I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Duke University for providing the platform and the funding to participate in COP 27.  COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh is my first COP, and I will highlight some of the few takeaways from the event.

There is a general realization that there must be an urgent need for climate action. While there is a possibility that the audience in COP is all climate enthusiasts leading to a self-selection bias, the atmosphere at COP shows that there is great enthusiasm among all stakeholders including countries, Multilateral organizations, private sector actors, indigenous communities, and young people. The conversation is being steered towards implementations and actions rather than just highlighting the problem. While I could not compare this COP to the previous COP because I am a first timer, the feedback from COP veterans is that there is increased private-sector participation. Given that financing is one of the biggest challenges to achieving climate goals, there seem to be a lot more actions and commitments from the private sector and owners of funds. Emphasis is placed on solutions rather than problems. Indonesia just got a $ 20 billion deal to decarbonize its energy sector and there is also a possibility that other coal-dependent countries might get some version of that to fast-track the decarbonization process.

COP has also provided me the opportunity to network with people that I believe are critical to my career trajectory. I am currently working with a climate investment advisory firm for my master’s project, and I have been able to source critical stakeholders and resources for my research. For those in their second year looking to attend COP, I will advise that you try and figure out your thesis early enough before going to COP.

COP 27 is a big event with different agendas and as an attendee, you must have a clear definition of what you are looking to achieve. Negotiations are the critical piece of this class and to ensure that you get the best value from those negotiations as an observer, you should get the source documents for those negotiations before attending. The amount of jargon being used in the negotiation rooms could be discouraging, it is therefore important that you have at least a basic idea of what you the session is all about before attending. Whatsoever topic you intend to track in COP please get some of the notes and agreements from the previous COP.

Lastly as a student either seeking an internship or a full-time role in the climate space, there is an opportunity to network. COP is a social leveller that brings you into proximity to top CEOs, heads of organizations, and heads of businesses. Attend some of the side events, ask good questions, and provide feedback on some of the issues that were raised on the panel. Remember to always reference Duke University in your conversation, it provides more access than you can ever think of.

If you are reading this, you are either considering applying for the UNFCCC class or you are on your way to COP, one thing I could say is that COP is a life-changing event, and I am grateful Duke provided me the opportunity to attend.