London Climate Action Week: a message from the Vice Chancellor
Vice Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey, CBE, FRS, FMedSci, introduces the University of Oxford at London Climate Action Week 2026. For the first time, the University has brought together a programme of events that spans the vast depth and breadth of climate research, teaching and impact at Oxford – hosting over 20 events across two days at the beautiful Toynbee Hall in East London.
Together, we are working to tackle the greatest challenge of our century, climate change.
We are proud to be part of this national and global convening, focused not just on the irrefutable evidence of climate and nature breakdown, but also on the solutions, opportunities and partnerships needed to respond.
At a time of global unrest and geopolitical turmoil, and of rapid advances in technologies such as AI that are reshaping how knowledge is uncovered and disseminated, universities have a vital role to play. At Oxford, we take seriously our responsibility to deliver actionable research and evidence-based insights.
Over the course of this week, you will hear from:
- Oxford social scientists investigating how climate change impacts the health and wellbeing of children, and what can be done to protect them;
- Researchers exploring the ‘second life’ of electric vehicle batteries, to make sure they can be re-used rather than going to landfill;
- Teams examining how energy security, national security, economic competitiveness and climate action are inextricably linked, and what this means for economic growth and opportunity in the UK;
- Scientists investigating regenerative economies, and how we can best source sustainable materials for the clean energy transition;
- And many more!
We will also be launching the updated “Oxford Martin Principles for Climate Conscious Investment”, trusted guidance which investors can use to engage with companies and help drive change. The adoption of these principles has already resulted in changes in the strategies of global investment managers, institutional investors and even fossil fuel companies. And we are confident the updated guidance will continue this real-world impact.
The undergraduates joining Oxford in 2026 are likely to experience the greatest change in climate of any generation since we emerged from the ice age – but there is hope.
With the ingenuity that they and Oxford represent, by the time this generation retire, global warming could be history. But as much as our University, and other Universities, have a crucial role to play, we absolutely cannot do it alone.
Partnerships are fundamental to addressing the challenges of the 21st century. It is through meaningful collaboration with governments, businesses, investors, civil society organisations and fellow researchers - including all of you here at London Climate Action Week - that we can build a more resilient, sustainable and prosperous future in the UK and around the world.
That is why we are also developing the Oxford Climate Forum, a new convening event in April 2027 focused on Climate Hope: from ideas to action. The Forum will bring together leaders from across sectors to explore how climate and nature knowledge can be translated into practical solutions and real-world impact. We hope many of you will continue the conversation with us in Oxford next spring.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the London Climate Action Week team, to the organisers E3G, to the Oxford Smith School for their convening of our fantastic series of events, and most of all, to all of you who have joined us in London or online this week. We look forward to working with you for many years to come.