Swarthmore Students Reflect on Experiences at U.N. Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan
Week one delegation (from left): Mahika Shergill ’26, Owen Sears ’25, Eder Ruiz Sánchez ’25.
Week two delegation (from left): Emily Kerimian ’25, Sophia Schmitz ’25, Ellie Zack ’25.
A group of Swarthmore students, staff, and faculty attended the United Nations Foundation Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, witnessing and contributing to international unity against the existential threat of climate change.
Six students — Emily Kerimian ’25, Eder Ruiz Sánchez ’25, Sophia Schmitz ’25, Owen Sears ’25, Mahika Shergill ’26, and Ellie Zack ’25 — documented their experiences and takeaways from the November conference.
As observer delegates, the students attended key negotiations and forged connections with the global climate community over the course of two weeks. They also engaged with the critical focus of this year’s conference: climate finance. Attendees approached the summit hoping to seal and ensure efforts toward climate justice, focusing on the ability of the most vulnerable nations to adapt to and recover from the devastating impacts of climate change.
The College first received NGO-observer status in 2013, and has sent a delegation to each summit thereafter. Sources of support have also included Global Studies, Environmental Studies, and the Office of Sustainability.
Melanie Patapis, climate action manager (Sustainability), and James Padilioni, visiting assistant professor of religion and environmental studies, co-led an independent study this past fall to help the students prepare for the conference content and travel. They also accompanied them to the conference.
Below, the students reflect on their experiences:
"A Transformative Experience”
Emily Kerimian ’25, an Honors environmental studies major from Garden City, N.Y.
“This opportunity to observe climate negotiations up close, after having interned with an NGO at the U.N. headquarters, surpassed my wildest expectations of what my college experience would look like. Hearing from climate activists and their allies from around the world who are making a difference in their communities, which is what I have been doing here on campus, was a memory I will treasure. I will always remember the People’s Plenary, in addition to the wonderful and informative side events I attended in the Blue Zone, where negotiations occur.
Speakers from the Global South expounded on the injustice of having to beg for their lives, when they did not contribute as substantially to the climate crisis as the nations in the Global North, and are facing disproportionate amounts of harm. As an environmental justice activist with Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT), these messages hit home for me. After I graduate, I hope to go to law school, where I want to study international and comparative law. I hope this focus will lead me to driving change with the legitimacy that the knowledge of the law bestows. I feel even more driven, having had this transformative experience at COP.”
“Inspiring”
Eder Ruiz Sánchez ’25, a Spanish and sociology & anthropology major from San Rafael, Calif.
“After hearing Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations speak at the opening of COP29, I felt hopeful that his call for ambition and action would translate to the negotiation rooms, particularly for those focused on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Scientists, lawyers, and activists I spoke with agreed that the NCQG must reach trillions to equip developing countries with the climate finance to combat climate change effectively. Yet, witnessing the slow, unequal nature of negotiations — stalled by geopolitics — was difficult, given the immense losses of lives, cultures, and lands already endured by people from the Global South.
However, I found a beacon of hope engaging with Indigenous peoples and Global South communities. Many are frustrated with COP and the UNFCCC, but engage with the conference to organize, build capacity, and spotlight their realities on the global stage. Ultimately, COP29 fell short, only tripling the original NCQG set in 2009. This year’s conference underscored that COP’s contradictions hinder its goals, but also highlighted the persistent fight for climate justice by those most affected, a struggle predating COP itself. Overall, it was inspiring to be in an international setting witnessing texts being drafted and, above all, global solidarities in action.”
“An Incredible Learning Experience”
Sophia Schmitz ’25, an economics major from Urbana, Ill.
“The COP conference was an incredible learning experience. It was my first time attending such a large-scale event, and I was struck by the dynamic negotiations happening between parties. It was fascinating to witness firsthand how complex climate change treaties and agendas are negotiated and implemented, especially the nitty-gritty details that often carry immense weight in terms of enforceability and commitment.
I also hope the lasting impact of this conference will be the key steps made in the operationalizing of the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 rulebook. This includes agreeing on guidelines for carbon trades between countries as well as carbon crediting between a country and other entities.
But perhaps what I’ll remember most from the conference was the unprecedented full plenary session, called by the COP president the day before the conference was scheduled to end. Hearing the passionate speeches from the lead negotiators of Colombia and Panama was incredibly moving. The dedication and resolve in their voices highlighted the urgency and importance of the work being done. It was a powerful reminder of why this work is so critical for the future of our planet.”
“Equally Inspired and Disheartened”
Owen Sears ’25, a political science major from Mt. Airy, Pa.
“My trip to COP29 in Baku left me feeling equally inspired and disheartened. On the one hand, I found it tremendously impactful to observe over 50,000 people from around the world united around climate action. I learned what it means to be a climate professional, and what roles are open to those who seek to work full time in the climate sector. I also heard from several amazing youth and Indigenous climate leaders and activists who opened my eyes to the potential for community-level climate engagement. I saw firsthand that I am not alone in my commitment to climate justice.
Unfortunately, I also became disillusioned with the UNFCCC framework as an effective means to resolve the climate crisis. In my eyes, the fundamental basis for climate action must be the cessation of fossil fuel exploitation: The oil and gas have to stay in the ground. I observed much more discussion of abstract aspects of climate finance and governance than I did constructive visions of a decarbonized economy. My conclusion from the conference is that we as global citizens cannot rely upon state governments, whether national or international, to save us from the impending climate nightmare. Transformative climate action must begin at home, at school, and at work.”
“Recharged and Hopeful”
Mahika Shergill ’26, an Honors economics and environmental studies major from Mumbai, India.
“It was incredible to meet and engage with people I deeply admire, from influential authors and podcasters to policymakers and heads of government shaping crucial global decisions. As an economics and environmental studies major, I closely followed the carbon pricing and climate finance negotiations, immersing myself in panels, side events, and discussions that highlighted the complexity and urgency of global climate action. COP29 was a whirlwind of activity, with something for everyone — an environment buzzing with energy and purpose.
What struck me most was the sense of empowerment I felt, being in a space where everyone shared the same deep commitment to tackling the climate crisis. Regardless of the outcome of COP itself, my week there left me recharged and hopeful. It reminded me that while governments may struggle to align on climate goals, the people within those nations — individuals of diverse races, ethnicities, and genders — are meeting on this global stage, working collaboratively toward solutions.
I left COP29 more determined than ever to pursue a future in environmental policy, driving meaningful change.”
“Frustration and Hope”
Ellie Zack ’25, an environmental studies major from Sewickley, Pa.
“The COP venue was full of mixed emotions, with feelings of frustration and chaos but also energy and hope for the future. There were many times when the COP process felt like a gridlock with a lack of possible solutions. At the same time, being in the same room as so many people who have the same passions as me was energizing. The People’s Plenary, where observers take over one of the plenary rooms, was a highlight for me.
I enjoyed being able to attend high-level negotiations on the Global Goal on Adaptation and the New Collective Quantified Goal as well as side events on a variety of topics, ranging from the biodiversity-climate nexus and climate resilience to geothermal energy and glaciers. Being at COP29 was a reminder that solutions to the climate crisis do exist, but also that we all need to be on the same page in order to implement them.”
