Ask the engineers: COP26 webinar series

Before, during, and after COP26, the Royal Academy of Engineering hosted a series of online discussions about some of the main issues raised by the conference from an engineering perspective.

Hosted by science journalist and broadcaster Alok Jha, our expert panels discussed news from the climate conference as it unfolded and debated how technology and engineering can best play its part in tackling the climate crisis.

This event series is part of the Engineering Zero campaign, which aims to bring the engineering profession together to advance engineering’s contribution to net zero, working in partnership with the National Engineering Policy Centre and our global networks.

More Engineering Zero resources

What should COP26 aim to achieve?

• Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng, Deputy Chair, Arup
• Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President, Royal Academy of Engineering
• Olivia Sweeney, Consultant, Resource Futures and Black and Green Amabassador
• Tim Gould, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency

Chaired by:

• Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist

Green skills - how can we equip engineers to achieve net zero?

• Dr Juliet Mian, Associate Director, Arup
• Rovani Sigamoney, Engineering Programme Specialist, UNESCO
• Catherine Smith, Subsea Risers Engineer, bp
• Dr Lara Suzuki, Head of Data and AI, Google

Chaired by:

• Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist

Is hydrogen the silver bullet that will help achieve net zero?

• Dr Enass Abo-Hamed, Chief Executive Officer, H2GO Power
• Professor Rebecca Lunn MBE FREng FRSE, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde
• Martin Pei, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, SSAB
• Matt Williamson, Vice President, Blue Hydrogen, bp

Chaired by:

• Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist

Post-COP26, what have we achieved and where do we go from here?

• Guilherme Castro, Chair, Energy Institute Young Professionals Network London
• Dame Joanna da Silva DBE FREng, Director of International Development, Arup
• Professor Nilay Shah OBE FREng, Professor of Process Systems Engineering, Imperial College London
• Rachel Skinner FREng, President, President, Institution of Civil Engineers and Executive Director, WSP UK

Chaired by:

• Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist