UWTSD Expertise Takes Centre Stage at COP31 as UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition Champions Major Global Climate Manifesto

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is reinforcing its position as a global leader in sustainability science as leading figures from the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition gather at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye from 9-20 November, 2026.

Headshot of Luci Attala

Professor Luci Attala, Deputy Executive Director of the BRIDGES Global coalition, and Director of the International Programme Office (IPO) and UK BRIDGES Hub, both housed at UWTSD, will join world-leading scientists, policymakers, and institutional heads to address key climate challenges in the official COP31 Blue Zone.

A Time of Great Consequence Panel at COP31

Professor Attala will be speaking at the COP31 high-level side event, A Time of Great Consequence: Bridging Knowledge Systems for Collective Action in a Time of Planetary Transformation which follows the release of “A Time of Great Consequence: A Manifesto for Bridging Knowledge and Action.” Co-developed by the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition alongside key international partners, including the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University (ASU) and The Club of Rome, the manifesto calls for a fundamental transformation in how global knowledge is created, integrated, and translated into meaningful climate action.

Distinguished Co-Speakers include:

  • Denise Pires De Carvalho, Assistant Director General of Sciences, UNESCO
  • Peter Schlosser, Vice President and Director General, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, ASU
  • Amanda Ellis (Moderator), Executive Director, Asia-Pacific ASU Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation; former UN Ambassador
  • Steven Hartman, Founding Executive Director, UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition
  • Iveta Silova, Professor and Associate Dean of Global Engagement, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, ASU

Driving Global Climate Action from Wales

Through its role hosting the BRIDGES UK Hub and the International Programme Office (IPO), UWTSD serves as an international anchor for transdisciplinary research. The coalition connects the natural and social sciences with the humanities, the arts, and traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems to deliver practical solutions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

The manifesto marks the rollout of a broader suite of strategic instruments for 2026–2027 within UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) programme. These instruments provide a flexible implementation toolkit designed to adapt to local, national, and regional contexts, bridging high-level theoretical insights with practical policy implementation on the ground.

Speaking ahead of the COP31 session, Professor Luci Attala highlighted the urgency of transdisciplinary collaboration:

“At UWTSD and within the BRIDGES coalition, we are demonstrating how bringing together diverse knowledge traditions - from science and technology to human culture and local heritage - creates robust, real-world solutions for local and global communities alike.”

COP 31 poster with details about the A Time of Great Consequence: Bridging Knowledge Systems for Collective Action in a Time of Planetary Transformation event

Key COP31 Side Event Details

UWTSD’s leadership will be featured prominently during an official side event in the COP31 Blue Zone:

The event requires prior registration and a valid UNFCCC COP31 Blue Zone accreditation badge. 

About the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition

BRIDGES is an international, humanities-led coalition operating within UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme. It works with international partners to foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, policy development, and local action in response to global environmental challenges.

Further Information

Arwel Lloyd

Principal PR and Communications Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467076

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