By Ella Reese-Clauson '26, International Political Economy | Follow along on the path of my hope at COP29, starting first with some of the more encouraging sessions I went to before digging into the fissures that made that faith vanish. I will bring the reader with me as I witness firsthand some of the conference’s many failures but also highlight a few successes that leave me feeling a sense of faith, no longer in the UNFCCC and its institutions but in the people that make COPs run.
Vietnamese Representatives at COP29
By Abby Le ‘25, Mathematical Economics “Cậu học gì ở Colorado College? “Tớ học Toán Kinh Tế.” “Thôi tớ không nói chuyện với mấy người đấy.” That threw me off a little bit. This playful exchange marked my introduction to Chiến, one of the Vietnamese youths I met at COP29 in Baku. The group included …
A Soundtrack for COP29
By Jamie Harvie, '25, Anthropology Major It was on Day 5 of COP29 that I began taking solitary walks around the city of Baku. I had been badged the Days 1-3, running around the stadium trying to attend as many events as possible, absorbing as much information as possible, and passing out from exhaustion before …
Press Conferences in ‘Karabakh Hall’: How Nations are Legitimizing Narratives of Armed Conflict at COP29
By Jamie Harvie, '25, Anthropology Each year, the UNFCCC’s Conference of Parties (COP) accrues an international assemblage of world leaders and students, activists and NGOs, government officials and economists, and everyone in between. During this two-week event, these individuals and delegations – all with varying levels of power, capital, and social capital – become actors …
On Language Barriers and Translation at COP29
By Isabella Childs Michael '25, Anthropology On Day 2 of COP29, I walked into the Special Event Room called Buta to attend a panel called “Climate change: an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of transboundary river basins” advertised as being in English. The first speaker introduced the panel, but as the next began, I realized …
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Discovering COP29 Art in Baku
By Jessica Legaard, ‘25, Environmental Studies From the minute we landed, Baku's distinct aesthetic was striking. Bright, oversized screens at Heydar Aliyev International Airport welcomed us with advertisements for COP29, paired with stunning images of natural landscapes—most of whose exact location is still a mystery to me. Despite the late hour, there was energy in …
CC’s “Badge Boogie” at COPs
Sarah Hautzinger, Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studies “How many badges did you get?” “Are you badged for next week?” “Does anyone know of an available badge for Thursday?” These are questions anyone encountering COP, or a UN Conference of the Parties gathering, will encounter. For the climate COPs* that I’ve been taking CC delegations …
Fossil of the Day: Russia
By Ashley Entwistle, '26, History-Political Science Every evening at COP, as the UNFCCC agenda came to a close, the Climate Action Network set up a podium in the corridor, where a dinosaur mascot took the microphone. Diplomats, activists, observers, and officials gathered as the Fossil of the Day was announced. The satirical skit has been …
Moving into a dorm room–I mean–exhibit at COP29
By Isabella Childs Michael '25, Anthropology Walking through the UNFCCC exhibits on Day 2 felt like stepping into a college residential building at the start of the school year, with all the rooms exposed. Rows of identical booths, many waiting to be personalized, laid before me. Each exhibit was furnished with two chairs, a table, …
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Messaging of the US Delegation in Wake of the Election
By Megan O'Brien ’25, Environmental Studies Major The morning we left for Baku the results of the 2024 election were released, naming Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. When Donald Trump was last elected, he pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate, which resulted in no delegation being sent …
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