Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP)

COP28: A Fragile Hope for Vulnerable Nations – Navigating the Labyrinth of Governance in a Multipolar World

Published January 23, 2024

COP28

The historic announcement of a Loss and Damage Fund (L&D) at COP28 in Dubai resonated as a long-awaited victory for vulnerable nations bearing the brunt of climate change. Yet, amidst the celebratory spirit, a nagging concern lurks beneath the surface – the absence of a robust and binding governance framework threatens to engulf the L&D Fund in a labyrinth of political and financial complexities.

From an International Relations perspective, the current multipolar world order presents unique challenges for climate governance. The traditional model of global governance, built on the dominance of a few powerful actors, has eroded. This power vacuum creates a more complex and fluid environment, where consensus-building and collective action become increasingly difficult (Mearsheimer, 2001).

COP28 exposition entrance lined with flags and crowds of attendees — COP28: A global convergence for climate justice, symbolized by a multitude of national flags united in the face of environmental challenges.

Loss and Damage Fund Falls Short of Need

This dynamic is particularly evident in the case of the L&D Fund. While the initial commitment of $700 million marks a significant step forward, it falls far short of the estimated annual need of hundreds of billions of dollars (UNFCCC, 2023b). Moreover, the lack of a binding agreement on funding targets creates uncertainty and undermines the Fund’s long-term sustainability.

Lack of Governance Adds to the Challenge

Furthermore, the absence of a clear and transparent governing mechanism raises concerns about accountability and equitable distribution of resources. Without a framework to ensure that contributions are proportionate to historical emissions and that funds reach the most vulnerable communities, the L&D Fund risks perpetuating existing inequalities (Keohane & Nye, 2000).

Demonstration with banners like "Don't Gas Africa" and "Don't Gas Asia" — Demonstration with climate advocacy banners

These governance challenges are further exacerbated by the rise of nationalism and populism in many countries, leading to political resistance towards international cooperation and financial commitments (Ikenberry, 2018). In this context, securing long-term support for the L&D Fund demands a shift from the traditional power-centric approach towards a more inclusive and participatory model of governance.

Need to Build Empathy and Understanding

Drawing upon the concept of “cooperative hegemony” (Ikenberry, 2001), developed nations must embrace a leadership role that prioritizes collaboration and mutual understanding over unilateral dictates. This requires transparency in decision-making, responsiveness to the needs of vulnerable nations, and a genuine commitment to shared responsibility.

Additionally, fostering a sense of global solidarity and collective responsibility is crucial. Initiatives such as awareness campaigns and international exchange programs can help bridge the gap between developed and developing nations, building empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.

Ultimately, ensuring the success of the L&D Fund necessitates navigating the complexities of a multipolar world order with pragmatism and a commitment to global justice. By addressing the current governance gaps and fostering a spirit of international cooperation, we can transform the L&D Fund from a fragile hope into a powerful instrument for climate justice and a beacon of resilience for vulnerable nations.

References:

Ikenberry, G. J. (2001). After victory: Institutions, strategic restraint, and the rebuilding of order after major wars. Princeton University Press.
Ikenberry, G. J. (2018). The end of liberal international order? International Affairs, 94(1), 1-23.
Keohane, R. O., & Nye, J. S. (2000). Power and interdependence in the information age (2nd ed.). Longman.
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics (updated ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
UNFCCC. (2023b, November 30). Report of the Adaptation Committee on its fourthteen meeting. [FCCC/SB/STA/2023/10]

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies’ presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

COP28 Reflections

Published January 5, 2024

By Steve Mintz

Geophysics PhD candidate Gabriel Ahrendt and recent physics alum Dr. Elise Rosky recently attended COP28 and offered their reflections in the Daily Mining Gazette.

Rosky and Ahrendt moderated multiple panels. Dr. Rosky’s panels included:

The science-policy interface: How can researchers shape critical climate policies?
Fossil Fuel Divestment at Universities
Perspectives on the Role of Universities in the UNFCCC
Guest panel on the science-policy interface: How can researchers shape critical climate policies?

Ahrendt also moderated multiple panels:

Student Panel: Dialogue between students at Arctic and American universities
YEAH for Museums: Catalyzing Community Action
CLA Research Presentation

Climate conference moderator Dr. Elise Rosky

Climate conference moderator Gabriel Ahrendt

Read about Ahrendt and Rosky’s reflections on the climate conference in the Daily Mining Gazette.

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies’ presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

Significance of Youth and Student Engagement at COP28

Published December 22, 2023

By Shardul Tiwari

It has been almost 33 years since Dr. Carl Sagan testified in front of Congress about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their effect on our planet. Dr. Sagan, one of my favorite science communicators, passed away one year after the Conference of Parties (COP) met for the first time in Bonn, Germany. This year is the 28th time the COP will meet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30th November to 12th December. I believe given that human-induced climate change is now an even more significant challenge and threat than it was 33 years back, with visible and scientific evidence of global loss and damages, it is imperative now that we engage in an equitable global dialogue and learnings through the platform of the annual United Nations climate change conference, commonly referred to as COP.

Huskies Host Pavilion

This year, in 2023, is the fourth time Michigan Tech students and faculty members will attend and participate in COP, which is the largest platform for global policy dialogue and engagement for global climate governance. Unlike the previous three times, Tech will be hosting a pavilion. Through the pavilion, Michigan Tech actively engages multiple stakeholder groups, including but not limited to representatives from indigenous communities, academics, international nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and youth.

A Conference Not Without Controversy

There is and always has been skepticism around climate change and more so around a climate change conference that brings people from around the globe to engage in discussion, policy-making, and knowledge sharing around COP. The colloquial conversation, and I am paraphrasing here, is “People are flying and emitting GHGs to go to a conference to talk about reducing GHGs.” I agree that unnecessary energy use and wastage should be heavily criticized. However, is going to a conference, which is the most prominent policy platform, to engage and to find a solution to an agreed-upon problem really an unnecessary GHG emission? I would go with the answer, no, it’s not, and in this blog post, I will briefly provide two primary arguments for the same while thinking about students and researchers as the primary stakeholders.

Just a part of the Michigan Tech delegation at COP28

Youth and Student Engagement Plays a Big Role

In academia, it is a standard practice to go to academic conferences in every field. It is encouraged because that is where you learn about the latest research activity in that field. The students and professors at these conferences engage with people who are doing similar and state-of-the-art research work. COP, in this sense, is no different than an academic conference with space for researchers to engage in academic dialogue. COP is a melting pot for researchers coming from science and policy fields, sharing and learning from each other on how science is informing global climate policies. Hence, if we don’t criticize students and researchers attending a typical academic conference, why push back against climate change conferences both from the emission and need perspectives?

Second, we rightfully now agree that today’s youth (I am not saying “we” because now I don’t qualify as a youth, even though I want to believe that I am still young) are the future of tomorrow. They will be affected the most by the impact of climate change-induced extreme weather events. Hence, it is important for the youth to learn about the science and policy-making for climate change. If we agree that education is essential, we can make the case that it is vital to learn where and how the global climate governance process occurs. COP is arguably the best platform for students to learn about the actors, interests, and institutions involved in the process. Today’s students are scientists and policymakers for tomorrow, and COP is a platform to learn and engage with scientists and policymakers formulating policies for global climate governance. One student told me, “COP is like a mini internship.” Would we not fly to where we have an internship if that was the only means of traveling there?

Engagement Solves Problems

I believe engagement is key to solving either a local challenge or a global challenge like climate change that transcends national boundaries. COP provides that platform to engage and learn, and more students and researchers must engage on this platform. The engagement will lead to a more comprehensive and hopefully urgent approach by current and future policymakers to address the challenges that we are and will face due to climate change.

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies’ presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

Huskies Kick Off COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai

Published November 30, 2023

By Steve Mintz

COP28

COP28 attendees talking to each other — COP28 attendees congregate in the pavilion

Michigan Tech Huskies helped to kick off the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on Thursday. COP28 is hosted by the UAE in Dubai. It is the largest climate change-focused event in the world.

Associate professors Mark Rouleau and Roman Sidortsov, along with Berit Kristoffersen, an associate professor in political science at the Department of Social Sciences and the Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy (ARC) at UiT – the Arctic University of Norway, kicked off the conference with the “Just North Workshop.” The Workshop explored the idea that an economic activity or a project cannot be sustainable if it’s deemed ethically deficient by key stakeholders and rights holders. These actors have different life experiences and ethical perspectives that are shaped by divergent value systems. The presenters led a simulation developed as part of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 JUSTNORTH project. It aims to reconcile such differences and align stakeholders and rights holders to pursue common interests.

Huskies Partner With Two Other Universities at COP28

Professor Roman Sidortsov speaking at the podium — Professor Roman Sidortsov leads the workshop

Michigan Tech is partnering with researchers at UiT – the Arctic University of Norway and the University of Sussex Business School (UK) in collaboration with the EU-funded JUSTNORTH Horizon 2020 project to host a pavilion where they will present research in the conference’s Blue Zone. The Blue Zone is a UN-managed space where the official climate negotiations take place. The pavilion offers a wealth of complementary knowledge, expertise, and insights on and from northern regions deeply impacted by climate change to attendees (world leaders, government agencies, non-governmental agencies (NGOs), think tanks, and other climate stakeholders).

Over the next two weeks, there will be over 75 different presentations and discussions in the pavilion from a variety of researchers and stakeholders from across the globe. In addition to Sidortsov and Rouleau, Tech’s Shardul Tiwari, adjunct assistant professor and postdoctoral scholar, Sarah Green, professor emerita, plus graduate students Gabriel Ahrendt and Emily Rosky will be leading sessions. Sessions will cover a variety of topics like energy transition, energy security, energy justice, and youth engagement, to name a few. The complete agenda is available here.

Huskies Research Featured at COP28

Professors Roman Sidortsov and Berit Kristoffersen greet the crowd

“The presentations in the pavilion let us showcase the strength and breadth of Michigan Tech’s energy transition and climate change work,” said Sidortsov. “We worked with colleagues at other universities to organize an exciting set of presentations, minicourses, and press conferences highlighting their perspectives on climate, environmental, and energy justice, policy, and governance. Presenting the work at a global conference like this, where there’s going to be people from all over the world, is exciting because they’ll see what we might be able to help them with.”

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies’ presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

JUSTNORTH Project

Published November 26, 2023

By Steve Mintz

COP28

Michigan Technological University partners with the Just North Project, an EU-funded climate action project exploring the perspectives and values that stakeholders can bring to Arctic economic decision-making. Together, we will co-host a pavilion at the Blue Zone of COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November until 12 December 2023.

“The Pavilion presents a unique opportunity to present our research, deepen the University’s international ties, and engage with a wide range of people who care about the future of our planet,” said Professor Roman Sidortsov, Associate Professor of energy policy at Michigan Technological University and Senior Research Fellow in Energy Justice (SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit) at the University of Sussex Business School. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the JUSTNORTH project, which focuses on the Arctic to connect with researchers, practitioners, and students who are working on the justice and equity of sustainable development with their peers from around the world. There is a saying “What happens in the Arctic, does not stay in the Arctic” and this pavilion is a true testament to it.”

Read more about the JUSTNORTH partnership and the University of Sussex Business School’s participation.

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate-change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

Tech Troop to Tackle Climate Challenge at COP28

Published November 2, 2023

By Steve Mintz

COP28

Michigan Tech students holding banner in front of the US Center pavilion — Michigan Tech students at last year’s COP27

A large delegation of students from Michigan Technological University, led by professors Mark Rouleau and Roman Sidortsov, plus professor emerita Sarah Green and adjunct professor Shardul Tiwari, will depart November 30th for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). Known as the COP, or Conference of the Parties, this event marks the 28th time that people from around the world will meet to fast-track the energy transition and slash emissions, transform climate finance, and put nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action.

Welcome to Just North and Beyond: A Pop-up University Pavilion

Michigan Tech will be at the center of the action, co-hosting a pavilion “Welcome to Just North and Beyond: A Pop-up University Pavilion.” It is a product of collaboration between American, British, and Norwegian universities dedicated to achieving sustainable development through the lens of energy, environmental, and climate justice. Organized by Michigan Technological University (US), UiT – the Arctic University of Norway, and University of Sussex Business School (UK) and in collaboration with the EU-funded JUSTNORTH Horizon 2020 project, the pavilion will bring a wealth of complementary knowledge, expertise, and insights on and from northern regions deeply impacted by climate change.

“Our delegation to this year’s U.N. climate meeting really shows the strength and breadth of Michigan Tech’s energy transition and climate change work,” said Roman Sidortsov, associate professor of energy policy who is leading the Tech contingent. “We are working with colleagues at other universities to organize an exciting set of presentations, minicourses, and press conferences highlighting their perspectives on climate, environmental, and energy justice, policy, and governance.

“It’s going to be exciting to spread the word on the work we’ve been doing on the potential for underground storage of hydroelectric power and how we can move communities off a dependence on carbon-based energy systems,” Sidortsov said. “Presenting the work at a global conference like this, where there’s going to be people from all over the world, is exciting because they’ll see what we might be able to help them with toward transitioning to alternative energy sources. The work is new and is just starting to be implemented and proven in an actual installation, so the more people who see it, the more benefit it would be for everybody.”

“I’m excited to bring 16 students from my Energy and Climate Policy class to this year’s COP,” said Mark Rouleau. “This is an amazing opportunity for them to see global climate change negotiations firsthand and to directly participate in a wide variety of discussions surrounding this issue. These students will have the opportunity to attend a number of different talks and presentations from renowned experts focusing on different components of the issue, such as financing solutions, impacts on present and future generations, energy transitions to a more just and sustainable world, and so much more.”

Focus on Energy, Environmental, and Climate Justice

This is Michigan Tech’s fourth COP. It is rare for a university to host a pavilion. Michigan Tech is one of a handful of universities with observer status and delegate privileges. “We are the lead of a network of institutions and put forth a highly competitive proposal focused on energy, environmental, and climate justice,” said Shardul Tiwari in the Department of Social Sciences, who will co-lead the Michigan Tech delegation of four faculty and staff and 16 students from the College of Sciences and Arts at Michigan Tech. COP28 runs from November 30 to December 15, 2023. If you are planning to be at the COP with blue zone access and would like to present at the pavilion, submit your idea.

About COP28

Michigan Technological University is one of a handful of universities taking a leading role at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Hosted by the UAE at Expo City Dubai, COP28 is the largest climate change-focused event in the world. COP28 aims to unite the world towards agreement on bold, practical, and ambitious solutions to the most pressing global challenge of our time. You can read more about the Huskies’ presence at COP28 in the Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP) blog.

Kendra Lachik Reflects on COP27 in Keweenaw Now

Published June 2, 2023

By Steve Mintz

Keweenaw Now published a blog post written by Kendra Lachik ‘23 (environmental engineering) about presentations given by Michigan Tech’s delegation to the COP27 climate conference, held in November in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. MTU students Anna Kavanaugh (environmental engineering, sustainability science and society), Rose Daily (environmental engineering) and Alexis Pascaris (environmental and energy policy) were quoted in the article about their experiences at the conferences.

Read Kendra’s article on Keweenaw Now.

Live From COP27: How MTU students participated in global climate discussions across borders

Published February 6, 2023

By Nicholas Pate

Eugene Brown Agyei

MTU students with others from the University of Colorado and Cardiff University interact with students on campus via Zoom. From Left, Eugene, Rose, Anna, Kendra, Daniel Dominguez, and Daniel Briggs.

“Alright. Get ready. We go live shortly!” Those are the words I would usually say or text on the MTU COP27 Whatsapp group page minutes before a class on campus joined us to learn about our experiences at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This came after many hours of preparation by the MTU delegation which included booking meeting rooms, setting up cameras, and putting our notes together. If you met us within this period, you’d think we were running a mini newsroom. My past experience working in the media had prepared me for things like this.

Since Michigan Tech was granted observer status to the conference in 2019, the delegation has always endeavored to share their experiences live from the conference grounds with students offering related courses on campus. This year was no different, except that we went beyond the usual Zoom sessions with students sharing their experiences turn by turn. We wanted them to virtually feel the conference environment, enjoying the ambiance, the chaos, and the massive crowds right in their classroom in Houghton.

COP27 took place from November 6th to November 18th, 2022. The Michigan Tech student delegation went in two groups. The first group which participated in the activities of the first week included me, Rose Daily (Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering), Kendra Lachick (Social Sciences), Anna Kavanaugh (Social Sciences), and Alexis Pascaris (Social Sciences). Ayush Chutani (Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics), Katherine Huerta Sanchez (Social Sciences), Aritra Chakrabarty (Social Sciences), and Shardul Tiwari (Social Sciences),

The first day of our Life from COP experience did not go exactly as planned. Even though we had a nice setup and ambitious ideas, technology had its own plans. However, we were able to share our experiences with one class on campus and answer questions they had sent to us before our interaction.

Tech students and faculty member Dr. Mark Rouleau at the US Center at COP27.

On the second day, we added a little bit of innovation and positioned ourselves at different points at the venue. This gave us indoor and outdoor experiences while interacting with students. For my colleagues who were new to anything journalism, that would be their first experience as student reporters. We shared scenes of what was happening on the grounds from different areas and gave them a brief of events and sessions that we had individually been part of. The exciting part was that we received an invitation to a keynote speech by President Joe Biden on that day. We shared snippets of the prelude to the event also.

Students on campus in turn had several interesting questions about which countries were making waves at the conference and what their priorities were. We shared with them ideas, initiatives, and proposals for addressing climate change as well as which of them we thought were the most realistic and most likely to win support from more than one group. We talked about China, and Egypt as the host, the venue and facilities as well as our surprises. There are always surprises at COP.

Before the Live from COP, and after it, students from Michigan Tech and others from six universities in the United States and other countries who formed the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education (YEAH) network hosted press conferences and panel discussions on climate education, youth climate actions, and storytelling among others. We also participated in events that were of interest to us or related to our areas of study. All of these were beside the exhibition that we mounted at the US Center. The display highlighted what climate action meant to young people like us.

Being part of such a global conversation on an important topic as climate change is an experience of a lifetime. We formed connections with different people from different parts of the world that will last a lifetime, made great impressions highlighting our training at Tech, and saw a different part of the world. Beyond this momentous experience, the commitment of Tech students toward a sustainable world is proof of Michigan Tech’s commitment to preparing students for the future.

Michigan Tech Ph.D. student Eugene Brown Agyei

This post was written by Eugene Brown Agyei, who is attending COP 27 as part of a delegation led by Sarah Green and the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education (YEAH) Network. YEAH is a transdisciplinary, multi-institutional network that equips students with real-world experience in collaborative, evidence-based approaches to global environmental sustainability. Eugene is among more than 35,000 attendees at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27). The annual summit is the largest climate-change-focused event in the world. He is a Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture graduate student at Michigan Technological University.

Indigenous Perspectives at COP27: Kathy Huerta Sanchez

Published November 23, 2022

By khuertas

Once at the conference, I most look forward to attending and listening in on indigenous perspectives on climate policy and action. Learning from these perspectives and ideas is important because they carry generations of knowledge that have historically been ignored by global leaders. So we should start to consider their valuable input.

I want to attend the conference because climate change is a topic that weighs heavily on my interests and research. By attending I can learn more about the delegations, policies, conversations, and science involved in the topic. I hope that by being an active participant in these matters I can become better educated and hopefully do more to influence my peers/generation about the pressing nature of climate change.

Kathy Huerta Sanchez sitting on a couch with 3 other COP27 attendees — Kathy met folks from all over the globe at COP27.

Since I am attending week 2 of COP27 I will be acting as the social media liaison for Michigan Tech as well as acting as a moderator for a capacity hub event that aligned with my previously stated interests. As part of my social media responsibility, I will be posting highlights of the conference on MTU’s Snapchat, recording my journey to Sharm El Sheikh, as well as interviewing students about their experiences at the conference. The panel I helped moderate invited four speakers from diverse backgrounds to come together to speak on how to utilize local/indigenous knowledge to help inform climate science. Using their expertise, recommendations, and ways of living we can influence and utilize generations of knowledge that have long been ignored by policymakers.

This post was written by Kathy Huerta Sanchez, who is attending COP 27 as part of a delegation led by Sarah Green and the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education (YEAH) Network. YEAH is a transdisciplinary, multi-institutional network that equips students with real-world experience of collaborative, evidence-based approaches to global environmental sustainability. Zach is among more than 35,000 attendees at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27). The annual summit is the largest climate-change-focused event in the world. He is an Environmental & Energy Policy graduate student at Michigan Technological University.

Zach Hough Solomon: Historic Negotiations Creating a More Equitable Future

Published November 23, 2022

By zbhoughs

I am very excited to be a part of a group of Michigan Technological University students attending the United Nations COP27. In my mind, and for many other young people, I view these historic negotiations for younger generations to work towards sustainable development that will create a more equitable future for all.

Michigan Tech Enironmental and Energy Policy master’s student Zach Hough Solomon

Different Perspectives From Different Regions

Throughout the semester, all of the students in the course Climate Science and Policy have been studying these negotiations – including the history of climate policymaking and how the different institutions function. As well, we have been learning about how science is used to make decisions and adapt at the global level. Personally, I am excited to be traveling from the Great Lakes region, a relatively remote area, to represent the region where we live and study on the global stage.

This perspective also reminds me that all these other scientists and policymakers are traveling from different places. Each with unique ecosystems and visions for the future. This aspect of different communities traveling from all over the world is exciting to see how differently we will perceive the events and Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt, as a whole. Traveling from the Great Lakes region, which contains 20% of the world’s freshwater resources and vast forest systems, the lands will be very different from where we live, and an opportunity to return with a greater appreciation for the global importance of where we live and steward.

Amplifying the Diversity of Knowledge to Create an Equitable Future

I am looking forward to meeting other people and learning about the lands they come from, and the different ways they conserve and study them. With some fellow students, we will be hosting a capacity-building hub event at COP27. The event amplifys the diversity of knowledge from local peoples to better understand climate adaptation. The panel will describe local knowledge production, its uses, and how it can be implemented. Then this will transition to open the event to participants from COP27 to provide insights into how local knowledge should and has informed climate adaptation.

This is the main focus of why I wanted to travel to COP27 – to learn from as many people as possible about building equitable and resilient futures, and share with others the work we are doing in the Great Lakes. I am hoping to build momentum for those working on community-level adaptation that can empower other organizations to work strategically and contextually.

This post was written by Zach Hough Solomon, who is attending COP 27 as part of a delegation led by Sarah Green and the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education (YEAH) Network. YEAH is a transdisciplinary, multi-institutional network that equips students with real-world experience of collaborative, evidence-based approaches to global environmental sustainability. Zach is among more than 35,000 attendees at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27). The annual summit is the largest climate-change-focused event in the world. He is an Environmental & Energy Policy graduate student at Michigan Technological University.