Climate Currents 1/2: What to expect for COP31? - co-hosted event

Date: 27.10.2026

Time: 16:00 - 18:00 CET / 17:00 - 19:00 EET

Location: Tiedekulma, Yliopistonkatu 4, Helsinki

Climate Currents: The UN Climate Conference in focus.

Welcome to a two-part event series exploring the world of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).

Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, together with UN Global Compact Finland, Climate Leadership Coalition, and the Ministry of the Environment, invite you to discover and engage on what is on stake for this year's Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, why different actors come to COP, and what happens beyond the formal negotiations.

The series brings together researchers, businesses, policymakers, and experts in climate action to exchange perspectives, build connections, and explore ways to engage more actively with the COP process.

In this first session What to expect for COP31 we look at what is on the table at COP31, and what should we expect from the negotiations. This event offers an update on climate negotiations and a wider look at the COP ecosystem: who takes part, what are they trying to achieve, and what role do researchers, businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders play? The programme brings together different perspectives on the key issues, expectations, and opportunities for engagement ahead of the conference.

Speakers include Anne Portaankorva, Vice Rector, University of Helsinki, Tuuli Kaskinen, CEO, Climate Leadership Coalition, and Marjo Nummelin, Environment Councellor and Head of Finnish delegation to the UNFCCC, Ministry of the Environment, Heidi Peltonen, VP Sustainability, Outokumpu and Tuomo Kalliokoski, Research Director, University of Helsinki.