Climate Action Chat

People often ask me how they can get involved in climate change work.  Students and younger generations (e.g., Gen Z) tell me that one of their biggest concerns is the climate crisis.  I have included here a list of organizations (with links) that provide opportunities to get involved.  I participate, for example, in the Leadership Program of the Climate Reality Project. Climate Change/Crisis Organizations Climate Reality Project – Leadership Corps https://www.climaterealityproject.org/ https://www.climaterealityproject.org/training   YOUNGO - The Youth Non-Government Organization Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change http://www.youngo.uno/   RINGO – The Research and Independent Non-Government Organization Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change https://ringosnet.wordpress.com/   Fridays for the Future https://fridaysforfuture.org/ Sunrise Movement https://www.sunrisemovement.org/   ...

Prior to hosting COP 27, Egyptian leaders emphasized the importance of the issue of loss and damage.  Even before the 2015 Paris Agreement, developing countries had been advocating for a loss and damage mechanism - ideally an international organization that would allocate funds for recovering from catastrophic climate-related events (e.g., floods in Pakistan, typhoons in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, drought in East Africa).  An important first step would be a commitment - from developing nations - of funds for a loss and damage program.  Up until the final hours of COP 27, an agreement on loss and damage funding seemed unlikely.  Developed countries, led by the European Union, were persuaded to support a loss and damage fund.  The United States, which had long resisted such a fund and program, agreed to support the proposal and provide some funding. While for some parties this decision made COP 27 a success, other parties, particularly NGOs, were frust...

 When I attend UN climate meetings, people from other countries often ask me why the climate crisis is a partisan issue (i.e., "blue" versus "red') in the United States.  The issue has not politicized in most countries the way it has in the US.  For example, I travel to Denmark annually and have noticed that while Danes are divided on some issues (such as immigration), they are generally united across party lines about the climate crisis (they were also united regarding Covid 19).  Ironically, the first candidate for President of the US who voiced concerns about climate change and global warming in a national campaign speech was the late Senator John McCain of Arizona - a Republican.  President George H. W. Bush, a Republican, signed the international agreement that created the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992.  Senate ratification of the UNFCCC was supported widely in 1992, by both Republicans and Democrats.  Yet the only ...

 I have attended every COP since 2009.  Each year more young people (people under 35) participate in this conference.  The presence of Gen Z at COP 27 is significant.  One of the COP 27 thematic days last week focused on youth.  The Global Center on Adaptation (gca.org), funded in part by Bill Gates,  considers Gen Z and Gen X involvement in the development of climate actions as one of its top priorities.  Some foundations provide financial support for young people from developing countries and the Global South to participate in COP 27.   I meet many young people at the COPs and often talk with them about studying in the US - and I am always recruiting for OSU!  Here is a link to an excellent BBC article that discussing the presence - and influence - of younger generations at COP 27.   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/sci ence-environment-63599932   

I will admit that I am a news fanatic.  I begin most days by reading articles featured on a variety of news organization websites.  Concerning the climate crisis - I find articles in The Guardian to be particularly informative.  Here is an interesting story from The Guardian about COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh:  https://www.theguardian.com/en vironment/2022/nov/11/like-veg as-but-worse-bemusement-week- one-cop27-sharm-el-sheikh?CMP= Share_iOSApp_Other I also read articles on the BBC website.  This article is about the goal of keeping the increase in global temperature at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius.  As I read this article, I reflected back to a conversation I had with a Chilean negotiator on a UNFCCC bus in 2018 (COP 24 in Katowice, Poland).  I asked about the 1.5 degree goal.  He told me that, off the record, most negotiators knew that would never be achieved - most hoped that the temperature rise could be kept under 2 degrees.   https:...

 I received my first badge to attend a UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) meeting in 2009 - I participated in a one week session in Barcelona in the lead up to COP 15 in Copenhagen.  Since that meeting I have attended over 35 UNFCCC climate change meetings, including every "Conference of the Parties" or COP - since Copenhagen.  I have focused on a variety of issues, most significantly issues that relate to the human dimensions of climate change, such as adaptation and capacity building.  Capacity building is a cross-cutting issue; it relates to all aspects of climate policy at every scale.  The 2015 Paris Agreement addresses capacity building, an issue of particular importance to developing countries.  The Paris Agreement creating the "PCCB" - the Paris Committee on Capacity Building.  I have been fortunate to participate in every PCCB meeting as an observer.  One of the PCCB priorities is the Capacity Building Hub....

 I am often asked what these "Conference of the Parties" - or COPs - are like.  COP 27 in Egypt is the 13th COP I have attended. Each one is distinct, but they are similar as a type of climate change carnival.  I present this metaphor descriptively and not critically.  At the COPs there are five different types of activities going on simultaneously.  One, of course, is the negotiation sessions - meetings in which country delegates negotiate a wide range of climate change issues.  Second, there are side events.  These are typically panels much like one might experience at an academic or professional conference.  The side event topics address both technical and human dimensions of the climate crisis.  Third, booths or exhibits are featured.  These are presented primarily by non-government organizations. The exhibits present materials from those organizations.  Fourth, the COPs include numerous Pavilions, most of which are country-spec...

 The 27th annual meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began on Sunday 06 November. Sunday consisted of opening Plenary sessions, with country delegations and coalitions presenting statements.  These opening plenaries do not really set the negotiation agenda.  Instead, they highlight issues that country delegations want to address.  For example, a high priority issue for many developing countries is "loss and damage."  This issue includes discussions of the creation of an international mechanism for loss and damage (a kind of international "FEMA" or emergency management agency) and the finance needed for the international loss and damage authority.  The "high level segment" began yesterday, on the 07 November.  Over 100 Heads of State are at COP 27 (e.f., Presidents and Prime Ministers), with each person speaking at the high level event.  The urgency of the climate crisis is a ...