College of Arts and Law students COP26 roundtable

College of Arts and Law students and staff led on and contributed to a discussion on environmental activism and climate change. The event looked at how our students contribute to climate change and how students from different disciplines make change.  

The event brought together students with different roles in and perspectives on the environmental movement, such as launching creative initiatives that give a glimpse of a better future, campaigning on the frontlines with environmental organisations, and advocating the significance of student activism at universities. The discussion covered the ways and means students from different academic disciplines can contribute to environmental activism, and their importance. Topics covered included how literature and language can help us in communicating and progressing the climate change agenda, and how we can influence government policy on the environment.

Amongst the participants were Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Doctoral Researcher, Birmingham Law School; Fisola Kelly-Akinnuoye, BA English; Sumirat Saini, LLB Law; Kefa Nsubuga, LLM Environmental and Energy Law and Matthew Cockram, BA/BSc Liberal Arts and Sciences alongside representatives from Chemical Engineering, the Life Sciences and our Guild of Students. The roundtable was co-chaired by Professor of Environmental Law Aleks Cavoksi, Birmingham Law School and Zoe Skinner, BSc Geography.

"I think an activist is inherently intersectional because they are always asking the question 'How can we make our environment more liveable'. From whatever discipline you can ask that question." (Fisola Kelly-Akinnuoye, BA English)

You can view the full 'Environmental activism and climate change' roundtable event below.

Two of our students have written Blogs on their involvement in the roundtable and environmental activism, and they can be read here