Share Representatives of local government, businesses, nonprofit organizations and The Ohio State University gathered on Wednesday to share climate successes and insight with United Kingdom diplomatic leaders as they prepare to host the U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, in November. As part of the forum, President Kristina M. Johnson emphasized the importance of collective action among local, state, national and global partners – and said addressing climate change aligns with Ohio State’s land-grant mission to uplift communities. “We’re here unified toward one goal: Some people say to save the planet; I actually say to save civilization,” Johnson said. She pointed out the Earth existed for 4 billion years and would likely last billions more but acting now would prevent more ecological harm to the planet’s population.