Huskies at the UN Climate Conference (COP)

Tag: climate change

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

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Aritra Chakrabarty
Aritra Chakrabarty

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.

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Significance of Youth and Student Engagement at COP28

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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.

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Huskies Kick Off COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai

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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
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.

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JUSTNORTH Project

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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.

Roman Sidortsov
Roman Sidortsov

“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.

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Tech Troop to Tackle Climate Challenge at COP28

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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.

Roman Sidortsov
Roman Sidortsov

“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.” 

Mark Rouleau
Mark Rouleau

“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

Shardul Tiwari
Shardul Tiwari

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.

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Kendra Lachik Reflects on COP27 in Keweenaw Now

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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.

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Aritra Chakrabarty: What COP 27 Means To Me

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Ever since the first Conference of Parties (COP) was initiated in Berlin in 1995, COPs have been used to review what the signatory Parties (the countries who have signed up) have achieved, and measure their progress. These annual conferences organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are the sites for negotiations, discussions, and abating challenges.

Aritra Chakrabarty

Global Crises Impact COP 27

This year (2022) COP 27 in Egypt takes place amidst the backdrop of a multitude of global crises (Cogswell, et al. 2022). We could expect this COP to be an active heated discussion ground that might witness renewed discussion on the pledges made at 2021’s climate conference which had recognized the interlinked global crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss.

The ripple effects of COVID – 19 had not subsided completely when the Ukraine war roared on the horizon which has caused double impact on already impoverished economies. Food, fuel and overall energy prices have skyrocketed, thanks to profiteering of the crisis by the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC), mainly Saudi Arabia (Bland 2022). A climate catastrophe in Pakistan claimed more than 1000 lives and displaced millions (Chaudhary 2022).

The first half of 2022 also saw floods and storms in southern Africa that disrupted economic activity and claimed hundreds of lives. China was similarly battered by a drought that derailed the nation’s food and energy production, and Europe is bracing itself for a cold winter after facing the onslaught of the worst drought in 500 years (BBC 2022). Crises does not differentiate between developed, developing or least developed countries. However, the impacts of natural and/or man-made crises is compounded by existing economic disparity, a weak public safety net and deteriorating food systems.

The Parties Must Come Together

A colorful, rainbow-like, free-standing sign that shows "#COP27"
The many colors of COP 27, representing that action on climate change is an inclusive affair.

It is thus required from this year’s climate conference that Parties come together to navigate such crises. It is high time that we recognize how our ecosystems have become fragile due to burgeoning unsustainable economic activities. This conference should also be used by the Parties and their delegates to recognize that adaptation, mitigation and GHG reduction strategies now have to extend beyond climate specific activities and be more inclusive of the nexus with food, income, gender, and living.

Millions of people have now been pushed back to poverty for the first time ever. As the current UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres remarked recently, “the world has moved backwards. COVID – 19 and the war has set back more than four years of hard – won progress. Income inequalities have widened as more people fall back into extreme poverty, job losses, along with increasing food and energy prices has set the cycle in backward motion” (Xinhua 2022).

Young voices protest for action on climate change

Why I Am in Egypt at COP 27

The intention to participate in the conference was to advocate on my part for the local voices that can speak to adaption strategies, in the context of the National Adaptation Plans (NAP), that are to be finalized by the Parties (UNFCCC 2021). The NAPs were established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) which enables Parties to formulate and implement national adaptation strategies as means of identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs. It is a continuous, progressive and iterative process. Through the participation in the Capacity Building Hub organized by the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB), our objective is to inform climate policy making through local knowledge that has been the wealth of indigenous and other local communities for centuries and how their practices have helped in harboring a sustainable relationship between humans and the ecosystem.

This post was written by Aritra Chakrabarty, 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. Aritra 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.

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