Relay and researchers come together for climate action

A UK-wide relay inspiring action to reach net zero will pass through the University of Reading as it hosts a major conference attended by some of the world’s leading climate scientists.

The Running Out of Time relay aims to encourage policymakers, individuals, communities, schools and businesses to work together to protect our world from the impacts of climate change now and in the future. The relay will pass through the University of Reading, on Friday, 7 July, on the final day of the S2S Summit 2023.

Featuring presentations, panels and workshops from climate experts based at the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology and international institutions, the summit covers the developments made by the World Meteorological Organization’s Subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) Prediction Project over the past decade.

Research developed as part of the project has helped to fill the gap between weather and seasonal climate forecasts, helping provide early warnings of high-impact events such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts and heatwaves. Early warnings of high-impact events are an important tool in building resilience to climate change.

Attendees of the conference - as well as University staff and students - will walk with the relay baton past key locations on campus to learn more about the University’s current and future climate and sustainability ambitions. The walk will take place after Dan Thompson, the co-founder of the ROOT relay, brings the baton from Reading School to Whiteknights Campus.

A group of staff runners from the University’s Department of Meteorology and the Institute of Education will take then take the baton - which features the University of Reading's warming stripes - to Green Park.

Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, Head of the School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences, said: “The University of Reading is a world leader in climate science research and education and has a key role to play in addressing the urgent challenge of reaching net zero.

“Climate action is a relay, and we all have a role to play. The baton passing through The University of Reading while the S2S Summit takes place is a powerful symbol of our commitment to helping the world solve real climate issues.”

The University and relay team will present framed copies of the Berkshire climate warming stripes, developed at the University of Reading, to the lead Councillors for climate change from the local borough councils – Cllr John Ennis from Reading Borough Council and Cllr Sarah Kerr from Wokingham Borough Council.

Nationwide journey

The first relay runner began the 32-day, 2,661 km relay from Scotland to London from the heights of Ben Nevis on Saturday, 10 June on a journey which is seeing runners, walkers,

wheelers, cyclists, rowers, swimmers, surfers and even skiers take part across 35 UK counties.

Aimed at showcasing the many people, places and organisations already dedicated to sustainability and preserving the environment, the relay is the biggest sporting celebration of climate action and nature ever attempted across Britain.

The relay will end in London on July 11 with a closing ceremony in Parliament Square after visiting the Olympic Park and the Royal Docks.

Running out of Time co-founder Dan Thompson said: “The relay will use the power of sport to literally connect the many incredible projects taking place with an unbroken chain of participants.”