Oxford Climate Alumni Network

06/10/2026

🇿🇦 New on the OxCAN Climate Justice Blog: The contradiction between South Africa’s foreign policy and its energy transition

South Africa’s 2011 White Paper on foreign policy introduced the world to the “Diplomacy of Ubuntu”, a philosophy emphasizing common humanity, dignity, and multilateralism. But does the state’s domestic energy trajectory align with these values?

In our latest piece, Daniel Tate argues that South Africa’s continued commitment to fossil fuel extractivism fundamentally undermines its professed diplomacy.

Tate frames a Just Energy Transition as a diplomatic necessity. To be credible, a diplomacy of ubuntu must be powered by renewables.

🇿🇦 Read the full analysis: https://www.oxfordclimatealumni.org/post/manifesting-a-diplomacy-of-ubuntu

Discussion: Do you think domestic energy policy should be viewed through the lens of foreign policy ethics? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

06/10/2026

🇿🇦 New on the OxCAN Climate Justice Blog: The contradiction between South Africa’s foreign policy and its energy transition

South Africa’s 2011 White Paper on foreign policy introduced the world to the “Diplomacy of Ubuntu”—a philosophy emphasizing common humanity, dignity, and multilateralism. But does the state’s domestic energy trajectory align with these values?

In our latest piece, Daniel Tate argues that South Africa’s continued commitment to fossil fuel extractivism fundamentally undermines its professed diplomacy.

Tate frames a Just Energy Transition as a diplomatic necessity. To be credible, a diplomacy of ubuntu must be powered by renewables.

🇿🇦 Read the full analysis: https://www.oxfordclimatealumni.org/post/manifesting-a-diplomacy-of-ubuntu

Discussion: Do you think domestic energy policy should be viewed through the lens of foreign policy ethics? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

17/09/2026

[OxCAN at Climate Week NYC 2026! Capital at the Crossroads]

OxCAN continues its tradition of game-changing discussions at ! This year, the focus is on climate capital. Our event will examine how climate capital is allocated and what strategies are needed to ensure it delivers near-term impact, leverages new and emerging technologies, and incorporates the infrastructure and ecosystems that make sustainable innovation possible.

The conversation will open with remarks from Dr Ese Owie, Chief Executive Officer of OxCAN, followed by a keynote address from Dr M. Sanjayan, Chief Executive Officer of The New York Climate Exchange.

The panel discussion will feature Prof. Rym Ayadi, Founder and President of EMEA; Michelle Osorio, Vice President at NY Green Bank; Shaun Abrahamson, Managing Partner at Third Sphere; and Rachel Williams, Investor at Lowercarbon Capital. The session will be moderated by James Sutherland, Director of North America at OxCAN.

Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Time: 3:30 to 5:30 PM
Venue: Conference Room, Moody’s, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007
Light refreshments will be served following the event.

Register here before space runs out! https://luma.com/800bsuqp

17/09/2026

[Recap: Cross School Sustainability Alumni Social Mixer]

On the evening of Tuesday 15th September, the Oxford Climate Alumni Network (OxCAN), together with the OxCAN Transport Working Group, was delighted to co-host the 3rd Cross School Sustainability Alumni Social Mixer in London.

The evening brought together more than 200 sustainability champions from across London for drinks, discussions, and the kind of connections that only happen when good people gather around a shared purpose. It was a genuine pleasure to see so many new and familiar faces, and to witness the Oxford climate community connecting with peers from across the alumni world.

This event would not have been possible without our incredible co-hosts: the Yale Club of London and Yale Blue Green, the Harvard Club of the United Kingdom and Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, the Columbia University Global Sustainability Network, Cambridge Alumni for Sustainability, and Oxford10, the Official Oxford University Alumni Group. Thank you for making this a truly cross-school effort.

A special thank you to our co-organizers, whose energy and commitment made the evening such a success: Martin M., Natalie Norouzy, Josh Matthews, Isabelle Saxton, Montserrat V., Lan Shi, and Jennifer Ryan. It was a privilege to work alongside you.

Looking ahead, there is much more to come! OxCAN will be hosting a specific event during New York Climate Week on 22nd September, co-hosted by Moody’s, and another during Munich Climate Week in late October. Keep an eye out for a COP31-themed Cross School Mixer later this year as well.

If you are passionate about climate and sustainability and would like to be part of this growing community, we would love to hear from you.

About OxCAN
OxCAN is a UK-registered charity and a climate-focused alumni network of the University of Oxford, and we are always looking for volunteers to help shape our work.

23/06/2026

OxCAN Climate Action Week 2026! 🌍Beyond the Fossil Fuel Chokepoint: Financial Pathways for Decarbonisation

As London Climate Action Week gets underway, the conversation has moved decisively beyond whether we transition, to how we finance, govern, and implement it equitably and at speed.

Join the OxCAN for a facilitated dialogue that bridges strategic perspective with practical insight, framed against the outcomes of the Santa Marta conference.

📅 Wednesday 24 June | 11:00 – 12:30 BST
📍 Toynbee Hall, London

Keynote Address:
🎤 Chinelo Anohu – Founder & CEO, Mutandis Africa

Panel:
Stephen Hammer, PhD – Founding CEO, New York Climate Exchange; Visiting Fellow, Oxford Martin School
Frank van der Vleuten – Coordinating Policy Officer for Climate Finance, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chris Basinski – Principal Energy Economist, EBRD
Lucy Shaw – Energy Investor & Writer, Leader of Gordon Management; Visiting Fellow, LSE; Co-Host, Power Plays podcast

Moderator:
Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett – Former Senior Advisor, DESNZ & No10 Downing Street; Policy Fellow, Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy; Host, The Energy Revolution Podcast

A light brunch will be served.

This is a rare opportunity to engage with leaders at the intersection of finance, policy, and energy and to connect with the Oxford climate community during the UK’s premier climate week.

Secure your place: https://luma.com/yljde68c

Spaces are limited, register now!

05/06/2026

Our Board Chairperson, Daniel Tate, was featured in the latest Alumni Volunteer Spotlight from Oxford Alumni!

⭐ Alumni volunteer spotlight: Meet Daniel Tate (University College, Oxford 2021).

Daniel volunteers as Chair of the Trustee Board of the Oxford Climate Alumni Network (OxCAN), a global alumni community working to unlock ‘climate paralysis’ and drive action on climate change.

‘It has been a pleasure to chair the Trustee Board of OxCAN. The OxCAN team is the ideal combination of high-impact Oxford alumni and passion to address the climate crisis. I’d highly recommend the alumni networks for any alumni looking to connect with the vast Oxford network while making an impact in important causes globally.’

Thank you Daniel and all our other incredible alumni volunteers who help keep the Oxford community connected and focused on tackling urgent global challenges.

Find out how you can get involved ⬇️ www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/alumni-groups

30/04/2026

Sharing the first Working Group OxCAN blog - “Justice & Climate Litigation: Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” by Maisy Bentley (Oxford alumna, Rhodes Scholar, litigation solicitor)!

Women’s rights and gender equality are largely missing from legal responses to climate change, and human rights climate litigation may be perpetuating this omission.

🔍 Of 176 human rights climate cases against governments, only two fell under the “woman” category. Neither has been decided on its merits.

The KlimaSeniorinnen case (older women vs. Switzerland) offers a rare exception — but is it enough?

As Maisy writes:
“If women’s human rights and matters of gender equality are being omitted from climate litigation, then they risk being omitted from the state obligations and practices that are developing through this litigation.”

🔗Read the full blog: https://www.oxfordclimatealumni.org/post/gender-justice-climate-litigation

23/04/2026

Happy Earth Day Oxonians! 🌍 On this special day, we’re announcing details of the launch event of our newest OxCAN Climate Justice Working Group!

Climate justice is more than emissions accounting. It’s about power, ethics, and who pays the price of transition.

Oxford research is already leading the way:
🔹 Inclusive Net Zero projects centering marginalised communities
🔹 A 7‑step just transition roadmap for companies
🔹 Ethical frameworks on who enables vs enacts adaptation

Now, we turn research into action.

Join our launch event!

📅 Wed 6th May 2026 | 4–6pm BST
📍 Oxford (in‑person preferred) + Zoom
🎤 Keynotes & panel: Harj Narulla, Benjamin Sovacool, Nicole Ann Ponce, Hanne van den Berg, Rocky Guzman
➕ Informal mixer afterwards

Open to all Oxford students, faculty, alumni & OxCAN members.

🔗 RSVP link in bio (bit.ly/ClimateJusticeLaunchEvent

NetZero EnvironmentalJustice

14/04/2026

The Boat Race got off to a powerful start on the 4th April this year, with the Oxford women’s team, many of them new to the squad, rising to the occasion in front of millions watching around the world. What began in 1829 with the men’s race, and later welcomed women in 1927, has grown into one of the most iconic sporting traditions, with the women’s race joining the main Tideway course and global broadcast in 2015. This year, OxCAN’s Transport Working Group, Ox10 and the Development Alumni Engagement Team set up at the Fulham Fan zone to offer Oxonian Alumni support.

Behind the spectacle lies months of relentless preparation. Athletes train up to three times a day, balancing intense physical demands with the constant challenge of managing sleep, nutrition, and recovery. Over the course of the year, the entire focus narrows to a single opponent, pushing each rower to the edge of elite performance.

After a decade of Cambridge dominance, Oxford’s victory this year carried real emotional weight. On race day, even the smallest details mattered—a coin toss decided which side of the Thames the crew took. What followed was just 20 minutes, but it was 20 minutes of pure tension, precision, and strength. We could feel the tension watching from both the big screen and the crowded shore of the Thames.

We from OxCAN’s Transport Working Group, Ox10 and the Development Alumni Relations team witnessed Oxford put up a strong fight on both races. Cambridge took the win on the men’s race, but the women’s race was ours to win this year. In the end, for all its history and tradition, the race came down to what’s simple and human: a crew moving as one, giving it everything they have after months of preparation and practice, one unforgettable race. Congratulations to Oxford’s 2026 women’s dark blues for their win!