(Some) outcomes of COP29

As COP 29 (like all COPs) was very large, with many negotiations and other events going on in parallel, it was difficult for us as observers to understand what was agreed. A structured overview of the outcomes is only possible with the help of additional research, such as Carbon Brief’s website, where both summaries and details can be found. A brief overview based on our experience is provided here.

First, although the newspapers may give the impression that COPs in general are mostly failures, with rich nations failing to live up to their commitments, there have been breakthroughs. In a highly complex system like the UN, where nearly 200 countries with different challenges, values and priorities are trying to agree on basic guidelines for the future, seemingly small decisions are major achievements. Faced with the daunting challenges of climate change, the COP is attempting to tackle individual components of the problem and break them down into tasks and specific actions.

Moreover, since we don’t have a world government, the UNFCCC can “only” outline priorities and urgent issues that national governments must pursue. Nevertheless, there are many mechanisms in place to support compliance and make non-compliance unattractive, and the framework set at COPs is a powerful tool for streamlining a global pathway for action. The focus of this year’s COP was on finance, and a new quantified target on finance was advanced. The so-called ‘developed countries’ agreed to channel at least $300 billion per year to the so-called developing countries by 2035. In addition, $1.3 trillion will be raised each year by 2035 from a variety of sources, including the private sector. Many of the key results were achieved in last-minute negotiations.

Another important issue at this year’s COP was the discussion on how to follow up on the results of the global stocktake that will be completed in 2023. Unfortunately, no concrete plan was agreed on how to move forward on this issue.

On the other hand, progress was made on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which deals with market-based solutions such as carbon pricing and trading. Rules were formulated for country-to-country trading and the international carbon market, as well as standardized crediting criteria.

Our COP experience 

Negotiations

After attending the COP, the negotiations were the topic we got asked about the most. Given the peculiar, legal language of the UNFCCC, the fact that individual negotiations addressed only tiny aspects of the Paris Agreement and the UN Convention, and that many breakthroughs were made in closed-door negotiations at night, it is not surprising that our understanding of the substance of the negotiations remained limited.

Nevertheless, we were deeply impressed to see the whole world literally gathered around one big table. Countries at war with each other were able to participate and contribute to the dialogue. Every country had an equal right to speak, although structural constraints such as the number of negotiators that countries could afford to send to the COP left room for unequal conditions. Considering the huge amount of specific knowledge, tasks and sleepless nights that have to be shared within the delegations, being able to send 5 people instead of 100 is a big disadvantage.

Observing the negotiations has taught us that premature judgments about seemingly non-compliant countries are mostly the result of a lack of knowledge about the individual situations, political systems, and challenges in those countries. While some countries find it relatively easy to promise climate actions that are popular among climate activists (such as net-zero pledges) and then sell these ideas to their own national governments and populations, others face national resistance, instability, and political unpredictability. While some have adopted a strategy of promising little but having a high probability of delivering, others are making more ambitious pledges that may have a lower chance of being delivered. Both strategies were visible during the negotiations and gained more recognition from our sides because of the insider perspective we gained. After all, the countries that don’t want to do anything about climate change don’t waste time and resources going to the COP. So (almost) everyone who was in Baku was there because they see the importance of climate change and want to do something about it.

Panel Discussions

But the biggest part of our COP experience was the side events, often panel discussions. Typically, scientists, activists, politicians, or experts would gather and discuss a particular topic under the leadership of a chair. Topics ranged from the struggles of indigenous peoples, to plastic pathways in China, to a new online tool for calculating the remaining fossil fuel budget for countries and regions of the world.

Some panel discussions were simply people presenting their views, while others were more controversial. The panels were an opportunity to connect the abstract negotiations and policies of the UNFCCC to the work on the ground. For example, during the panel with the new director of the Loss and Damage Fund, community leaders were able to share their views on the accessibility and future design of the fund. Questions from the audience were usually answered at the end, where, for example, a hydropower expert from Germany involved in a project in South America was able to hear the critical voices of local and indigenous people that he would not normally hear in his daily life. Because of encounters like these, we often found the panel discussions and side events to be the most fruitful for us and for the overall goal of connecting different stakeholders and sharing knowledge.

Pavilions

Each country, group of countries (e.g. African Union) and other interest groups (OPEC) had a pavilion. Often the pavilions reflected some cultural features of the country and were nicely decorated. Besides the popular free coffee, interesting events took place there. In addition, smaller countries had the opportunity to present themselves and offer traditional food and other information about their country. We visited the German pavilion, the EU pavilion, the UNFCCC pavilion, the Nordic pavilion and the UK pavilion. In addition to ministerial speeches, there were panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and workshops. Countries could also give their space to groups that didn’t have their own pavilion, such as the German pavilion, which hosted a dialogue among young indigenous women from Latin America (See image above).

In the Nordic pavilion, parliamentarians from Sweden and Norway had a very inspiring dialogue on how to support a transition to sustainable consumption. A topic that seems to be moving rather slowly in Germany and much faster in Nordic countries like Sweden or Norway, so it was very interesting to get an insight into their methods and narratives. In the UNFCCC pavilion, small island states like Niue and the Maldives, as well as larger economies with a high dependence on the ocean, like Colombia, were able to share their knowledge on how to live with their natural resources and learn from each other. Overall, the pavilions were a good place to come together and network, whether over coffee, a pub quiz or a panel discussion.

Press Conferences

Another part of our COP experience were the press conferences. Every day there were many different press conferences held by many different groups. Countries or groups of countries, mainly for their national press, and other big players like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or WWF were groups we expected to have press conferences. But there were also some unexpected press conferences. For example, the NGO Solar Cookers International was surprisingly prevalent in the press conference schedule. We attended several press conferences: one held by the COP Presidency, Azerbaijan, one held by the European Union, and one held by Germany.

Since press conferences are something familiar from television and other events, it was very interesting to experience them in person. The rooms were filled with reporters and there was a lot of live TV coverage. After the first statements were read by the politicians, it was the journalists’ turn to ask questions. It was very interesting to hear how detailed the statements were and how the politicians answered the questions.

On the one hand, these press conferences were an opportunity for us to keep up with the progress of the negotiations that the leaders were conducting behind closed doors. On the other hand, they were also a great opportunity for us to get to know public figures like Annalena Baerbock in real life (see below). But it was not only the press conferences that were widely covered. Young journalists worked all over the venue, and although they were not allowed into some of the events, such as the negotiations, they often stood in the halls giving interviews or doing live coverage. Overall, the press conferences were a very interesting part of the COP experience because we were able to see what everyone else was watching at home.

People’s plenary

Almost by accident, we stumbled upon the People’s Plenary. Unlike almost all the other events, this one was for people who weren’t represented by country delegations. It was a space for all the voices that weren’t heard in the negotiations. Throughout COP29, you could see many indigenous people walking around, as well as many other groups protesting for stronger climate policies. They all came together in the Peoples’ Plenary, calling for climate justice and more action from policymakers. Unlike all the other events, the contributions to the People’s Plenary were very emotional, which was reflected by the audience. By the end, everyone was singing and dancing and the atmosphere was great.

National statements 

Finally, the National Declarations were also an important part of COP29. Beginning in the first week, these statements are an opportunity for participating countries to share their views, priorities, and commitment to fighting climate change. One by one, representatives took the stage to read their statements. Several countries announced their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), often pledging more ambitious climate targets or increased contributions to climate finance. In turn, more vulnerable countries from the group of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) emphasized the existential threat they face from the climate crisis and their demand for climate justice.

It was particularly interesting to see statements from countries at war read out in close proximity. The statements were also an opportunity to highlight innovative solutions or partnerships that individual countries are pursuing. But these statements were not just declarations of intent, they set the tone for the negotiations and influenced the overall direction of COP29. This was clearly seen in the financial language of many of the statements, in light of this year’s COP being dubbed the “Finance COP”.

Our statement and experience

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at COP29 in Baku. It was deeply inspiring to see so many people, politicians, delegates, activists, vulnerable people, and observers alike, come together to fight for a more sustainable future, despite all the differences on the outside. Our time there gave us a newfound respect for people who work tirelessly to negotiate agreements that everyone can live with. The achievement of a successful agreement at the end of the conference can be easily overlooked when following the conference in the news. We take this inspiration and momentum back to Bayreuth to work for a better future.

The post GCE at COP 29: Experiences, Outcomes, and Key Takeaways appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Therefore, in this final post, we would like to conclude the topic of Planetary Health (PH) with a positive outlook and highlight areas of promising potential for positive change that make Planetary Health a vision for the future.

Promoting Planetary Health Education

Human action (and inaction) is the greatest driving force behind global change, threatening the stability of the planet and ourselves. Therefore, in order to facilitate the return of the planet’s systems to “safe zones”, action is required at the root of the problem: human behavior. Education as an important tool for shaping and modifying behavior, plays a crucial role in this context.

Today, many universities around the world offer specific Planetary Health-focused degree programs, modules, and more. According to the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) (n.d.), “more than 20 university-level centers [are] fully focused on planetary health” worldwide. In 2021, the PHA unveiled a Planetary Health Education Framework (Fig. 1) to provide educators and learners at all levels of higher education with a cohesive foundation that’s applicable across disciplines, sectors, geographies, and different educational approaches. To realize its full potential, however, Planetary Health Education must extend beyond higher education and adult education to reach younger audiences. Educating young people about planetary health is a promising but underexplored opportunity. Research shows that early environmental education influences future behaviors and attitudes, suggesting that introducing planetary health concepts early can help cultivate environmentally conscious adults.

Fig. 1: The planetary health education framework. Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00110-8/fulltext#fig1

Resilient Urban Environments

Urban areas are essential to a sustainable future, bringing both challenges and solutions. Rapid urbanization, combined with the increasing impacts of climate change, requires more resilient and adaptive urban environments. The future of urban resilience depends on multiple aspects, including infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems, all of which must work together to create sustainable, livable spaces for future generations.

Smart cities of the future will integrate renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly materials to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal systems can decentralize energy production and create resilient urban energy networks. Innovative materials, such as cross-laminated timber, reduce the environmental footprint of construction while improving building performance. Passive cooling systems that rely on natural ventilation, shaded facades, and reflective materials are another example of how urban design can reduce energy demand, especially in warmer climates. These innovations not only support climate goals but also create healthier living conditions for residents.

Incorporating natural elements such as green roofs, vertical gardens, and other urban green spaces into urban planning offers numerous benefits for people and the planet. Green roofs, for example, insulate buildings, reduce heating and cooling needs while absorbing stormwater and improve air quality. Urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, help mitigate the effects of urban heat islands by cooling surrounding areas. They also serve as recreational spaces that promote physical and mental well-being, as green spaces reduce stress and increase overall happiness. These spaces can also become important habitats for biodiversity, providing refuge for birds, insects, and other species in the urban environment.

Fig. 2: Growing a Green City. Source: https://www.yournec.org/growing-a-green-city-how-to-build-resilient-and-sustainable-urban-centers/ 

Strengthening Ecosystems

Protecting, enhancing, and where necessary, restoring the world’s ecosystems is essential to maintaining environmental balance and ensuring a sustainable future. In addition to their intrinsic value and importance, ecosystems play a vital role in humans, animals, and the planet and its stability.

Healthy ecosystems provide vital services to people – ecosystem services (ES), the benefits nature provides to people. The four types of support, provisioning, regulating, and cultural contribute uniquely to sustaining life and well-being, enhancing ecological resilience, and promoting economic stability.

Ecosystems are complex and dynamic, requiring equally nuanced conservation and management. Effective strategies vary by ecological and socio-economic context and may include cross-sector collaboration, adaptive management, and accounting for environmental costs. Strengthening existing ecosystems ensures their resilience to environmental stressors and their continued provision of ES to people. Targeted restoration efforts can revitalize degraded ecosystems. In addition, sustainable land and seascape management can include expanding protected areas, integrating biodiversity-friendly planning, and promoting inclusive governance. By prioritizing these actions globally, supported by innovative financing and partnerships, we can protect our planet’s natural resources and support the health of both the environment and communities.

The European Commission highlights several successful nature restoration projects across the Union. In Ireland, for example, peatland restoration efforts have shown useful ways to revive these vital carbon-storing ecosystems and habitats. The restoration of the Skjern River in Denmark has improved water quality, wildlife, tourism, and the local economy.

Advancing a Circular Economy

A circular economy represents a transformative shift from the traditional linear model of “take, make, dispose” to a system designed for regeneration, resilience, and sustainability. This approach revolves around three core principles: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Central to a circular economy is the concept of zero waste. This includes using materials that are biodegradable or recyclable, and ensuring that product lifecycles consider environmental impact from the start. For example, apparel brands can use natural fibers instead of synthetics to reduce microplastic pollution, while electronics manufacturers can design devices that are easier to disassemble and repair. Maximizing the lifespan of products and materials is another aspect of the circular economy. Initiatives such as repair cafes, secondhand marketplaces, and sharing platforms empower consumers to extend the usefulness of goods, reducing the need for new resource extraction. Industry can adopt strategies such as remanufacturing and refurbishing to breathe new life into used products.

Because a circular economy also seeks to restore and regenerate natural systems, practices such as composting organic waste and sustainable agriculture enrich soil health, contributing to carbon sequestration and increased biodiversity. In urban areas, circular initiatives can include turning food waste into biogas or using gray water for irrigation. These systems not only minimize environmental impact but actively contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems.

By transitioning to a circular economy, we can decouple economic growth from resource consumption, reduce environmental degradation, and build a system that supports both planetary health and human well-being.

Fig. 3: Circular economy. Source: https://research.csiro.au/circulareconomy/about/ 

A Vision for the Future and Call to Action

By reimagining our cities, embracing the circular economy, and fostering cooperation across borders, we can lay the foundation for a more sustainable future. Prioritizing equity and social justice is essential for a sustainable future, as marginalized communities, who are often most affected by crises, must be empowered and included in solutions. Achieving PH requires shared responsibility, global cooperation, innovation, and the integration of environmental and public health policies. Together, we can restore ecosystems, create sustainable food systems, and build resilience to future challenges.

Planetary Health is not just a vision but an urgent call to action. By taking meaningful steps today, we can lay the groundwork for a healthier planet and a better quality of life for generations to come.

This blog entry was written within the Planetary Health Campus Ambassador Programme 2024 of the Planetary Health Alliance. Views expressed may not represent the positions of the Planetary Health Alliance or its membership.

Disclaimer: This blog entry is the final one of four on planetary health.

The post Planetary Health: A Vision for The Future appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Flexitarian, paleo, keto, vegan – with so many diverse diets out there and new ones seemingly being developed each year, finding your perfect fit can feel overwhelming. One recent addition to this list of diets is the Planetary Health Diet (PHD). This addition attempts to tackle two of the biggest challenges we face today regarding nutrition: 1) rising rates of diet-related health problems and 2) the environmental impact of food production. In this entry of our blog series on Planetary Health, we’ll explore why what you eat matters for you and the environment, the origin of the Planetary Health Diet, its benefits for both you and the planet, and why it might be worth trying!

You are what you eat: Why does your diet matter?

“You are what you eat” – a saying many might be familiar with, and it turns out there is truth to it. 

Your diet is an important cornerstone of your health, what you put on your plate is considered to be an important modifiable determinant of health. Good nutrition sustains your body, keeping you energized and functioning all day. On the flip side, inappropriate nutrition can have negative health consequences. A poor diet increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even some types of cancer, not to mention malnutrition.

As a result, different national and international agencies, like the World Health Organization or the European Food Safety Authority, publish nutritional guidelines for an optimal and healthy diet and update them following new scientific developments. Yet, at the end of the day, how you want to get all of these necessary and important macronutrients, micronutrients, and trace elements is ultimately up to you, resulting in the diversity of dietary regimes we see today. However, how and what we eat affects not only ourselves but also the environment and thus other people as well. 

The environmental impact of producing the food we consume is critical. Agricultural food production emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases (25-33% of global emissions), contributing to climate change. Food production has an enormous impact on the Earth’s water resources, with large amounts of freshwater used and the eutrophication of marine and freshwater systems from fertilizer runoff. Speaking of fertilizers, food production also disrupts nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. It also threatens biodiversity, uses about 40% of the Earth’s land surface, and degrades air quality (Fig. 1). In addition, these negative environmental impacts also affect human health.

But here’s the good news: because our diets have such a large impact on the environment and human health, changing the way we eat has the potential to create significant positive change. By adopting more planet-friendly and eco-conscious eating habits, we can take better care of ourselves and the Earth.

What is the Planetary Health Diet?

One planet-conscious eating style is the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a reference diet designed to be healthy for people and the environment.

The PHD was first described by the EAT-Lancet Commission in 2019. The Commission focused not only on a healthy diet but also on food systems and how to sustainably produce food and feed the growing world population in a healthy, environmentally conscious way, without exploiting and damaging the Earth system. This is reflected in the two main scientific goals that EAT is pursuing with the Planetary Health Diet and its analysis of food systems: 1) healthy diets for all by 2050, and 2) sustainable food production that stays within certain limits to prevent irrevocable changes to the Earth system.

The Planetary Health Diet is a flexitarian diet that focuses on plant-based products while allowing for moderate consumption of animal products (Figure 2).

Why should you give the Planetary Health Diet a Try?

Although the Planetary Health Diet is a relatively new concept, it has already been the focus of some scientific research – with promising results! Researchers have found that following the PHD is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a reduced chance of developing type 2 diabetes, and possibly even a lower risk of stroke. In addition, some benefits were found in terms of general cardiovascular health and obesity indicators.

In terms of the environmental impact of the PHD, the researchers also found encouraging results: a global adoption of this diet would reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from a global perspective, although it would increase emissions in mainly low- and middle-income countries.

However, no diet is perfect, and a 2023 study found some shortcomings of the PHD in terms of micronutrient intake when following the diet’s guidelines. However, as with all diets, when following the Planetary Health Diet, it’s up to the individual to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need, taking into account the amount and bioavailability of different foods. It’s also important to remember that a healthy diet is only part of the picture, with elements such as physical activity and a less sedentary lifestyle also playing a key role.

But when it comes to planetary health, there is no argument against the Planetary Health Diet and its environmental benefits. So if you’re looking for a way to eat healthier and make a positive impact on the environment at the same time, why not give the Planetary Health Diet a try? There are many resources online to help you get started, such as the EAT Commission: https://eatforum.org/planetary-health-recipes/.

Tell us your impressions on diets and come back to check in on the fourth and final part of our blog series on Planetary Health!

This blog entry was written within the Planetary Health Campus Ambassador Programme 2024 of the Planetary Health Alliance. Views expressed may not represent the positions of the Planetary Health Alliance or its membership.

The post A Tough Nut to Crack: Saving the Planet One Meal at a Time appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

But what exactly is planetary health and why should it matter to you? 

In this first installment of our four-part series¹ on planetary health, we explore the fundamentals of this vital concept and make planetary health more tangible to you.

Let’s start from the beginning… 

Despite only rising to popularity rather recently, the concept of planetary health has a 50-year history to look upon, as the term was coined in the environmental and holistic health movements of the 70s and 80s. However, until recently the idea was rarely present in the context of mainstream media. The Rockefeller-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health’s report in 2015 marked a turning point since it brought the topic into the spotlight of conventional scientific debate. Following this report, the Planetary Health Alliance was founded in 2016. Globally it is the leading organization in educating on Planetary Health and supporting the growth of this interdisciplinary, solution-focused, and innovative field. 

Why is Planetary Health needed in the fight against the climate crisis?

“Planetary Health is a solutions-oriented, transdisciplinary field and social movement focused on analyzing and addressing the impacts of human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems on human health and all life on Earth.” – Planetary Health Alliance

We are now in an epoch that many scientists call the Anthropocene – a geochronological epoch shaped by humans as the central driving force within the planetary system. The concept of planetary boundaries introduced by Johan Rockström and other scientists in 2009 reflects these impacts. These boundaries are basically “nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system” and due to human activities six of the nine boundaries have been crossed (Fig. 1). Moreover, eight of the nine boundaries, except for ozone, are moving into a concerning direction, i.e. further away from what’s considered a safe space. Leaving the safe space increases the risk of big and potentially permanent changes to our environment. 

This is where Planetary Health comes in. As the environmental changes do not represent an isolated and singular issue, they also adversely affect human health. Changes like an increase in natural disasters, pollution, biodiversity shifts, or disruptions of food systems can negatively impact mental health and increase the risk of both non-communicable diseases (air pollution & lung cancer risk) and infectious diseases (vector-borne diseases). Additionally, these global changes can lead to civil strife and displacement​. Thus, embracing the perspective of Planetary Health and striving to mitigate human impacts on Earth’s systems is essential for addressing the climate crisis.

Besides preventing or mitigating the adverse effects of global change on health, there are many co-benefits of climate action for human health. For example, living a more climate-friendly life by reducing meat consumption, rather than walking and biking places instead of going by car, we also experience somewhat unintentional “side”-effects. Eating a healthier diet, living a more active life, and reducing air pollution leads to a lower risk of morbidity and mortality. Figure 2 shows these relationships in more detail. 

To end this brief introduction to Planetary Health we want to leave you with some of the most relevant and optimism-inspiring steps taken in the last years regarding Planetary Health. At the most recent COP 28, for the first time in the history of global climate negotiations, health was officially part of the agenda. Moreover, the São Paulo Declaration on Planetary Health, a call to action outlining the crucial steps for achieving the Great Transition, has been signed by over 300 organizations from more than 48 countries. 

Additionally, more and more people are getting involved with planetary health, spreading awareness, and encouraging others to get engaged. This trend is underscored by the increasing number of organizations dedicated to planetary health and a rising tide of membership, reflecting broader engagement and awareness efforts.

Come back to check in on the second part of our blog series, talking about climate anxiety and how it affects our physical and mental health.

This blog entry was written within the Planetary Health Campus Ambassador Programme 2024 of the Planetary Health Alliance. Views expressed may not represent the positions of the Planetary Health Alliance or its membership.

1. Disclaimer: This blog entry is the first one of four on the topic of planetary health. ︎
2. ︎

The post The Clock is Ticking: Why the fight against the climate crisis needs Planetary Health. appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Writing about the one COP seems impossible since there is not just one. I would say there are at least four COPs happening.

1. The real-COP: Beyond the surface of speeches and political posturing, this event is the “Conference of the Parties” for UN climate treaties. The negotiations that are happening whether something like “fossil fuel phase out” should be in the text or not, whether certain technologies count as clean and so on. This paragraph-pushing patience exercise is at the core of the conference. While it may sound tedious discussing one verb for an hour, the result could differentiate between legally binding or not and we have to value the democratic process, as slow and as minimal consensus as it may be.
2. The Dubai-COP: The fact that the climate conference is happening in a non-democratic, oil-rich nation, with over 2500 fossil fuel lobbyists whose presence was noticed, but under the radar of many. The Dubai-COP also included honorary guests such as “greenwashing”, “bigger COP = better COP?” and free public transport. 
3. The event-COP: Almost 100.000 people attended COP28. This is by far the largest UN gathering that ever happened and while a proportion definitely were focussed on the main part, “the real COP”, lots of efforts were poured into side events, plenaries, workshops and likewise. Basically like an industry conference where relevant players from NGOs, businesses and politics came together to form new collaboration networks and share their insights into the many-faceted problems of climate change. This is also the place where countless politicians pledge this or condemn that, which gets a lot of the media attention in the end.
4. The “my-COP”: This is the so-to-say personal event, with all the people you interacted with, the events you visited, how good your coffee was and which negotiation track you followed (it really changes your mood when after many hours one country blocks all the changes made in the last day and postpones the decision to next year).

Everybody has their own experience with all the different COPs and what follows will be some individual perspectives and :

Yanna: The moment I learned that GCE sends students to the COP every year I knew this was something I wanted to do, and I was not disappointed – it was an extraordinary experience. We were warned beforehand that it would be a bit overwhelming, and that was 100% true (I don’t think I’ve ever been as tired as I was after the first full conference day!). But I also found it incredibly inspiring. There is a huge amount of work being done worldwide to combat climate change, by a huge number of passionate, talented people. The media headlines usually make for gloomy reading, and negotiations are certainly an exercise in patience, but the fact that more than 150 nations, with all their differences in culture, national priorities, wealth, etc., can come to any agreements at all is arguably a cause for celebration. And, greenwashing or not, the fact that Dubai took on the hosting role shows that this issue is finally getting the spotlight on the world stage, even though there are plenty who would rather ignore it.

Honestly, there were many favourite moments – but a memorable one was attending a talk given by Al Gore where he unveiled Climate TRACE’s work on an independent, global analysis of emissions worldwide using satellite data. 

Challengings was answering the question ‘and what do you do?’. Of course students and academics in general are an integral part of the COP’s Observers, but I often felt intimidated when talking to people who are actively working on something truly impactful. Another challenge was finding delegates from countries that don’t have their own pavilions… some nations are better represented (and have louder voices) than others.

Attending the COP was an unbelievable privilege. It was also great fun to explore a new country, see the sun in the middle of European winter and, most of all, share the experience with some of the lifelong friends I’ve made through GCE!  

Once again, a huge thank you to the GCE Coordination who did everything possible to make this happen for us and also helped us along the way!

Anna: Let me add more details and share some of my experiences at COP28.

The COP venue has the so-called Green Zone which is the zone managed by the COP28 Presidency (in this case the United Arab Emirates), and the Blue Zone which is the UNFCCC-managed site. All the international protests and formal negotiations were held in the Blue Zone, and the accreditation badge is needed to enter this space. I have spent the majority of my time at COP28 in the Blue Zone besides some receptions in the Green Zone. However, many worthy events were located in the Green Zone, and it is more easily accessible for those who have not had a chance to receive “the magical badge”.

The pavilions of the countries were also situated in the Blue Zone and many of the side events held in such pavilions captured my attention. I can really recommend side events for powerful networking opportunities and expanding your contacts. When it comes to following the formal negotiations, I decided to focus on the process related to global stocktake. This was the first ever global stocktake taking place at a COP, and I thought that this was a unique event I was interested in most. 

It can be very much advised to pick a topic one would like to follow and research the materials on it in advance so that the respective talks at COP are understandable. But, how do you prepare yourself if a COP is such a huge event and you cannot even choose which sphere you are most interested in? That is a rhetorical question.

When it comes to my experience with following the process of global stocktake, there was one main draft document that I was reading in between the events and on public transport. I remember that there were some High-Level Events that were not open to the public, but I managed to follow the online translations on the COP28 virtual platform. That was a big win because I know that some participants did not even know about the existence of this platform, or they could not log into the system with their credentials.

Then, I remember how I was standing in a long line to one of the rooms hosting the global stocktake discussion and reading that one document, and then the online translation stopped because the representatives of the countries gathered in a big crowd in the middle of the room negotiating without their microphones. Many observers were not let into that room. After that, there was shocking news spreading around: the countries had decided to cancel the whole document and start it over from scratch! Wow, such a turn…

If you want to learn more about the documents and the negotiations, you are very welcome to join the regular meetings of your respective constituency of the UNFCCC. For GCE it is RINGO (Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organisations). It is very beneficial when you can cooperate with the other RINGO members to form chats on particular documents to share draft documents, analyze the outcomes of negotiations, and help each other to become smarter. For instance, the RINGO group on global stocktake was very helpful. But, you may also participate in the events of the other constituencies if you wish, e.g. YOUNGO. 

Gabriela: I participated in the second week and could observe the fatigue among attendees as the event drew to a close. Members were to focus on maximising progress in the conference’s final days with intensive work schedules and prolonged closed-door negotiations in the pursuit of a substantial outcome.

My favourite moment was the acknowledgment of agriculture and food systems as pivotal components in climate action represented a significant paradigm shift, because, historically, discussions have been predominantly centred around carbon dioxide emissions. This time, the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action marked a notable shift towards the acknowledgment of Methane emissions. This declaration emphasises the importance to integrate agriculture and food systems into broader climate mitigation strategies, highlighting food security, and environmental sustainability. As someone with a deep interest in this subject, witnessing this collective commitment was inspiring. Furthermore, the pavilions I visited had varied topics and the ones about the intersection of food and health catched my attention, where I engaged in stimulating discussions and forged valuable connections.

I recognized the need for greater preparedness among GCE students attending such big events. Understanding how to follow the negotiation dynamics, about networking strategies and side events would enrich the participation of students as observers and the possible impact their attendance could bring. Despite the challenges and frustrations encountered during negotiations, the COP highlights the importance of collaboration among the parties and diplomacy. 

Yuyang: Attending COP was an extremely amazing experience! It was so amazing to meet people from the whole world at such a small place (even though the venue is actually quite huge) and to see the diverse cultures. I was really amazed by how all the different countries use the same language. Here I do not just mean English, but the vocabulary people use to talk about climate change, carbon neutrality, renewable energy ect. Besides, this experience helped me to find out the topic for my master thesis. Therefore, I am very grateful that as a GCE student we can get such precious opportunities.

There are several things I found interesting. First was the conversation with a
‘special guest’ of the president of the COP28 from Saudi Arabia, who had been a negotiator for his country for almost three decades but was already retired. He spoke very frankly about how he does not believe in climate change and his negative feelings towards the west. Another one was during a side event, while talking about why the measures are taken so slowly,  a panellist quoted ‘no decisions can be made in an AC room’. It was funny and very relatable because everyone was freezing in the heavily air conditioned conference  rooms.

The challenge for me in the beginning was to schedule my day so that I wouldn’t waste any time. With so many events going on everyday, it was a bit overwhelming and I had to make the schedule the night before. I gradually learned not to be greedy, it was the quality rather than the quantity that matters. Another challenge was trying to make my experience more meaningful, not only for me, but also for other people. To be honest, I still have not figured it out.

… 

Back in the lecture halls of Bayreuth it is easy to forget that for thousands of people it is their daily job to negotiate daily within those international frameworks where we got a glimpse into. More importantly, for millions of people, climate change has profound daily impacts and we should not forget to take home the inspirations and momentum gathered from conferences and translate it into actions, motivation to keep going and hope. In a slightly updated John Lennon phrase: “Climate Change is what happens to us, while we are busy making other plans”.

Authors:

Flemming Ostermann, Yanna Raykov, Anna Mishakina, Gabriela Paz, Yuyang Li

Further reading

The post Behind the Scenes at COP28 in Dubai: Perspectives from GCE Students appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

An engaging program

The program offered a diverse range of workshops, podium discussions, skill-building sessions, and lectures on various topics. The event provided opportunities for networking through snack tables, workshops, and open discussion formats. In the evening, there were fun meeting programs such as speed dating, board games, and a science slam where scientists presented their research in a quick and humorous way.

With hundreds of possible options to choose from, I sometimes felt overwhelmed, but I was able to attend some activities that were valuable to me. One workshop that I particularly enjoyed was about constructive journalism, which provided practical information on climate communication to the public – a skill that may be just as critical as climate research itself.

Different views

During an event, I had the opportunity to personally meet the ambassador of the United Arab Empire. We discussed the upcoming COP28 (2023) in Dubai and exchanged views about the representation of the global south, the expectations of the host nation, and the interplay of diplomacy, geopolitics, and climate action. Despite the nation’s reputation as an oil-rich country, I found it interesting to have a face-to-face conversation about these issues. It was fascinating to observe how diplomats and politicians can talk about something without saying much. When I asked about behaviour changes and disruptive transformations, the ambassador’s response was deeply rooted in the current system logic along the lines of “technology will save us”. Although this was partly frustrating, I felt that everyone ended up learning something from each other.

It was truly inspiring to witness young people from diverse backgrounds actively participating in discussions, workshops, and panels with an incredible level of knowledge about sustainability. Even high school students, as young as 17 years old, were able to comprehend and effectively communicate the urgency of environmental problems to older politicians, which gave me hope for the future. Overall, the LCOY was a weekend well spent with great company, valuable insights, and engaging discussions. It was a reminder that each one of us can be an agent of change!

The post Empowering the Young – Visiting the LCOY Climate Conference 2023 appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Prior to last year’s COP in Glasgow, expectations were quite high as the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with strengthened emission reduction targets were to be presented there. Although this year’s event was supposed to be the implementation COP, the expectations and the associated excitement were not felt as strongly. Even during the run-up, there were many critical voices questioning whether the conference would succeed in achieving an outcome that would actually lead to action.

So, what did happen in Sharm-el-Sheikh?

The Egyptian Presidency put the highly important issue of “loss and damage”, i.e., the financing of compensation for developing countries for the climate damage caused mainly by industrialised countries, on the agenda. The good and extremely important outcome that followed, the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund, was a victory for which vulnerable countries and their populations have fought for years. Work must now begin on the structure of the fund, its administration, governance, and the mobilisation of much-needed resources. However, in the negotiations, it was mainly the representatives of the wealthy countries who slowed down and blocked unprecedented measures in the areas of support for people displaced by climate-related extreme events, strong and transparent governance of carbon markets, and the phase-out of all fossil fuels. There are some good sources that describe in more detail the decisions and outcomes that (did not) take place. Some recommendations** can be found below. At the same time, however, this emphasis on the Loss and Damage also distracted from the immediate need to phase out the use of fossil fuels. The strong presence of representatives from the fossil fuel lobby, who also became heavily involved in the negotiations, was quite sobering.  

For us, the whole conference was quite overwhelming: It was the biggest COP in terms of people attending. As expected, this COP was used by Egypt as kind of a green-, youth- and human rights- washing event. If you approached the event with the naive belief that the host would attempt to provide a best practice of a sustainable conference, you were quickly brought back down to earth – considering, for example, the severely chilled premises contrasting with an outside temperature of 30 °C, the catering sponsored by CocaCola, organizers not using the event to brief the broader civil society concerning the climate crisis, and the mode of travel of most participants by plane, including some by private jet. In addition to the negotiations, which we were mostly unable to follow – either because they were too crowded and there was no more room for observers or because the discussions focused on details that were too specific to jump in without a particular background – there was an incredible number of extremely exciting, very inspiring, and sometimes highly emotional side events at the various country, project, and organisation pavilions. We tried to make the most out of the opportunity being COP observers through participating in numerous panel discussions, workshops, and expert talks in order to gain new scientific and social insights, make contacts for potential Master’s theses or internships, extend our network, and get to know further institutions and projects.

So, is it all that bad?

Although many aspects of our time in Egypt and at the COP were very frustrating (starting with the search for accommodation, as accommodation was repeatedly cancelled or special COP participant fees were charged, cancelled flights, the restrictions during protesting on the COP venue and the situation of human rights in Egypt reported by Egyptian human rights activists or general civil society), there were also hopeful encounters. Even though the negotiators still seem to have missed the urgency of the climate crisis, outside the formal negotiations there were clear and consistent messages about the urgency of climate action from scientists, NGOs, and climate activists. They rallied at the event to gather in small, peaceful protests. For the first time, there was a children and youth pavilion at a COP, which hosted the most frequented events and provided a learning and exchange platform for a huge number of well-educated, highly interested, and motivated young people taking the climate crisis serious giving hope that things will change in the future.

So, in order not to become too cynical, we would like to mention what good things also happened: The global energy crisis was widely acknowledged, parties were asked to seriously update their NDCs, a reduction in methane emissions was called for, the importance of forests was acknowledged (yipiieh), great value was placed on the global goal of adaptation, work on a just transition was taken forward, references to the new right to a healthy environment took place, and the revised text at least contains a nice little sentence about the oceans (whoopwhoop). However, if truth be told, things by and large did not really evolve beyond what we saw in Glasgow 2021. In fact, a lot of the final text was just copy and paste of the Glasgow decisions or the Paris Agreement 2015 with a few changes here and there. Figuratively speaking: Things that were already agreed were re-packaged and re-gifted.

Fortunately, during the first week, it was possible to arrange a meeting with Hon. Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck, Co-Founder of Climate Focus and external lecturer at the University of Bayreuth, who provided us with answers to many burning questions about the COP and gave us a better overview of this huge event and all that is happening there. She confirmed our impression that “it [NDCs, the global finance goal] is all so far up [intangible], that in some way it becomes meaningless”. Sofía Gutiérrez, climate activist from Colombia, also explained our feelings well by saying: “We are good in creating new words”.

So, what have we taken away from all of this?

Action is needed! The activism driven daily, especially by international youth, motivates and creates hope. We are extremely grateful that our study programme has given us the opportunity for this experience, which is denied to many others, esp. those from groups and territories disproportionately affected by climate change (MAPA). But almost more important for us than simply being present at the COP is to “take home” the activism and put pressure on those who are stopping the process towards a climate-friendly, promising future for all.This might be in the form of protests or founding initiatives, but also further scientific involvement or hands-on work in one of the many great and inspiring projects or organisations that are already out there, or working daily for the transition to a more just and sustainable world.

Don’t hesitate to contact us in case of any further insights regarding our experiences at the COP27.

*Attendees

Week 1: Johannes Hendrik Lindes de Waal, Alina J. Domdey, Helen Giesecke, Susanne Grünewald, Sunil K.C., Alba Ortiz Naumann, Emelie Schuster, Christopher Shatto, Samip Narayan Shrestha, Tabitha Stimpfle, Veronica Vasilica, Vincent Wilkens

Week 2: Mehriban Aliyeva, Tolulope Israel Aluko, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mira Rodrian, Katja Scharrer, Clarissa Schmelzle, Justine Quast, Priscila Tamayo, Zachary Zeller, Sandra Zimmermann, Charlotte Müller

**Further reading

• “COP27 key outcomes: progress on compensation for developing countries, but more needed on climate justice and equity” (The Conversation)
• “COP27 RESCUED IN OVERTIME WITH AN AGREEMENT TO SET UP A FUND TO ADDRESS CLIMATE LOSS AND DAMAGE” (Climate Action Network Europe)
• ECO Newsletter for an update on each day of the COP27 (Climate Action Network International)

The post From Bayreuth to Sharm-el-Sheikh: GCEs at COP27 appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

We look forward to receiving your applications!

Application deadline: 15 June, 2022!
Learn more clicking here.

Starting date: October 2022
Location: Bayreuth, Germany

The post CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for the M.Sc. Global Change Ecology appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Although economic and social impacts are more apparent, the effects the pandemic has had on the environment and biodiversity are substantial. The Global Risks Report 2022 shows that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, risks such as human environmental damage, biodiversity loss, extreme weather, and climate action failure, have worsened by 7.8%, 8.4%, 22.7%, and 25.4%, respectively. Furthermore, climate change failure and extreme weather will soon become a critical threat to the world, followed by biodiversity loss, natural resources crises, and human environmental damage. These five represent 50% of the top ten most severe risks on a global scale.

Nonetheless, the risks are not isolated in themselves, generating repercussions to other risks and vice-versa. For instance, biodiversity losses impact not only their environment and habitats, but also have effects on livelihood crises, infectious diseases spread, and pollution harms to health, to mention a few. International cooperation is essential on directing efforts and resources to mitigate the current reality and potentially change future scenarios before those risks become irreversible or self-reinforcing.

For further insights, you can read the Global Risks Report 2022 clicking here, and watch below the Press Conference of The Global Risks Report 2022, where the speakers discuss key findings from the report:

The post The Global Risks Report 2022: A call for awakening appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Why are expectations so high?  

Since Paris, Glasgow is the first conference at which countries must present their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which should include more ambitious emission reductions. So far, only 122 countries have submitted new NDCs. And even with those fresh commitments, the emission gap to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 stays worryingly large. This means that current commitments are not enough to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as agreed upon in Paris six years ago. To date, 46 countries have not submitted any NDCs at all.  

Many deem COP26 as the very last chance to finally get on track for the big goal of reaching net-zero by 2050. An utterly important milestone to reach this goal is the achievement of a 50% emission reduction until 2030. As the year draws to a close, 2030 is only 9 years away! This is not much time for the vast and systemic changes that must happen.  

Time is running out – this is the main reason COP26 must deliver.  

The Presidency of this year’s COP has identified four main goals which have to be achieved:  

1. This goal sets the scene: As already explained, securing net-zero by 2050 is existential to keeping global warming to 1.5°C and thus of utmost importance. 

2. Mobilising finance: The second most important and probably hottest discussed topic at this year’s conference will be finance. In Copenhagen 2009, wealthy countries committed to providing $100 bn annually from 2020 to 2025 in order to help developing countries finance mitigation and adaptation measures. Countries have fallen short of achieving this goal in 2020. Analyses show that global climate finance flows even need to increase substantially in the coming years.  

3. Adaptation and loss and damage are high on the agenda at this year’s conference. As mitigating climate change will not prevent extreme weather events and long-lasting changes in the earth system from happening, countries and communities need to adapt to the new normal, which will likely be an at least 1.5°C warmer world. Additionally, delegates want to find ways to better support communities, which are so severely affected that adaptation is not enough anymore. This falls under the umbrella of loss and damage, where finally meaningful improvements need to be seen. 

4. All stakeholders, including governments, businesses and the civil society must collaborate and work on solutions together in order to let action follow the promises and tackle the challenge lying ahead. Cooperation is key and indispensable. 

Thanks to our study programme’s support, a group of Global Change Ecology students was selected to participate in this year’s COP. We want to thank our coordination, especially Stephanie Thomas, and our head of course, Carl Beierkuhnlein, for providing this incredible opportunity.  

We will try to share as much of our experiences as possible with you, by posting on our Twitter and Instagram accounts and by publishing more extensive insights here on the GCE blog.  

Feel free to reach out to us in case of any enquiries or questions.  

Week 1 attendees: Kelly Heroux, Christoffer Johansson, Theresa Landwehr, Theresia Romann, Katja Scharrer, Selina Scheer, Sandra Schira, Steffen Schwardmann, Marco Thalhofer, Yun-Yun Tsai, Hannah Weishäupl, Carolin Wicke 

Week 2 attendees: Pia Bradler, Alexis Case, Hannah Pepe, Diana Miriam Pineda Fernández, Veronika Schlosser, Éverton Souza da Silva, Eva Späte, Gabriela Vielma, Ana Letitia Vital, Elena Wiese, Manuela Zindler 

The post Global Change Ecology at COP26 appeared first on Global Change Ecology.