I could not help the imposter syndrome that overwhelmed me as the dates of COP 25 drew closer. I was feeling jejune regarding issues of climate policy or any public policy issue having never taken a public policy course ever in my life until this summer. My application to this practicum was very ambitious and the entire semester felt like I was overcompensating for all the knowledge and understanding I lacked regarding the issues we discussed. For the most part, the focus of my academic career has been in forging technical skills that would enable me to make an impact in my community andn in similar communities. I was so engrossed in prioritizing technology transfer to communities like my own through being an expert in energy technology development such that the relevance of good policy for the causes I cared about did not cross my mind. However, I witnessed the need for effective energy policies recently while working for a startup company seeking to expand clean electricity access to rural communities of Lesotho, one of the LDCs according to the UNFCCC.
My time working in the energy access sector in Southern Africa helped me resolve to learn as much as I could about the world of public policy when I returned to Duke. Over the past semester, as we prepared for COP 25, my focus and attention was largely on the underdogs, LDCs that often cannot be held accountable for historic emissions, yet are most adversely affected by climate change. Regardless of who should be held responsible for climate change, I also do believe in the Paris Agreements’, (PA) call for every country to contribute through NDCs. So far, I have seen enthusiasm and ambition from a number of the LDC Parties however, this ambition is most often met by insufficient financing as well as meagre internal capacity to implement, measure and report. Consequently, I will spend a considerable time during COP 25 focusing on issues around Article 9 of the PA as well as all things energy related.
My excitement for the week ahead is unparalleled. I am motivated by other young people who will be there with me who are determined to take our future in to our own hands and lobby for those in power to protect it for us and for future generations. I am excited to see how developed country Parties will demonstrate increased ambition and the commitments that they will be willing to make as well as the respective contributions that they will submit to the table. I am excited to be part of the COP where Article 6 of the PA may be ironed out. I am excited and looking forward to having a renewed sense of direction and ambition after COP25. My hope is that imposter syndrome will hold me back from immersing myself fully in this experience. I am excited to learn as much as I can from my fellow classmates as well as from all those attending COP 25.
