BC@UNCOP—UN Climate Conference
Boston College is an official Observer Organization for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also referred to as the Conference of the Parties or COP. This highly influential annual global event serves as the center of global climate change policymaking. Boston College sent students and faculty to COP26, COP27, and COP28, and will be sending another delegation to COP29.
COP29: Baku, Azerbaijan
Nov 11, 2024 – Nov 22, 2024
From November 11th through November 22, our COP29 delegation is representing the BC community in Baku, Azerbaijan. The delegation consists of four faculty, six graduate students, seven undergraduate students, and one staff member, representing colleges and departments across campus. Delegates were competitively selected from a pool of almost 300 applicants by a committee of faculty, staff, and students from across campus. The Schiller Institute is committed to producing outreach programming that extends the University's investment in sending a delegation to COP and allows students, faculty, and others to benefit from our COP programming. This page will be updated regularly with events leading up to, during, and after the conference.
COP29 Delegates
Save the Date - COP Symposium:
February 21st, 2025
Time: TBD
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Room 501 (Schiller Institute Convening Space)
Save the date for our second annual COP Symposium! The student and faculty delegates who attended COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan will be creating a mini COP to share their experiences. More details will be posted to this page as they become available.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
Broadcasts from Baku: November 20th
November 20, 2024
11 am - 12 pm
In Person
Schiller Convening Space, 501
Come hear from BC's COP29 delegation - live from Baku, Azerbaijan! BC students and faculty will report live from COP29. The delegates will share their experiences so far and take questions from the audience. By attending the Broadcasts, you'll have an opportunity to hear on-the-ground reports from the largest international climate change conference in the world, hosted annually by the United Nations.
Lunch will be provided!
Broadcasts from Baku: November 13th
November 13, 2024
11 am - 12 pm
In Person
Schiller Convening Space, 501
Come hear from BC's COP29 delegation - live from Baku, Azerbaijan! BC students and faculty will report live from COP29. The delegates will share their experiences so far and take questions from the audience. By attending the Broadcasts, you'll have an opportunity to hear on-the-ground reports from the largest international climate change conference in the world, hosted annually by the United Nations.
Lunch will be provided!
Delegates from Boston College to Attend COP 29
An interdisciplinary delegation from Boston College is attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Supported by the Schiller Institute, these students, faculty, and staff have prepared for the global climate conference throughout the fall semester, and will share their experiences with the greater BC community through live dispatches from Baku and post-event panels and poster sessions.
COP29: Broadcasts from Baku Highlights
Dylan introduces the Schiller Institute's Broadcasts from Baku live sessions, offering listeners a unique glimpse into the conversations and insights emerging from the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan. This episode of DBC features key highlights from both live sessions, where Boston College faculty and students share their perspectives on COP29 discussions, developments, and programming. To dive deeper into these compelling discussions, visit the Schiller Institute's YouTube channel for full coverage.
Professor Kumar Comments on Climate Finance Negotiations
Praveen Kumar, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work and the trip leader for BC's week 2 delegation, was quoted in a Bloomberg article titled Nations Spar on $250 Billion Climate Vow as COP29 Nears End. Kumar commented on the push to include rich-but-still-developing countries such as China and Saudi Arabia in the climate financing negotiations. "Inviting developing countries to even voluntarily contribute toward the climate finance goals is going beyond the Paris Agreement, which will set up a fight as countries air grievances about the new draft," he said.
Reflections on COP29
A Q&A with BC delegate and Woods College graduate student Gustavo Cardona e Almeida, whose native Brazil will host the U.N. Climate Change Conference next year
"Opportunity of a Lifetime" - Boston College Chronicle
The Boston College Chronicle spotlights the transformative journey of Schiller Institute delegates to COP 29 in Baku. Students and faculty shared their impactful experiences at the UN Climate Conference, gaining valuable insights on global climate action. Highlights include perspectives from Executive Director Laura Steinberg and students Elizabeth Schwab, Sangeeta Kishore, and Junsoo Chung. Don’t miss the full story on page 3 of the Boston College Chronicle.
Recording of the live broadcast with our delegates who were on the ground at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan! Delegates share their experiences and highlights of their trip so far, helping the BC community understand current conversations and events happening at the Conference. Members of the BC community ask the delegates questions such as: Why is COP29 the "Finance COP?" Have you noticed an increase in Global South representation in badges at the conference? What are the conversations and negotiations like in the Blue and Green Zones? Have you noticed a change in US pledging on funds and in negotiation tactics with the anticipated administration change?
Recording of the live broadcast with our delegates who are on the ground at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan! Delegates share their experiences and highlights of their trip so far, helping the BC community understand current conversations and events happening at the Conference. Members of the BC community ask the delegates questions such as: Do you sense any difference between the Baku COP and the previous COP meetings? What types of sessions have you attended and what did you learn from each? What has been your most formative experience at COP so far? How has Baku as a city adjusted to COP and the international presence? In what ways have you seen regional geopolitics expressed at COP? How have you been able to further explore your personal interests on climate related topics while navigating the green zone? In what ways do you think your experiences at COP will inform your work around technology and youth for sustainability education? Which pavilion showcased the most innovative solutions for climate change and how can these solutions be scaled/adapted to my community? Today's theme focused on urbanization, transportation and tourism. What is one country that you learned about that has been successful in their initiatives and has given you hope for the future of cities? Have your experiences changed the way you think about climate initiatives?
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COP28: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Nov 30, 2023 – Dec 12, 2023
Boston College once again sent a delegation of students and faculty to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The 20 delegates were competitively selected from a pool of almost 300 applicants by a committee of faculty, staff, and students from across campus. The Schiller Institute is committed to producing outreach programming that extends the University's investment in sending a delegation to COP and allows students, faculty, and others to benefit from the delegate's time at COP.
The Schiller Institute hosted its inaugural COP Symposium in March 2024 to highlight and share the experiences of Boston College’s COP28 delegation to Dubai. The half-day event consisted of a student panel, a faculty panel, and multiple exhibits where attendees interacted with delegates directly. The delegation designed the Symposium to be a “mini COP,” providing BC faculty and students who didn’t travel to Dubai with an opportunity to share in their experiences.
BC@UNCOP Series Presents: The New UN Plastics Treaty
October 16
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
In Person
Schiller Convening Space, 501
Co-sponsored by the Boston College Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society and the Global Observatory on Planetary Health.
Taking BC to New Heights: Students at COP28 in Dubai
November 08
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
In Person
Academic Quad
Join students from the UGBC's Environmental Sustainability division and BC's COP28 delegation on the quad to have a conversation about COP28, the international conference on climate change.
Led by the Schiller Institute, BC is sending a delegation of 20 students and faculty to COP28. Stop by for an opportunity to learn more about COP and speak with student leaders interested in climate issues.
You'll also have an opportunity to learn more about future COP programming and other UGBC initiatives.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
December 04
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Room 501 (Schiller Institute Convening Space)
Come hear from BC's COP 28 delegation - live from Dubai!
BC students and faculty will report live from COP 28. COP is organized by the United Nations and is the largest international climate change conference in the world.
The delegates will share their experience so far and take questions from the audience. By attending the dispatches, you'll have an opportunity to hear on-the-ground reports from a conference that is sure to be heavily featured in the news. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the delegates.
Join us on Monday, December 4, from 11 AM to 12 PM in the Schiller Institute Convening Space (245 Beacon St, Room 501).
Refreshments will be provided.
We will have a second dispatch on Monday, December 11, at the same time and place.
Please contact schiller.institute@bc.edu with any questions.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
Dispatches from Dubai (Week 2)
December 11
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Room 501 (Schiller Institute Convening Space)
Come hear from BC's COP 28 delegation - live from Dubai!
BC students and faculty will report live from COP 28. COP is organized by the United Nations and is the largest international climate change conference in the world.
The delegates will share their experience so far and take questions from the audience. By attending the dispatches, you'll have an opportunity to hear on the ground reports from a conference that is sure to be heavily featured in the news. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the delegates.
Join us on Monday, December 11 from 11 AM to 12 PM in the Schiller Institute Convening Space (245 Beacon St, Room 501).
Refreshments will be provided.
Please contact schiller.institute@bc.edu with any questions.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
COP28 Symposium: Hear from BC's Delegation
March 15
10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Room 501 (Schiller Institute Convening Space)
On Friday, March 15th, join us for a half-day symposium featuring BC’s COP28 delegates.
Did you know Boston College is an official Observer Organization to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (also known as the Conference of the Parties or simply COP)? In 2023, Boston College sent our third annual delegation to COP28 in Dubai. On Friday, March 15th, you’ll have an opportunity to hear about delegates’ experiences, learn more about COP, and discover how you can apply to be part of the COP29 delegation!
Please find the symposium schedule below:
- 10:30am: Light refreshments
- 11am: Keynote speaker and student-led panel
- 12pm-2 pm: Exhibits featuring key themes and takeaways from COP28
- 2pm-3 pm: Faculty-led panel.
Even if you can’t make it for the entire event, we encourage you to drop in as soon as you can. We hope to see you there! Please register using this link.
Please note that food will be available throughout the event.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
COP27: Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
Nov 6, 2022 – Nov 18, 2022
Over the course of the Spring 2023 semester, the BC delegation of faculty and students that represented the university in Sharm El Sheikh will be delivering a series of programs to share their experience of attending COP27 and broaden the conversation about the pressing dangers of climate change and the ways we, as individuals and as a campus community, can addrees climate change through advocacy, scholarship and professional avenues.
COP27 Faculty Panel: "Do the UN Climate Change COPs Make a Difference?"
March 20
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, 501
BC faculty delegates who represented the university in Sharm El Sheikh at the UN Climate Conference (COP27) will discuss the accomplishments and setbacks of COP27 and the UN COPs in general.
Faculty Delegate Panelists:
- David Deese (Political Science)
- María Piñeros Leaño (Social Work)
- Lacee Satcher (Sociology)
- Dunwei Wang (Chemistry)
April 05
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Schiller Convening Space
Student Delegates:
- Sara Bernard-Hoverstad (Theology)
- Hilary Nwaina (Theology)
- Ben Skillin (Law)
April 28
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Schiller Convening Space
Student Delegates:
- Leon Liu (Environmental Studies)
- Shaun McGuire (Business)
- Haley Rowlands (Law)
April 28
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
In Person
245 Beacon Street, Schiller Convening Space, 501
Join us to learn about the application process to become a student member of BC's delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). COP28 will be held from Nov. 30 - Dec. 12, 2023 in Expo City, Dubai, UAE. At this session, you will hear from a Schiller Institute staff member who manages the process and from a few of the BC student delegates that attended COP27. We will offer light refreshments.
Attending the info session is not mandatory to apply. A campus-wide Call for Applications will be sent to all non-graduating students and faculty in late April.
BC@UNCOP Series Presents: The New UN Plastics Treaty
October 16
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
In Person
Schiller Convening Space, 501
Co-sponsored by the Boston College Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society and the Global Observatory on Planetary Health.
Contact:
schiller.institute@bc.edu
COP26: Glasgow, Scotland
Oct 31, 2021 to Nov 12, 2021
Boston College students and faculty attended the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland—BC's first accredited delegation—and continue to work at reducing environmental and climatological harm caused by human activities. Under the leadership of the Schiller Institute, every non-graduating student and faculty member regardless of rank was provided the opportunity to apply to represent BC at COP27. The invitation was sent to 17,000 people. We received over 350 high quality applicants from faculty and students. Slightly more than 50 were invited to the second round. Twenty were selected for the delegation with seven alternates.The selected group of students and faculty represents BC with a diversity of disciplines, experiences, and cultural perspectives.
Faculty Insights
Erik Owens, Director of BC's International Studies Program, reflects on the BC delegation's experience attending COP26.
BC News
Lessons learned at COP26
Boston College attendees at the U.N. Climate Change Conference reflect on takeaways and the road from here.Read More on BC News
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