(from news release)
Two St. Joseph students, Adam Novak and Brandon Zimmer, are part of a group of 17 students from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University that traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan in Asia in November to participate in the world’s largest climate-change conference.
Zimmer and Novak are both juniors studying environmental studies at SJU.
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is also known as COP29. The annual event, which attracts about 50,000 participants from around the world, represents the pinnacle of international climate discourse.
CSB/SJU is one of only three higher-education institutions in the Upper Midwest that is granted “observer status” at the conference. That means participating CSB/SJU students were allowed to observe formal negotiations and panel and roundtable discussions about the future of global climate change. The trip is part of CSB/SJU’s ongoing commitment to give students ways to expand their worldview.
“This is a life-changing opportunity for our students,” said Corrie Grosse, associate professor of environmental studies at CSB/SJU. “It provides a rare chance for them to witness firsthand how global decisions that impact our collective futures are made. Engaging with leaders on this world stage will inspire and activate their roles in shaping our tomorrow.”
After returning from the conference, Novak, Zimmer and their classmates are developing research projects, conducting interviews and compiling information related to their chosen topic of interest. They will present their findings to others, contributing to a broader understanding of global policy and its impacts on efforts to address the ongoing crisis that is climate change.
