COP29 delegates to speak at Schiller symposium
Three months after their return from COP29—the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also referred to as the Conference of the Parties—members of the Boston College delegation will share their experiences and takeaways from the influential summit, at the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society’s COP Symposium on February 21 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at 245 Beacon Street in Room 501, the Schiller Institute Convening Space.
“A driving principle behind our COP programming is to ensure that the University’s investment in COP benefits not only the outstanding students and faculty who are selected to be on the delegation, but the greater Boston College community as well,” said Schiller Institute Seidner Family Executive Director Laura J. Steinberg.
The Schiller Institute organizes the BC initiative, which has sent four delegations as an Observer Organization to COP, the center of global climate change policymaking. COP29 was held November 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. BC’s COP29 contingent included four faculty members, six graduate and seven undergraduate students, and staff lead Kaley McCarty, Schiller Institute assistant director of programs.
“The COP Symposium provides an engaging space for delegates—who have described their experiences as ‘transformative’—to share what they’ve learned in a personal, interactive way,” Steinberg said.
Esquire Henry
The symposium begins with an 11 a.m. panel which will provide an overview of COP29 and the involvement of the BC delegation. Following a noon lunch break and networking opportunity, symposium attendees will hear from accomplished climate activist, youth advocate, and community leader Esquire Henry, CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda, a member of the United Nations Youth Advisory Group for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Future Leaders’ Network.
Henry has earned several awards for his humanitarian efforts, advocacy, and environmental contributions, including the 2023 Department of Youth Affairs National Youth Awards for Community Service and Young Activism and the 2022 Halo Hero Humanitarian Award.
A Q&A session will follow his presentation.
At 1:30 p.m., an open-house format will showcase exhibits, through which delegates will present their findings and COP29 experiences.
“We hope that attendees will leave the symposium with a greater understanding of how to become a change-maker and with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the climate conversations that are playing out on the international stage,” said Steinberg. The event also provides an opportunity to learn about involvement in COP30.
The Schiller Institute is committed to producing programming that extends the University’s investment in sending a delegation to COP and allows students, faculty, and others to benefit from COP programming, with events leading up to, during, and after the conference.
University community members are invited to attend all or part of the event, and are asked to register here. Refreshments will be available.
For more information about BC's delegation to COP29, read a roundup of participant perspectives and a Q&A with delegate Gustavo Cardona e Almeida, a Woods College of Advancing Studies graduate student.