COP31 Presidency Launches COP-SCIENCE Platform for Academic Engagement

New submission platform invites researchers, universities and academic institutions to propose events, research and collaborations ahead of the climate summit

The COP31 Presidency has launched COP-SCIENCE, a new platform developed as part of its Academic Engagement process, opening submissions for academic proposals intended to strengthen the contribution of the research community to global climate action.

The Role of Academic Engagement in UNFCCC Processes

International climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have increasingly sought to formalize channels through which academic and scientific communities can contribute directly to the policy process. While climate science has long informed international negotiations through bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), individual COP presidencies have in recent years developed additional, more direct mechanisms for engaging researchers, universities, and academic institutions in the lead-up to and during the annual climate summits.

These academic engagement initiatives are typically designed to complement formal negotiating tracks by creating structured opportunities for research findings, academic collaborations, and university-led initiatives to feed into broader COP programming — whether through dedicated side events, research showcases, or direct academic-policy dialogues. The launch of COP-SCIENCE reflects this continuing trend, positioning academic engagement as a formal, structured component of the COP31 process rather than an informal or ad hoc addition.

What COP-SCIENCE Offers

The COP-SCIENCE platform has been developed specifically to strengthen the contribution of the academic community to climate action within the broader COP31 process. Through the platform, researchers, universities, and academic institutions are invited to submit proposals across several categories, including academic events, research initiatives, projects, and collaborations.

This structure suggests the platform is designed to accommodate a range of engagement types, from standalone research contributions to more collaborative, multi-institutional initiatives, giving academic contributors flexibility in how they choose to participate in the COP31 process.

Submission and Review Process

All proposals submitted through COP-SCIENCE will be reviewed by the relevant committee responsible for evaluating academic engagement submissions. While specific evaluation criteria have not been detailed, this review process mirrors similar structured evaluation mechanisms used for other COP-related submission processes, such as side event applications, ensuring that accepted proposals align with the broader objectives of the COP31 Academic Engagement initiative.

Why This Matters

The launch of a dedicated platform for academic submissions signals a continued effort by COP presidencies to formalize and expand the role of research institutions within the climate negotiation process. For universities and researchers working on climate-related topics, COP-SCIENCE offers a direct channel to potentially shape programming and visibility at one of the most significant recurring events in international climate policy, potentially strengthening the connection between emerging research and the policy discussions taking place at COP31 itself.

As with other academic engagement mechanisms introduced by previous COP presidencies, the ultimate impact of COP-SCIENCE will likely depend on the scale and diversity of submissions received, as well as how effectively accepted proposals are integrated into the broader COP31 programme.

The platform is available at academy.cop31.center.