It’s Time to Stand and Deliver
By Professor Derek Walker COP27 has reached its final day and the VLGS student delegation is getting a birds-eye view of the wide chasm between developed and developing country parties that may prevent the talks from ending on time or … Continue reading
Biden Says the U.S. is Back—Others Not as Sure
By Professor Derek Walker The Curtain came down on COP27’s first week after a whirlwind visit from President Biden and growing signs that many major issues will be punted to the COP28 meeting next year in Dubai. The President seized … Continue reading
We are on the Highway to Climate Hell—Time to Hit the Brakes
By Professor Derek Walker Wednesday is the fourth full day of fast-paced activity here at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. This beautiful seaside city is a perfect backdrop for discussions about how to protect the world’s vulnerable communities and fragile ecosystems … Continue reading
Gender Justice, LGBTQ+ Justice, and Climate Justice: How Climate Change Impacts Marginalized Communities
By Student Delegate Hope McLellan-Brandt Climate change disproportionately affects populations that “are most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and/or who have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards, such as droughts, landslides, floods and hurricanes.”[1] This blog … Continue reading
Climate Change and Intergenerational Equity
By Student Delegate Katie Bernhardt As early as 1979, countries met at the First World Climate Conference to discuss potential effects of conservation on future generations. Since then, meetings like the Conference of the Parties (COP) have focused on how … Continue reading
More, Better, Faster: Climate Finance at COP27 and Beyond
By Student Delegate Logan Keen The uncertainties surrounding climate finance—who pays for the impacts of climate change, how much they ought to pay, and what that money ought to be used for—remain among the most important questions on the table … Continue reading
Key Priorities and Perspectives of Developing Countries as Parties Work to Establish a NCQG for the Climate Finance
By Student Delegate Jiayu Deng What is NCQG? At COP21 in Paris, Parties decided to set a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) before 2025. Taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries, this new NCQC has a floor … Continue reading
Loss and Damage: The Critical Next Step in Global Climate Action
By Student Delegate Rebecca Kimmel The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) brings together the countries of the world to discuss and implement goals for global climate action. Gathering over 200 country representatives in the same room, though, consistently … Continue reading
Is Climate Justice Possible in the COP Process?
By Student Delegate Megna Murali Deep-rooted, systemic discrimination, in addition to climate change displacement, has rendered several countries vulnerable to disproportionate burdens. [1] Countries that have historically contributed significantly to global emission levels do not generally experience the destructive impacts that … Continue reading
The Global Goal on Adaptation: A Paris Agreement Feature That Tells a Broader Story
By Student Delegate Emily Davis I. What is the Global Goal on Adaptation? The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) is a novel feature and aspiration included in the Paris Agreement. Article 2 of the Agreement identifies “increasing the ability to … Continue reading
