Students, faculty members participate at UN climate talks
Students, faculty members participate at UN climate talks University of Miami: News@theU
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University of Miami Students and Faculty Attend COP28 to Address Climate Change
Introduction
Vanessa Forbes-Pateman, a doctoral student at the University of Miami, is witnessing the devastating impact of anthropogenic climate change on her homeland. As a concerned citizen and a researcher, she is attending the United Nations climate summit, known as COP28, to make a difference in saving the planet.
University of Miami Delegation
More than a dozen University of Miami students, along with key faculty members and an urban resilience champion, have traveled to Dubai for the two-week conference. COP28 is where United Nations member states convene to review progress and reach agreements on international climate change policies and actions.
Research on Nature-Based Solutions
Forbes-Pateman is participating in a multi-institutional study that explores the potential benefits and risks of using nature-based solutions (NBS) to mitigate the effects of sea level rise. Her research focuses on the policy approaches to NBS implementation in South Florida, which have been passed in the last three to four years.
Impacts on Atlantic Fisheries
Katie Geddes, another doctoral student at the University of Miami, will work with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations during COP28. She plans to attend negotiations relevant to the impacts of climate change on the ocean and focus on sustainable fisheries and food security.
Protecting Endangered Species
Gabriella Berman, a law and environmental science and policy Ph.D. student, aims to become an influential voice in international marine policy to protect endangered species. She plans to collaborate with Geddes to develop a policy brief about foods harvested from the water.
Urban Stormwater Resiliency
Alyssa Huffman, a law student, will discuss urban stormwater resiliency and green infrastructure implementation in Miami. She is interested in ocean and climate governance on an international scale and hopes to gain firsthand experience of the policymaking process at COP28.
Other Key Attendees
Michael Berkowitz, the executive director of the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, will attend his first COP summit. Antonio Nanni, a professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, will participate in discussions related to the sustainability of concrete as a building material.
Controversial COP
With the United Arab Emirates hosting COP28 and an oil executive serving as the conference’s president, this year’s summit is expected to be controversial. Despite the potential challenges, the University of Miami delegation is excited about the learning opportunities and the chance to present their research projects and clinical work.
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
