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 …
Category Archives: Other
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 …
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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Art and Design at COP29
By Megan O’Brien, ’25, Environmental Studies Major and Studio Art Minor The colors of COP29 have swept the city of Baku, Azerbaijan. We exited the airport at 2:00 am and one of the first things I noticed were the words on the side of the buses declaring “In Solidarity for a Green World.” From signs …
Perusing Pavilions: The Pin-Hunt Mission and More
By Abby Le ’25, Mathematical Economics On my first day as a badge-holder, I planned to explore the venue, learn the layout, and prepare for the busy days ahead. The Blue Zone, the event’s epicenter, was split into formal meeting rooms and vibrant pavilions showcasing climate initiatives. I’d heard from CC alumni about the energy …
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The Green Zone of COP29: A Glorified, Greenwashed Trade Show
By Havalin Haskell, ’26, Environmental Studies Let’s just say it most definitely is “dedicated to advancing the COP29 Presidency’s vision and priorities for climate action.” On Thursday, Megan and I ventured to the Green Zone, which is open to civil society/the general public, because we weren’t badged for the Blue Zone. What is the Green …
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Indigenous Climate Leadership Day in the Shadows of the World Leaders Action Summit
Ashley Entwistle, ’26, History-Political Science Paul Irngaut (Vice-President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc) delivering his keynote speech on Tuesday, November 12. The two-day World Leaders Action Summit commenced on the first Tuesday of COP29, where the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan invited heads of state and governments to engage in bilateral meetings, high-level roundtable discussions, and special …
COP29 Day 1: First Impressions and More
By Megan O’Brien, ’25, Environmental Studies If I had to simplify my first day at COP down to one word it would be: whirlwind. I truly was running around all day trying to take in as much as I could. Going forward, I will be approaching this COP with a quality-over-quantity mindset. For my first …
First Impressions in Baku: Ethnic Cleansing, Oil Wealth, and Climate Reckoning at COP29
By Ella Reese-Clauson, ’26, International Political Economy |
We entered the Baku airport at two in the morning local time after a nearly twenty-four hour travel day, amazed by the sloping, modern wooden arches of the terminal. Signs for COP29 in a now-familiar teal color lined the hallway. Our shuttle driver pointed out notable buildings as he maneuvered the still-crowded streets of Azerbaijan’s capital. The Baku Olympic Stadium, the venue hosting COP29, illuminated the skyline as we entered the city, its lighted exterior shining the blue, red, and green of the Azerbaijan flag. The famed flame towers—a trio of sleek, flame-shaped buildings that are three of the city’s many expensive skyscrapers built with new oil money—played a light show on repeat of the country’s waving flag.
Without Incentives: the Significance of Article 6.8: “Non-Market Approaches”
–Lucy Kramer, ‘26 I met Ghazali Ohorella in the back of the room at a late-night Article 6.8 negotiation. I was observing with Tomohiro Harada, who has been following Indigenous People’s participation at the UNFCCC process for years. He pointed to a man sitting at the other side of the deserted back row: “That’s who …
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