Professor Patricia (Paty) Romero-Lankao, Canada Excellence Research Chair for the Network for Equity in Sustainability Transitions (CERC NEST) and Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, recently visited Scotland. Jointly organized by the University of Edinburgh and the Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde, the meeting was held at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.
Professor Romero-Lankao presented CERC NEST’s interdisciplinary work in Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Adolfo Mejía Montero presented work related to the University of Edinburgh’s Energy@Ed network, while CEP researchers (Jamie Speirs, Antonios Katris, David Drabble, and Paulina Gonzalez Martinez) presented work on energy affordability, responsive research, economic modelling, and knowledge exchange.
Their discussions explored a range of pressing issues, including:
1. Energy vulnerability in urban environments, including the impacts of extreme heat and flooding
2. Energy security and the growing energy demands associated with data centres
3. Just and equitable energy transitions
4. The importance of community engagement and co-creation in designing sustainable solutions
5. Opportunities for interdisciplinary and international collaboration
The meeting highlighted promising opportunities for future interdisciplinary and international collaboration on energy and sustainability challenges affecting cities and communities around the world.