News: Oct 22, 2021
For almost 30 years the UN has brought together almost every country on earth for global climate summits called "Conference of the Parties", or in short COPs. Meet Hanna Glad and Patricio Gallardo, two of the students from the University of Gothenburg who will be attending COP26 in Glasgow between 31 October to 12 November 2021. Why did they apply to attend COP26 and what are they looking forward to most during the summit?
My name is Hanna Glad and I´m in my final year of my bachelor’s degree in Global Studies at the University of Gothenburg.
I think COP26 is one of the last chances we get in order to reverse the climate changes we´ve created and it will be an incredible experience being able to attend this very important climate conference in person, where new guidelines and regulations will be made.
To watch people in power agree on stricter plans to fight global climate challenges. I hope to see responsibilities being taken. It will also be interesting to see seminars, network, get inspired and listen to discussions of progress.
My name is Patricio Gallardo, but people call me Pato. I am originally from Argentina, but now I am studying my masters in Environmental Science at the University of Gothenburg, with a focus in watershed sustainability.
I have applied to attend COP26 because I am very interested in the mechanisms currently in place to address climate change, but also to learn about the process's deficiencies in regards to governance and collective action. I want to apply this learning into my upcoming thesis, in which I will look at the potential of watershed boundaries in helping us reach the Sustainable Development Goals through effective monitoring and inclusive decision-making.
I am quite excited about networking and attending water related events like the Water Pavilion, organized by the SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute, but also interested in topics such as the just energy transition, carbon markets, technology transfers, loss and damage, and capacity building. I am looking forward to witnessing a strong support from developed countries to developing nations, as well as getting to know their updated (hopefully) Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.
The students from the University of Gothenburg attending COP26 will do a take over on the Student Sustainability Hub Instagram account during the summit.
The Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV) at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg is the contact point for the nomination to UNFCCC for the University of Gothenburg. Researchers and students from the University of Gothenburg, and if possible from Chalmers University of Technology, are invited to express their interest in being nominated for accreditation at COP each year. Nominations closed on 31st of August 2021.
