a MACHYNLLETH eco-centre, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development, shared their research and knowledge at the COP26 climate summit.

A team from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) attended talks at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, to share findings from CAT’s research and education work, and to listen to, learn from, and make connections with participants from around the world.

CAT was one of a handful of organisations from Wales given official United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Observer Status, allowing access to events in the Blue Zone, where the official negotiations took place, as an environmental organisation.

CAT’s Innovation Lab Manager, Dr Anna Bullen, took part in a Welsh Government panel discussion in the UK Presidency Pavilion, Chaired by Clare Pillman, CEO of Natural Resources Wales, with First Minister Mark Drakeford, Lord Deben, Chair of the Climate Change Committee, and Poppy Stowell-Evans, Chair of Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales.

The panel discussed the importance of distributed leadership in climate action.

Paul Allen from CAT’s Zero Carbon Britain team delivered a presentation as part of an official Blue Zone side event with the International Network for Sustainable Energy. Speakers from Uganda, Kenya, South Asia, Denmark and Bangladesh spoke on climate solutions from their areas. Paul outlined the benefits of national zero carbon scenarios that work across sectors to bring to life a vision of a positive future.

Outside of giving talks, the CAT team made important connections with others working on solutions to the climate crisis. They attended events showcasing projects and organisations working for real, positive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero in the coming decades.

CAT also hosted webinars providing insights, news and updates from the team in Glasgow.

Head of Development for CAT Eileen Kinsman said: “CAT provides the skills and knowledge to ensure everyone can play their part in getting to zero carbon. Linking in with networks of organisations working towards the same goal is essential to delivering climate solutions at the scale and speed demanded by the climate crisis.

“Being at COP26, both inside the talks and at fringe events throughout Glasgow, has given us the chance to share our work with organisations and individuals that we may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet, and to learn from others working on solutions across the globe.”

CAT was also part of the COP Cymru Regional Roadshow, a series of events hosted in Wales to coincide with some of the key themes being discussed at COP26. The Mid Wales Regional Roadshow was broadcast live from CAT on 6 November, with a series of panel discussions bringing together people to discuss ways of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.