Focussing on Climate Change with OF Experts

With the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31st October to 12th November 2021, we took the opportunity to explore the issues and to learn from Old Fettesian experts who work in this highly important area.

To coincide with COP26 we put great effort into communicating key messages around climate change, involving the whole Fettes community. OF experts provided insight and inspiration on webinars, video messages and posters. We promoted OFs working in this area and the Development Team worked with colleagues in Geography and Economics to promote this content to students.

As part of the programme, we were honoured to be joined virtually by climate change expert Martin Lees (CE 1955–1960) on 2nd November to hear his thoughts on this key subject. It was a fascinating conversation that was attended live by over 400 members of the Fettes community including OFs, current and past parents, current students and staff. Martin is a true expert in sustainability and climate change having been working with governments across the globe on these critical issues for the last 26 years. If you have not yet heard this conversation or would like to listen again, we have released the recording of the event as a podcast so you can listen to it wherever suits you best. To access the episode, search ‘Fettes Community’ on your usual podcast provider or visit bit.ly/3xyvtiI.

We also interviewed a number of OFs working in various climate change related careers. These videos were shared with students to help them understand the huge range of pathways and skills that can be put to use in this sector. OF profiles and informative posters were also shared in school and on social media. We were exceptionally grateful to:

Rob Bradley (Ki 1983–1987), Conservation and Water Industry Expert

Melissa Wilson (CW 2009–2011), Co-Founder of Champions for Earth

Jenni Morrison (CW 2010–2012), Strategy Analyst in Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Chargers

Stefan Lees (Inv-Gl 1994–2000), Sustainable Development Advisor in Peru

Iain Pickles (Ca 1997–1999), Food Waste and Recycling Expert

Nicki Lange (Ca 2008–2010), Ambassador for Oceanic Global, Plastic Pollution Prevention

After COP26 was over, on 19th November, we hosted a Fettes in Conversation: Finance and Climate Change webinar with Global Head of ESG Research at HSBC, Wai-Shin Chan (Gl 1993–1998). This webinar reflected on the outcomes of COP26 as well as the broader Finance and Climate Change topic. It was attended by students, staff, OFs and parents and is available on the Fettes Community podcast channel or by visiting bit.ly/3aTiYGC.

During our COP26 programme we were approached by Prep Parent, Navraj Ghaleigh, who is currently Senior Lecturer in Climate Law at the University of Edinburgh. Navraj was previously a barrister in London and Lecturer at King's London. He undertook his graduate work at the University of Cambridge, the European University Institute (Florence) and the University of California, Berkeley (Fulbright Scholar). We recorded a podcast interview with him as part of the climate change series. This can also be accessed via the Fettes Community podcast channel: bit.ly/3Hrj1G3.

We are very grateful to everyone involved in the climate change events for helping us put a spotlight on this important issue.