Students to attend United Nations conference in Dubai

While some students find the final stretch of the semester the most difficult, the students in ENVR 305: United Nations Climate Change Conference are looking forward to the upcoming weeks as they travel to Dubai for the 28th United Nations Conference of Parties.

The class, taught by Corrie Gross, will leave Nov. 30 and return Dec. 12.

Troy Knight, a fellow environmental studies professor, will accompany the students on the trip. The class will be split into two groups, with 10 students attending the first week of the conference and the remaining 10 students attending the second week.

Incoming sophomore, junior and senior students of all majors apply for the class through a competitive process each spring. Accepted students begin the course in the fall with an introduction to climate change and learn about the factors that contribute to it, as well as the people and places it affects. They also learn about UN negotiations and what to expect with travel to another continent.

As the semester continues, students begin to develop individual research papers and projects on a topic of their choice, ranging from agriculture, women’s rights and well-being, indigenous spirituality and political polarization and its role in climate policy.

CSB+SJU students have attended the conference annually since 2015 when the schools were granted former observer status for the event. Students also have badges that grant access to the Blue Zone, which is a restricted area managed by the United Nations where official negotiations take place. The Green Zone is open to the public and provides a space for local groups, businesses, NGOs and others to present exhibitions and workshops.

Caroline Wehseler, a senior political science major, and Jennifer Agustin Ambrocio, a senior political science and Hispanic studies major, are two of the students in the class.

Wehseler joined the Youth Eco Solutions (YES!) program in middle school and has been interested in climate change ever since. Her current goal after graduation is to practice environmental law. In her research, Wehseler is looking at the necessity of clean energy as a fuel source for rural farm-holders in the global south. She is planning to talk to NGOs and other organizations, as well as sitting in on UN negotiations.

“I’m so excited to go. COP is something that I’ve dreamed of going to and seeing, so being able to be there and knowing that it’s such a big privilege to go as an undergraduate is really cool,” Wehseler said. “This is a really great experience for not only building your resume but for building your character.”

Ambrocio is also interested in environmental law and has experience as an intern with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which piqued her interest in climate justice. Ambrocio is researching the relationship between climate change and women, especially in the global south. Ambrocio has close ties to this issue, both as a member of IWL and through her family’s history of women working in agriculture.

“The environment affects literally everything. I want to become more knowledgeable and take the things I learn from my conference into my future,” Ambrocio said.

Both Wehseler and Ambrocio have previous experience studying abroad. Wehseler interned at a climate change charity in London this past spring, while Ambrocio visited Chiapas and Spain through the school.

After the conference, students will continue to develop their research beyond the end of the semester. The course requires that students present their research to their local community as well as to the CSB+SJU community. Just as they are responsible for setting up their schedule and meetings during the conference, they are also responsible for reaching out to city leaders, clubs, community centers and others to share their research and knowledge.

Wehseler noted that climate talk can be overwhelming and creates a sense of hopelessness and fear about the future.

“You have to take care of yourself. Climate doom is such a big thing and I [heard] it can be really emotionally exhausting to be there,” Wehseler said. “That was eye-opening because I’ve never thought about that. I’ve been so excited to go but I also didn’t realize the impact it might have on my mental health.”

Gross encourages students of all majors to apply for the class and noted that a scholarship is available to cover costs. Students will be able to support a cause related to climate change that they truly care about through a lens that relates to their major or interests.