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Warwick Network for Equity and Exchange in Climate Governance & Strategy (NEXUS)

Bridging Research and Policy in Climate Finance

Are you an academic seeking to deepen your engagement with global climate finance policy, particularly in multilateral contexts such as COP?

Capacity Building for Researchers and Non-Academic Stakeholders: Bridging Academia and Policy

Overview

Following the high-level discussions on COP29 outcomes and expectations for COP30, the subsequent sessions are designed to address the challenges academic researchers face in engaging with global climate governance. These capacity-building sessions aim to bridge the gap between academic research and multilateral global forums, supporting early and mid-career researchers and non-academic stakeholders (policy actors, civil society representatives, and practitioners) in navigating complex global processes and procedures.

This two-day event offers a comprehensive capacity-building and networking opportunity for researchers. On Day 1, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the policy environment and how to align their research with the needs of global stakeholders. Day 2 will build on this by allowing researchers to further refine their work through direct engagement with stakeholders, networking, and expert feedback.

Simultaneously, civil society and policy actors will have the opportunity to enhance their capacity to engage with academic research. This dual approach creates the necessary bridges for effective collaboration and knowledge sharing, fostering networks essential to address complex climate issues with solidarity, equity, and a justice-centered approach.

By the end of the event, researchers will have a clearer understanding of how to structure their work to be academically rigorous and relevant to global multilateral contexts such as COP30. Similarly, policy and civil society stakeholders will gain insights into how to collaborate with academia to create impactful, equitable projects and interventions.

Important

Please note that registration for these sessions has now closed. However, depending on attendee levels, participants who were unable to register before the closure but are still interested in attending can notify our team to be added to the waiting list. Registration for these sessions will begin at 1:30 PM onwards.

Bridging Research and Policy for Multilateral Climate Negotiations

2:00pm – 5:15pm | 4 March 2025 | The Shard, London

Session Overview:

This session aims to strengthen capacity-building in climate finance and policy research, facilitating engagement between academics and key stakeholders involved in multilateral climate negotiations. Researchers will gain skills in creating evidence-based policy solutions while interacting with experts and policymakers.

Key Highlights :

  • Networking and Strategic Relationship Building: Participants will be introduced to the key figures in climate governance and given practical tips on how to approach high-level stakeholders.
  • Understanding Governance Processes: Through expert talks and workgroup discussions, researchers will develop an understanding of the policy-making processes that drive climate finance and climate governance. We will focus on multilateral platforms like COP and the UNFCCC, providing a detailed overview of how academic research can influence global climate policy.
  • Actionable Insights for Policy Relevance: The focus of the day will be on ensuring that academic work is not only academically rigorous but also relevant to policymakers and the global governance landscape. Researchers will gain insight into what stakeholders need from academia in terms of actionable data, policy recommendations, and interdisciplinary research approaches.

This session is supported by supported by Warwick Universities ESRC Impact Acceleration Account via the Policy Hub

2.00pm – 3.00pm: Bridging Research and Policy

  • Vicente Paolo Yu

    Senior Legal Advisor, Third World Network (TWN), Visiting Research Fellow, UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Associate Fellow, Geneva Center for Security Policy
    Expert in climate finance policy and global governance

  • Dr Amiera Sawas, Head of Research and Policy, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT) Initiative

    Leading advocacy on climate policy and fossil fuel transitions

  • Dr Matti Kohonen

    Director, Financial Transparency Coalition
    Expert in financial transparency and equitable climate finance

  • Dr Farwa Sial

International Development Economics Associates (IDEAS) and Research Associate, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London

Chaired by

Dr Anil Yilmaz Vastardis

Senior Lecturer, Essex Law School,Co-Director, Essex Business and Human Rights Project and Honorary Associate Professor at Warwick Law School based at the GLOBE Centre

3.00pm – 3.15pm: Refreshments Break

3.15pm – 4.30pm: Thematic Work Groups

This session will explore specific areas of climate finance law, policy and governance with the aim of thinking through some of the emerging conceptual and policy issues that are arising in this area and to find new synergies between policy practitioners and researchers. This includes themes on just energy finance, multilateral development banks (MDBs), debt and climate.

Chaired by

Dr Gamze Erdem Türkelli, Link opens in a new window

Associate Research Professor, Law and Development Research Group, Faculty of Law, University of Antwerp

4.30pm – 5.15pm: Research, Policy, and Partnerships: Preparing for COP 30

The leadership team of the University of Warwick’s Sustainability Spotlight, a key supporter of our event, will offer their reflections on the synergies between research and policy in climate governance. Drawing on insights from the day’s discussions, they will connect these learnings to their own research and ongoing partnership-building efforts. They will share their thoughts on the necessary capacities, perspectives, and collaborations needed at different stages of a research career. By emphasising the importance of meaningful engagement with a diverse array of stakeholders, they will underscore how such partnerships are crucial for driving impactful climate action on the global stage.

  • Professor Giuliana Battisti, Professor of the Economics of Innovation, Warwick Business School
  • Dr Frederik Dahlmann, Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability, Warwick Business School
  • Dr Feng Mao, Associate Professor, Institute for Global Sustainable Development, University of Warwick
  • Professor Celine Tan, Professor of International Economic Law, University of Warwick
  • Dr Lory Barile, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Warwick

Chaired by

Professor Elena Korosteleva

Professor of Politics and Global Sustainable Development, Director, IGSD and Chair, Sustainability Spotlight Initiative, University of Warwick

Showcasing Research for Impact and Strategic Engagement: Bridging Academia and Policy for Collaborative Climate Governance

9:30am - 3:00pm | 5 March 2025 | Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London

Session Overview:

The second day will build on the foundation established on Day 1, providing Researchers with the opportunity to showcase their work. Participants will engage directly with stakeholders, receiving valuable feedback on their research and developing their networks to ensure the relevance of their work in the context of global climate finance and governance.

Key Highlights of Day 2:

  • Stakeholder Feedback and Refining Research: Researchers will present their research, receiving feedback that will help them refine their work and ensure that it is aligned with the current priorities of climate governance and finance.
  • Collaboration and Networking: This day will encourage collaboration between ECRs from diverse research backgrounds. Through structured sessions, participants will explore opportunities to collaborate on cross-disciplinary projects that could lead to impactful contributions to climate governance.
  • Building Practical Actionable Insights: The final part of the event will involve creating actionable insights that participants can take forward into their research. This will focus on understanding the key questions and challenges facing climate finance and governance and how academia can play a role in addressing them.

09:15am - 09:45am Welcome and Introductions

Introduction to the workshop objectives: bridging research with actionable policy, enhancing collaboration, and strengthening the research impact on climate governance.

Celine Tan, Professor of International Economic Law and Co-Director of the Centre for Law, Regulation, and Governance of the Global Economy (GLOBE)

9:45am – 11:00am : Lightning Round Presentations: Exploring Research in Climate Finance, Law, Policy, and Governance

To ensure an engaging, participatory, and practical experience, we have selected 10 presenters who will share their research using the ‘Lightning Talks’ format. Each presenter will have 5 minutes to present their work, supported by 1-2 slides, using minimal visuals to convey key points.

After every 3 presentations (15 minutes), a 15-minute group discussion will follow, allowing space for questions, answers, and collective feedback.

These presentations are designed to help researchers distill complex climate research into concise, policy-relevant insights. By presenting their work clearly and accessibly, researchers will strengthen their ability to engage with non-academic audiences, including policymakers, and communicate effectively in real-world policy contexts where quick, impactful decision-making is essential.

11:00am – 11.15am: Refreshments and Comfort Break

11:15am – 1:15pm : Breakout Sessions: Researching Climate Finance, Law, Policy, and Governance

11:15 - 11:35 Starting the Conversation

This is a relaxed activity designed to encourage conversation and help everyone feel more comfortable engaging

11:35 - 12:20: Breakout Group Discussions
Duration: 45 mins

  • Discussion focused on generating actionable insights, identifying collaboration opportunities, and co-creating initiatives that can influence climate policy.

12:20 - 12:35: Break

12:35 - 12:50 Reporting Back & Group Insights

  • Objective: Synthesise and share key findings from each breakout group.
    • Major opportunities and challenges identified
    • Actionable strategies for connecting research to policy
    • Collaboration opportunities and ideas for co-creation
    • Areas for future research and joint initiatives

12:50 - 1:15 : Reflection Writing

Objective: This is dedicated time to reflect on the discussions, generate insights, and write down your thoughts. This is a free writing exercise or can also be based on the following

  • Prompt 1: Reflect on a key challenge or opportunity discussed during your breakout session. How might this insight inform or shift the direction of your future research or collaborative projects?
  • Prompt 2: What concrete actions can you take to enhance the relevance of your academic work in influencing global climate policy? How can you ensure your research has a tangible impact on policy-making and practice?
  • Prompt 3: Identify a question or area of inquiry you would like to pose to the next panel regarding strategies to strengthen the impact and reach of your research in the field of climate governance.

1:15pm - 2:00pm Lunch

2:00pm – 2:45pm : Distilling Policy Insights from Research

Panel

The objective of this session would be to discuss the translation of academic research into actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. A panel of senior academics and policy Practitioners who have listened to the presentations in the morning will distill common themes, identify common gaps in scholarship/ policy relevance of the research and offer feedback and recommendations.

2:45pm - 3:00pm : Closing Remarks