Washington University is one of only a small number of academic institutions that provides a unique experiential opportunity, giving its students front row seats to view the largest climate change conference in the world.
With support from InCEES, each year a delegation of Washington University students attends the global negotiations on climate – also known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP). Students observe negotiation sessions and take part in small group discussions with think tank leaders and government officials from around the globe.
Since 2011, 73 Washington University students have been official delegates at COP in Durban, South Africa; Doha, Qatar; Warsaw, Poland; Lima, Peru; Paris, France; Marrakesh, Morocco; Bonn, Germany; Katowice, Poland and most recently Madrid, Spain. Participation in the climate negotiations occurs through application-based acceptance into Environmental Studies Seminar 452: International Climate Negotiations.
To learn more about how to enroll in the International Climate Negotiations seminar, click here.
Being at COP taught me how to work independently, quickly and thoroughly. It allowed me to develop a niche interest and specialty in an ever-growing industry and policy arena.
Rachel Westrate
B.A. ’16 in Environmental Policy, English Literature
COP19 – Warsaw, Poland – 2013
Current Role: Harvard Law School Student
