The University of Connecticut has opened applications for students to attend the 29th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29. The conference is set to take place from Nov. 16 through Nov. 23, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The global annual conference brings together diplomats, business executives, university leaders and environmental activists to discuss climate justice and progress in dealing with climate change. Each year, a handful of UConn students are chosen as UConn@COP fellows and given the opportunity to attend the conference free of charge. University donations cover all trip expenses including airfare, lodging, group excursions and conference fees.
Last year’s conference, COP28, took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, but the university administration canceled that trip due to concerns over students’ safety during the Israel-Hamas war. That means that some of this year’s conference attendees will be students who were accepted last year, and others will be selected during this application cycle.
UConn is assigned a specific number of badges that determines how many students can attend each trip, and there are around nine open spots left for this year, according to UConn@COP co-lead Patrick McKee.
“Typically, UConn can only take up to 14 students each year due to the limited number of conference badges made available by the UN,” McKee said. “UConn is issued a handful of badges directly, then we hustle to trade for badges to meet our needs. Since our trip to Dubai last year was canceled due to the uncertainty and risk related to the conflict in Israel, the students who are still enrolled at UConn this fall will be grandfathered in as COP29 fellows. This leaves approximately nine openings for new applicants this year.”
McKee also mentioned that the university is monitoring the situation and is prepared to respond appropriately if and when needed.
“At this point, we are well on our way to planning UConn’s return to the COP in November in Baku, Azerbaijan; however, safety of our students and employees is of paramount importance,” McKee said. “We will be monitoring the situation in the Middle East over the upcoming months and will be ready to respond appropriately if needed to ensure the safety our group.”
The UConn@COP Fellowship Program selects students based on various factors including GPA, leadership experience and extracurricular involvement, as well as a focus on enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice, according to the program’s website.
The application itself consists of a 700-word essay question and two academic references. Fellows are also expected to share their experiences after attending the conference through campus appearances and publications.
Both undergraduate and graduate students can apply from any major or discipline, as long as they will be enrolled at UConn in the fall and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year.
“We seek to bring in as many unique academic perspectives as possible. Any student at UConn who will be enrolled in the fall and spring 2024-2025 academic calendar year is eligible to apply. Green careers span many majors and disciplines and students of all backgrounds might find an interest in the topics discussed at COP,” McKee added.
McKee has attended three COP conferences so far and found the most impactful part to be the sharing of unique perspectives.
“What I have found to be most impactful is the cohort model of the program enabling students to share unique perspectives gained throughout the week at the conference,” McKee said. “The relationships made over that period often carry on long after the program ends. Seeing the growth in terms of both their understanding of heavy topics related to climate justice, decarbonization and global policy and their place in the climate action movement is inspiring. There is no more diverse place on earth during the weeks of the COP and it’s incredibly powerful having the opportunity to hear firsthand testimonials from individuals on the front lines of climate change all over the world.”
The application, along with additional program details, can be found on the program’s website. Applications are due by Sunday, May 5, 2024, and applicants will be notified by Aug. 1.
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