Attending COP25 as part of 91社区福利's ignited an interest in climate and clean energy research as well as working on international projects for Marie McNamara, a 2021 Master of Environmental Management graduate who concentrated in Environmental Economics and Policy.
McNamara, now an associate for 鈥攚hich looks to accelerate the country's transition to a clean energy economy, took the practicum and traveled to Madrid for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during the fall 2019 semester. She also served as a teaching assistant for the fall 2020 course. McNamara shares her experience in the course, how it allowed her to put the lessons she was learning in the classroom into practice and more:
Why did you decide to participate in the U.N. Climate Change Negotiations Practicum course?
McNamara: "Climate change knows no borders, and I have long been interested in how nations come together and act on this complex issue. Before participating in the practicum course, I had long appreciated the Paris Agreement as a momentous feat. I wanted to participate in the practicum because I was interested in studying and contextualizing the history that shaped nationally determined contributions. In taking this course, I aspired to develop a sense of how a consensus is established under the UNFCCC framework and study the varying capacities, priorities and emissions profiles of countries. And finally, I chose to participate in the practicum because of its interdisciplinary nature. The course is designed to lay a foundation for core topics covered during the negotiations, such as climate finance, mitigation, adaptation, risk and more."
What did you learn from that experience and how has it shaped you personally or professionally?
McNamara: "While attending the UNFCCC conference (COP 25), I was humbled, saddened and encouraged all at once. It is humbling to share a conference center with 33,000 people who had dedicated some capacity of their life to climate action. I was disheartened to learn about frontline communities displaced and their lives uprooted from climate change. In hearing those experiences, it became clear to me then that convenings and organizations like the UNFCCC need to work harder to elevate voices from indigenous and disadvantaged communities to improve decision-making capacity and address the needs of all people and communities affected by climate change. Overall, participants at the conference had a firm resolve to continue to work towards a cleaner and more equitable future, which was exciting to witness. After attending COP 25, it was clear that while countries, non-state actors and NGOs alike may have differing agendas, there was a call for all actors to increase ambition and a resolution to bridge differences.
Attending COP25 solidified my desire to get involved in climate and clean energy research. Attending this truly global conference reinvigorated my interest in working on international projects and reaffirmed the need, in my mind, for collaboration, research, and capacity support for countries developing their economies. To date, there has not been one developed economy that has not relied upon fossil fuels. Charting a clean energy future will take collaboration, coordination, and strategic policy. The opportunity for countries to leapfrog dependence on fossil fuels is a particular area of interest for me and an opportunity that motivates me."
How did the hands-on travel course complement what you learned in the classroom at the Nicholas School?
McNamara: "The classes at the Nicholas School provided a strong foundation for the concepts and themes addressed at the conference. The core curriculum provides a basis for the science behind global warming, the economics of shifting away from fossil fuels and the politics of reaching any consensus regarding climate change. Attending the negotiations and side event sessions sponsored by non-state actors brought these issues and concepts that before I had just read or discussed in class to life. In the classroom, I found it difficult to fully grasp the differences between public, private and NGO involvement in climate-related issues. For me participating in the UNFCCC practicum course put in perspective the varying roles youth activists, politicians, industry professionals, climate researchers, and senior diplomats all have in the pushing for greater climate action and a secure future for all."
Why should Master of Environmental Management students consider participating in the course?
McNamara: "During the COP, countries, states, municipalities, and NGOs share how they are using tools like GIS and data science to increase the transparency of carbon emission data. Sessions cover a range of topics from how industry players are working to shape carbon markets, ecologists are tracking species response to changing environments, and how cities and states worldwide are implementing innovative policy schemes to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment, transportation sector and energy grid. The UNFCCC conference is an excellent opportunity to get a sense of how organizations alike use innovative solutions to scale climate action. This conference presents an opportunity to network and engage with students from other universities and/or senior professionals who have attended every COP. Students can truly tailor their experience to their interests, whether that is corporate social responsibility or ecology."
