Austin College will send a student delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2024. The students, known as Austin College Climate Ambassadors, will analyze climate negotiations and actions, share their experiences with the campus, and offer valuable leadership on climate change to our local and regional communities.
Background
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in 1992, providing the mechanism for annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences (formally known as Conference of the Parties, or COP). Among the most well-known conferences occurred in Kyoto in 1997 and Paris in 2015. At these conferences, diplomats from nations around the world gather to negotiate climate change policy.
Other entities, such as nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and intergovernmental organizations (IGO) can participate as official observers. Austin College was designated an official observer in November 2023, and we sent our first delegation to COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.
Austin College Climate Ambassadors
Austin College Climate Ambassadors will attend this year’s COP29 conference in Azerbaijan on November 11 – 24. Selected students will have a diverse set of backgrounds and academic experiences, composing a well-rounded team to represent Austin College on the world stage.
Austin College Climate Ambassadors will be expected to
- Commit to being an AC Climate Ambassador for the full 2024-25 academic year,
- Enroll in an upper-level seminar course in Fall 2024,
- Develop expertise on a specific topic relevant to COP29,
- Investigate conference proceedings on that topic, providing in-depth analysis from multiple perspectives,
- Attend UN COP29 in Azerbaijan for one week,
- Represent Austin College with humility, respect, integrity, and cultural awareness,
- Communicate climate issues and policy negotiations via multiple media platforms before, during, and after the conference, and
- Enhance campus and public awareness beyond the fall semester, perhaps through on-campus events, visits to city councils, and guest appearances at high schools throughout Texas.
Selection Process
The Austin College Climate Ambassador program is open to any major. Students will be selected through a rigorous application and interview process. The initial application can be found below. Students advancing to the next round will be interviewed by a panel of faculty and staff.
Key dates:
- March 28: Information Session, 12:00-1:00 p.m., WCC 255
- April 12: Application Due
- April 17: Interviews Begin
- May 1: Final Selection
To apply, fill out the official application.
Cost
Austin College will cover most travel, housing, and food costs. Students are expected to contribute $500 through a course fee. Additional out-of-pocket student expenses may include passports, vaccinations, clothing, and incidentals during travel.
Fall Seminar Course
GS 450 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
MW, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
This seminar course explores science and policy of climate change with an emphasis on the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference. Course topics may include current climate change; future climate projections; climate policies for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage; the UN climate framework; history of UN climate conferences; international negotiations; and key issues in 2024. Students will participate as official observers at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan. They will assess climate policy impacts, analyze negotiations, and report on decision-making at the conference. Students will share their first-hand observations and disseminate promising climate solutions with campus, local, and regional communities.
This course is open to any major. Instructor permission is required. Students will be selected by a competitive application and interview process. This course counts as an Applied Learning experience.
Course fee: $500.
Travel Considerations
COP29 will span a two-week period. The Austin College delegation will attend in two groups: Week 1 (November 10 – 17) and Week 2 (November 18 – 25). The exact travel dates are subject to change based on flight times and UN adjustments to the conference schedule.
A passport valid for at least six months past the travel date will be required. Since the UN will request passport information in July, any participant in need of a valid passport should apply for one by May 15 with expedited processing.
Participants must be fully vaccinated following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please refer to the CDC website for travel to Azerbaijan for up-to-date vaccination recommendations. These recommendations include an updated booster for COVID-19.
Please contact Dr. David Baker for more information about the AC Climate Ambassadors program.