VPD Student Attends UN Climate Conference

This past December, VPD Group Graduate student Benjamin Shindel attended the 2023 United Nations Climate Conference (COP 28) held in Dubai, UAE, on behalf of Northwestern and the American Chemistry Society. COP 28 (or the 28th "conference of the parties"), is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international agreement to combat climate change established by the UN.  Starting with the World Climate Action Summit, this two-week long conference brought together 154 Heads of States and Government. 

The COP28 UAE president Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jabar shared that one of the aims of the conference is to ". . .  prioritize efforts to accelerate emissions reductions through a pragmatic energy transition, reform land use, and transform food systems. . . work to mobilize solutions for vulnerable countries, operationalize loss and damage, and deliver the most inclusive Conference possible."

Below are just a sample of the activities Ben was able to partake in while at the conference: 

Attend official international negotiations as an "observer" through the ACS; took part in UN-sanctioned side events, especially those on the topic of carbon capture and sequestration and other negative emissions technologies as well as being able to attend a large number of unofficial side events hosted in different nations and multilateral organizations' pavilions on topics relating to carbon capture and artificial intelligence; track negotiations through note-taking and exchange with other observer members; attend daily briefings for research-oriented NGOs. 

Now that he has returned stateside, Ben will be planning and participating in events at Northwestern to debrief the NU community on the outcomes of this year's COP. 

We're thrilled Ben had the opportunity to attend the conference and look forward to further insights and inspiration he has gleaned!