, PhD Political Science, Interculturalism and civil society.

Emma K. Thomas (UK, Denmark)

a British artist living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her multidimensional practice takes its starting point in traumatic human experiences and the marks they leave on the psyche. She is currently curating a global collaborative artwork in support of biodiversity, withNature2020. The project invites participants to join in creating giant mosaic images of endangered species, to be formed ephemerally at multiple locations on one day, 22 May 2021, to coincide with the UN biodiversity conference (@withNature2020).

Gavin Smith (UK, Vietnam)

Vice Chairman of the Green Growth Committee specialising on Renewable Energy for Eurocham Vietnam (the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam).

From 2008 to 2020 he managed the Clean Development Investment Fund investing in sustainable infrastructure businesses in SE Asia, based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mariam Hussain (Bangladesh)

ELTEC, College of Engineering, Ewha Womans University in Korea, working on an Analysis of Climatology and Climate Events for adaptation and mitigation to Climate Change using Smart Technology. Her areas of expertise include: investigations of climate change: data science, and AI (ML and DL) techniques, numerical physics-based modeling and statistical modeling. Hydro-Meteorology Lab, Dept. Climate and Energy.

Quote: “Being late than never, one starts to prepare, Hoping less you suffer: Climate Change a big disaster!”

Nick Brod (USA)

Nick Brod (USA): With extensive global experience in the energy industry focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy, Nick Brod leads DNV GL’s Program Development and Implementation (PDI) business in the USA. The PDI team implements energy management programs for utilities and government agencies for the commercial, industrial and residential sectors. Nick previously held senior leadership positions at CLEAResult, Portland Energy Conservation (PECI), and Vestas Wind Systems. Nick recently advised the formation of the Trusted Climate Data initiative, which creates software and data projects focused on climate change. Prior to his career in energy, he produced complex interactive media projects for museums, agencies, and consultancies.

Amber Leversedge

Expert in sustainability and environmental management (University of Leeds). She has volunteered in a variety of environmental and social organisations in countries across the world such as: England, Ghana, Uganda and Australia.

Maria Alejandra Madi (Brasil)

Economist, PhD in Economics. Her academic career includes a long-term professorship at UNICAMP, Brazil (1983-2012). She is currently on the board of the Green Economics Institute Academy (UK), and senior researcher and professor of economics at CEDES and FIA Business School (Brazil). She co-edited some of The Green Economics Institute books, including The Greening of Global Finance, The Greening of Latin America and Values, Valuation & Valuing. Her latest authored books include Private Equity Globalisation, The Dark Side of Nudges, and A new look at the philospsophy of Keynes and Hayek. Among other activities, she is Chair of the World Economics Association Online Conferences Programme (UK), Vice-President of the Ordem dos Economistas do Brasil, and member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Green Economics.

Quote: ‘Climate finance cannot be left to the free markets.’

Bianca Madison-Vuleta (Italy, Denmark, Croatia)

A UK based Health Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Expert, Co-Founder of Sustainable Planet Foundation and Trustee/Campaigns Director of Green Economics Institute. She is involved with numerous national and international human rights and environmental NGOs as a committed and inspired global campaigner, author, fundraiser, and public speaker.

Irene Garcia (Spain)

Coordinates the innovative virtual travel visits at Green Economics Institute’s conferences, and edits two books, Climate Justice in the 21st Century and The Greening of Catalonia. She is at the University of Warwick, and is interested in History and Politics. She is completely trilingual and she spends her time in Barcelona and Cambridge.

Mukesh kr. Sharma (India)

Mukesh has been working for the past several years in the Indian arts and environmental field. He lives in the state of Rajasthan in India, where there are deserts all around, he lives in a state where there is biodiversity, there are many environmental problems. In which climate change is common but his work is to reach environmental protection through art, he always work in nature and villages. Mukesh will show some of his lovely land art.

Professor Doaa Salmon (Egypt)

Economist. Organization: Faculty of management sciences, October university for modern Sciences and Arts in Egypt. Title of speech: Risks from water stress in African countries Water Issues and climate change.

Sukriti Anand (India)

Has two years of experience in the talent and leadership consulting industry specifically in the energy sector. She completed her undergraduate studies in commerce and accounting and is currently based in Mumbai, India

Alice Evatt (UK)

A PhD candidate specialising in climate ethics at the University of Oxford and Balliol College. She is interested in driving progress on climate action and engagement and using her work to inform climate policy. Alice is also the project lead for recently launched the Oxford Climate Alumni Network as well as the Director of Outreach for the Oxford Climate Society, a society dedicated to developing informed climate leaders and facilitating climate learning, initiatives and change within the university and beyond.

Bashir Jarrar (Jordan)

Is a professor of Biology at Jerash University. He is an author of 98 research papers and 37 books, some of the titles: Environmental Pollution, Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Food Pollution, Dust Pollution, Pollution by Transportation Indoor Pollution, Childrens and Environmental Pollution and Birds of Domate Al-Jundal Lake. In addition, he translated the UNEP book of ‘Urban Air Pollution’ to Arabic.

Dorothy Nalubega (Uganda)

An Environmentalist and Climate Change Campaigner. She is also a Women and other Vulnerable/Minority Groups Rights Activist. Dorothy is the founding Chairperson East African Greens Federation Women’s Network and African Coordinator for Global Greens Women’s Network and has worked on several projects to uplift women and minority groups livelihoods through conducting practical training in making briquettes – an alternative energy for Charcoal.

Iryna Babanina (Ukraine).

Environmental activist from Kyiv, member of the NGO “Nature First”, Master of Environmental Studies from the National Aviation University of Kyiv, researching the opportunities of public participation and prioritizing climate and conservation issues in the environmental decision-making.

Rachel Earnshaw (UK, France)

Rachel worked for many years as a teacher and head teacher in London state schools. In 2012, she moved to the Marais Poitevin area of western France to seek a healthier, more coherent lifestyle, growing her own food and becoming involved in various local initiatives which support the transition towards a more sustainable model of agriculture and nutrition. She is a member of the Green Economics Institute editorial team.

Miranda Brown

Expert in Sociology and Political Science, University of Alberta. Member of the student-advisory committee for the registrar’s office, students’ union tutor, an ESL tutor, a community literacy tutor and a member of several grassroots organizations in Alberta. I am a mental health advocate at Mental Health Q and spoke at a fundraiser for Casa House–discussing the severe impacts of panic attacks in youth. I am developing de-escalation management experience while utilizing critical policy research as a tool to engage more citizens and activists.

Mukesh IaI Das (India)

Recipient of the young scientist award in the year 2018 for his work on Climate Change(CC) implication on Grey Slender Loris -a tiniest nocturnal primate of Peninsular India. He is currently a government-funded Young researcher at the Central University of Kerala, India. His research interest lies in exploring the delicate relationship that exists between the various component of mother Nature and CC implications. His current project is on a monocarpic shrubs ‘Neelakuranji’ that flowers once in 12 years and render the Western Ghats shola grassland into a purple Heaven. And he is the founder president of the Society of Young Scientist – Central University of Kerala (SYS-CUK)”.

Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill Alliance

Nessy is one of the core members of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill Alliance. Nessy has collaborated with eminent scientists, academics and campaigners to create the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill that brings a piece of groundbreaking, potential legislation to address our climate and ecological crises through a committed political response aligned to the current scientific evidence and the deepening of democracy. The CEE Bill has already garnered the endorsement of cross-party MPs, influential NGOs, individuals and businesses and a groundswell of grassroots’ support.In these unprecedented times, and when COP26 shall be co-hosted by the UK, the CEE Bill offers a blueprint of emergency measures that if replicated around the world, shall be life changing and set in motion a step change in our anthropogenic trajectory. In her former life, Nessy was a clinical lead NHS Occupational Therapist in Neuro-rehabilitation.

Oxford Climate Justice Campaign (OCJC)

A group of students, academics and alumni campaigning for change within the University of Oxford. Last year significant changes were made to the careers service as well as the investment portfolio of the university in large part due to our efforts. Here we will present key ways that progress can be made within the university.

Mock COP26

Between 19 November and 01 December 2020, youth climate leaders will host a virtual Mock COP event in the same month that the now delayed COP26 would have been. At Mock COP26, 3-5 delegates per country will participate in and will receive targeted opportunities for education and to express their own ideas: the aim of the event is to empower young people to be able to engage with their local, national and international leaders about the Climate Emergency. At the end of the event, delegates will present a collective high-level statement to leaders, summarising what they believe should be prioritised at COP26 in 2021.

Dom Jaramillo, an Event Coordinator for Mock COP26 from Ecuador, said:

“Young people are no longer waiting to be given permission to speak but are taking the floor ourselves. Climate leaders have slammed the door of climate negotiations in our faces. Since they won’t listen, we won’t play their game anymore. We are building our own COP.”

Rise for Climate Belgium

A grassroots movement based in Brussels in 2018, mobilizing citizens to pressure the European Union for stronger climate and policy. In October 2018 we hosted Greta Thunberg at our demonstration in front of the European Parliament, and in January 2019 over 70000 people took part in our climate march which made international headlines.

Since then we are also acting locally, obtaining declarations of climate emergency from 17 municipalities of the Brussels Region and working with some of them to define and implement their climate plans.

Presently we are assisting the World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate to organize a global online event on 23 October, the 24 Hours for Climate highlighting innovative climate solutions from around the world.