Cop26: together for our planet

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, better known as Cop26, held in Glasgow, UK, is a crucial opportunity for world leaders to gather and agree how nations will work together to reduce and mitigate the impacts of climate change. There is much at stake, and many political, economic and societal factors are involved in overcoming this global challenge. One thing of which we can be certain is that chemical science will make a significant contribution to the innovations and technologies needed for a greener future.

if working apart we are force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely working together we are powerful enough to save it
Sir David Attenborough, speech at the opening ceremony of Cop26, 1 Nov 2021.

An image showing the TGH solar panels

The RSC’s climate challenge

2021-11-02T11:17:00+00:00By

The Royal Society of Chemistry aims to use Cop26 as a springboard to a more sustainable future. Rachel Brazil reports 

we do a lot of telling other organisations what they should do – you can’t do that unless you walk the walk yourself
Tom Welton, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry
you need to keep thinking about what raw materials you need to use and how you’ll get them back out
Elizabeth Rowsell, corporate R&D director, Johnson Matthey

Mechanic disassembling battery from from an electric vehicle

How a circular economy and nanotech save us from a clean energy bottleneck

2021-11-04T09:15:00+00:00Sponsored by

A carbon-neutral future depends on smarter materials and circular thinking

An illustrated portrait of Arlene Blum

Arlene Blum: ‘Our summit is reduced toxics’

2021-11-03T14:30:00+00:00By

The biophysical chemist on the link between climbing and reducing the use of toxic chemicals

I believe that chemists and other scientists can come together and have a big positive impact, and help save our health and our planet
Arlene Blum, co-founder and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute
because climate change is man-made, science tells us. So we can do something about it. It’s our opportunity to write history. Even more, it’s our duty to act now
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission Institute

Podcasts

Roll of white wool next to a handmade woollen sheep, set on a neutral background

© Vadlena/Shutterstock

A warning for US science & wool’s chemical versatility

2026-06-24T11:45:00+01:00By , and

We discuss highlights from Marcia McNutt’s final address. Plus, what’s the chemistry behind the woolly sweaters keeping you warm?