Entering the United Nations annual climate summit to a police barricade and indigenous communities selling their products outside in the intense heat and humidity was not something I anticipated. However, that was slightly naive of me, because we are at an international summit with international leaders. However, the tension between who is heard and who is just being listened to was palpable throughout the conference. Before getting to the conference, we had seen the headlines about the protests by local communities, but I did not realize the proliferation of the divide.

The division manifested in many ways. One being the pavilion layout. For the most parts the pavilions were dispersed randomly with no real connection between who was paired together until you got to the African countries. They, however, were all grouped together and positioned in a corner that could be easily missed or avoided. No other geographic area, or countries facing the similar issues were grouped besides them. Which was extremely disheartening to see. Beyond that, those were the conversations that described the actual work being done to help local communities.

I attended a panel at the Côte d’Ivoire on their local climate change mitigation tactics. The panel highlighted what was being done in Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Cameroon. These countries face similar issues of seed preservation between seasons, drought, and deforestation. However, their local organizations do what is called a climate caravan to educate local communities on how to solve these issues but also what issues they are facing to help educate subnational and national governments. Beyond, just the power of what they were talking about and hearing the amazing work they were doing on the ground. They also translated the entire talk for us during the panel so we could understand. They were truly amazing people doing amazing work, but they were tucked into the last corner of the pavilion section where no one could see them.

Another level of division what between the accessibility of knowledge. In panels with more developed countries, they discussed higher thematic trends in an abstract and somewhat pointless, in my opinion, way. A panel hosted by researchers and academic from Germany discussed the need for building green careers and green job by investing in immigration. A majority of this panel was very abstract and big picture ideas that are nice but they provide no ways for nations to act. Building capacity is wonderful, but how accessible is it to build? What steps should be taken? Who is benefiting from the capacity building the country or a developed nation looking to have immigrants with that skill set?

This division between who is being heard and listened to is the most evident when discussing financing the loss and damages fund. It is apparent that developed nations, international monetary bodies, and international aid organizations are not designed to help enable the country to build resiliency of any kind, financial, social, political, or environmental. The methods currently in place do not allow funds to be distributed to building political infrastructure and knowledge on these topics, they are currently only designed for specific projects. This puts these countries in a cycle of never getting the money to prevent these issues from happening or being forward thinking. This division is largely echoed throughout the larger Loss and Damage Fund COP negotiations as well. The division here was what countries have money to spend and what countries need to spend money to survive. As you can probably infer they are not seeing eye to eye. Which is just defeating because if we cannot come together for our collective earth what can we come together for?

The last major division I noted was the separation between the international policy making the private negotiations, the informational sessions, the pavilion discussions, and the public area in the green zone. A vast majority of the attendees are disconnected from one another and do not hear the lessons the others are teaching. Sure, we are all physically in the same space but are we all really present?

Caroline Keary is a master’s student in the Social Responsibility and Impact in Business program.

Attending COP@30 has been a privilege; it has offered me the opportunity to engage with people from all over the world and hear diverse perspectives on climate solutions. The conference is well organized overall, though the usual delays in starting meetings were noticeable. With negotiations, side events, and pavilion talks happening simultaneously, it can quickly become overstimulating; however, I have already learned so much from the wide range of sessions I’ve attended.

The most meaningful part of COP@30 for me has been speaking directly with delegated and youth representatives. I had an amazing conversation with a student from the University of Oslo representing YOUNGO – the official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC. We discussed pathways for youth involvement, and the types of actions young people have taken within the climate movement. I also had the opportunity to speak with members of both the French and Algerian delegation including Algerian negotiator Khaled Bassim with whom I discussed elements of the Sharm El-Sheikh Implementation Plan, which focuses on operationalizing funding for loss and damage, since there had been a new report about it posted the previous night.

Despite how valuable these conversations have been, the negotiations remain (in my opinion) the most interesting part of my experience. Negotiations take place in large rooms filled with country representatives, each attempting –often unsuccessfully- to reach a consensus. So far, two negotiations in particular have deeply shaped my understanding. The first was “Climate Change and Mountains” and the second one was “Special Needs and Circumstances of Africa”, which happened on Monday – my first day at the COP. This last session was intended to address four concrete agenda points outlined by the COP President, yet none of the points were discussed. As the delegate form the United Republic of Tanzania put it, the session devolved into a “vulnerability contest” between Africa versus the rest of the world. Countries such as Chile, Panama and Guatemala questioned why a meeting focused on Africa was necessary, arguing that many developing regions face equal levels of suffering. Most Latin American countries spoke in similar alignment under ILAc (Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbeans). The delegates from South Africa and the African Group attempted –unsuccessfully- to bring the discussion back to the agenda reminding the room that despite contributing less than 4% of global emissions, Africa is both one of the least responsible and most vulnerable regions, projected to surpass the 1.5C threshold as early as 2040.

In response, one of the delegates argued that the meeting violated Article 4.8 of the Paris Agreement, which in my opinion was a complete misinterpretation. Article 4.8 emphasized equity and differentiated responsibilities, not uniform treatment under different circumstances. The entire meeting felt unproductive and at times, unprofessional, with several parties appearing to delay the conversation instead of contributing to it, which is why I am looking forward to reading the official written report of this meeting!

Overall, there are countless negotiations happening at all times. A lot of them are focused on specific paragraphs of previous agreements which are very interesting, but I especially enjoy the presidency-led meetings where the structure is clearer and discussions more focused.

Over the next few days, I plan to continue speaking with delegates from different countries, attend additional negotiations, and ask questions whenever possible. This experience has already expanded my understanding of international climate diplomacy, and I am excited to continue learning!

Malak Nechnach is a senior studying Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Mathematics.

These past few days have been amazing! My first days were spent wandering around and feeling a little lost, but once I became familiar with the venue it was exciting to see all the different pavilions. It felt strange to walk through the space and see pavilions for China and India filled with activity, while the United States was essentially entirely absent despite being the largest historical emitter. Within several sessions, it felt frustrating because people talked in circles. The same phrases kept coming up, the same statements about urgency, the same calls to action. Yet it felt like no one wanted to put themselves on the line for the collective wellbeing for change to happen. I found myself wanting more honesty and more direction. It was hard to watch so many people speak passionately without feeling any movement toward concrete solutions. This experience also in many ways highlighted the larger paradox of global climate action. We need a coordinated global response to climate change, but it requires the willingness of countries to participate.

Every nation needs Nationally Determined Contributions and climate goals, yet it must be left to each country to decide how to

 reach those goals because climate impacts differ so widely. This makes it incredibly difficult to come to a consensus when so many stakeholders have different needs, capacities, and responsibilities. Even with these challenges, I am excited for what is still ahead. I am looking forward to exploring more of the Blue Zone programming, attending sessions that focus on food systems and adaptation, and see how negotiators approach the later stages of discussions as COP starts to wind down. There is still so much to learn, and I am excited for the days to come. 

Andy Zhang is a senior studying environmental economics and environmental sciences.

Overwhelming is the first feeling that consumed me as I walked into the COP30 venue. Never have I been surrounded by such a diverse group of people and cultures.  It is hard for me to comprehend how delegates representing the over 190 UN countries present are peacefully existing under one (ENORMOUS) roof when their countries have historically had major conflicts.

While cordial, tensions were observed in the first policy discussion that I attended. This meeting was an informal session discussing the Policy and Strategy for Gender Equality and the Environment. I was disappointed to hear the lack of support for women’s equality and education in the language of the legislation document. The male Russian delegate requested that language be removed that required the equal representation of men and women in each country’s delegation. The male Iranian delegate backed this statement by saying that they do not have the resources to have equal representation of women in the delegation. Doubling down on this, both parties supported the change in wording from supporting/requiring “education” on gender and climate change to “training.” If education is not given to both men and women, then no, there will not be equal representation of men and women in the delegation (which extremely frustrated me). Additionally, the Saudi Arabian delegate, who was a woman, agreed with Russia and Iran and expressed disagreements with the advancement of women’s reproductive rights.

I know, I know, my first thoughts were also to be extremely upset and disappointed by these delegates (especially the woman), but I am not anymore. I cannot blame the individual delegates for statements that they may or may not support personally. Before this conference, I did not realize that delegates are given strict instructions on the stances they are allowed support. Deviating from the guidelines set by the higher levels of government could result in firing or more extreme measures in some countries.

There is so much more I could go on about and so many valuable observations and pieces of information I have learned in the first 3 days I have spent at COP. I will quickly fire off some final thoughts (some inspiring and some discouraging) since landing in Belem: The culture in the Amazonia region of Brazil is deep and rich, the Indigenous Tribes in Brazil do not feel like their voices are getting proper representation in the conference, it is controversial that Brazil is advocating for Rainforest conversation while expanding oil drilling, it is crazy that international legislation is being written before my eyes, and how can any real action come from these “agreements” that are only enforceable by “peer pressure” and driven by economic benefits?

I am extremely grateful for this experience and cannot wait to explore these questions as I engage in COP for the next 2 days.

Madelyn Kelly is a senior environmental engineering student.

We wanted to begin COP30 not inside the venue, but by grounding ourselves in the culture, people, and nature of the region. That’s why our group travelled to Mocajuba, Pará, where we met the Amazon river dolphin, the boto, and spent time with local communities, learning about their traditions and enjoying their food. People spoke about the botos with pride, and it was easy to see why. These dolphins are incredibly intelligent and friendly with humans. One story that stayed with me was how they help fishermen by guiding them to fish-rich areas and even forming a boundary to trap the fish. Standing by the river, listening to stories from people who live with the forest and water every day, felt like the right way to enter a climate conference that tried to center local communities and their voices.
My first day at COP30 took place in the Green Zone, where Indigenous communities stood at the center, wearing traditional outfits, selling handmade products, and filling the space with languages and knowledge systems that rarely receive global attention. Almost every event was in Portuguese, created for those who feel the weight of climate change first. It felt honest. It felt necessary.
When I moved into the Blue Zone for the following days, I focused on ocean-climate nexus talks, especially those addressing marine pollution, ecosystem losses, and ocean protection. Each session reminded me how fragile the ocean is and how fast we are losing time. One moment that stayed with me came from Brazilian sailor Torben Grael, a five-time Olympic medalist, who said that when he began sailing 50 years ago, he never saw plastic in the ocean. Today, he sees microplastics everywhere. The heaviness in his voice conveyed more than any graph or dataset.
Across the sessions, the call to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 was repeated again and again, echoing the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework. The newly released Global Tipping Points report was another urgent highlight, especially its warning that coral reefs have crossed a threshold that may not be reversible. Panelists highlighted the need for a Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026 to rally the world around what remains.

What moved me most at COP30 was the structure of the conversations in some of the sessions. Panels began with community voices, including Indigenous leaders and local people who rely on the land and ocean daily. They spoke about what they are seeing, what they are losing, and what they need. Government officials followed by outlining the actions they are taking now and the actions they can still pursue. It felt like real dialogue, like policy finally listening to lived experience. I also want to applaud the Brazilian government for what they modeled here. During my conversation with COP30’s Oceans Special Envoy, Marinez Scherer, she said that Brazil wanted to show the world what climate leadership looks like when biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, and justice are treated as the foundation. She hopes Brazil’s approach inspires other nations to act with the same urgency.
Halfway through the conference, I realized something important: climate action doesn’t only happen in negotiation rooms. It begins in fishing villages, on riverbanks, and in the everyday knowledge of people whose lives are closely tied to nature.

Anagha Payyambally is a marine sciences graduate student.

As a law student, I was very excited to witness the bureaucracy of global governance firsthand at the COP. I did not really know what to expect. I have read about these conferences since I was in high school; I have studied the Paris Agreement and researched its impact; and, as a climate activist, I have always been intrigued by the international legal dimensions of the issue. To travel halfway across the world and see everything, in full form, felt incredibly surreal. At no other time in human history have delegates from every country in the world sat around a table and developed universal treaties together. And yet, while this is emblematically the height of global, liberal democracy, the context surrounding it could not have been more disquieting. The United States just elected a President that attempted to violently overthrow the nation’s last election; committed to imprisoning his opponents and killing asylum seekers, calling them animals, thieves, and criminals; and openly vowed to do the bidding of the fossil fuel industry for a billion-dollar bribe. More bombs have been used to kill Palestinians in Gaza than were dropped in Dresden, Hamburg, and London combined during World War II. The war in Ukraine is still being waged. And natural disasters, droughts, heat waves, and famines are destroying communities and taking people’s lives at record levels every successive year.

I knew going in that COP was not the solution to any of that. But it is difficult to see everything progress as normal when these challenges really demand so much more. The most important thing I took away from the conference this year is that a new political alignment is necessary. There is an incredible dissonance you feel walking through the halls of the conference, but for anyone who gets the opportunity to attend a future COP the one thing that you will notice is just how many people are there with you. There are thousands of young people, thousands of experts and activists and scientists. The will and the energy are not lost. The institutions, as they currently exist, might be. COP might be a solution in the future, it might not be. But the impetus for trying that system was important. It still resonates. Millions of people are organized and demanding something different and the conference is just one location where solidarity within that movement can be felt and formed.

When you participate in this program, your role as an active force in history begins. Everything you see that is unjust or too slow or too ineffective or too captured: that is your project. Even if you fear that the institutions tasked with solving a problem are ineffective, it is always important to recognize where power is, how it is being used, and to develop theories to wield it more effectively. One of the most impactful tools of the legal profession is the power to decide what is legitimate and what is not. That can be weaponized, or it can be used earnestly to protect people, but the worst thing we can do is ignore it because it is failing at the latter. COP itself is a legal institution with the power to legitimize a path forward. And everywhere you see unity; people fighting for what is just, in spite of violent opposition; defending one another; and traveling thousands of miles to make their voices heard, that is where you build the resilience to take on those fights. That is how we create a politics for a more impactful, just, and democratic international governance. The will to create that is there and I am so grateful for the experience of attending COP because it gave me the opportunity to bear witness to all of that. More clearly now than ever, I know where I need to put my energy.

Colin Rosadino is a law student at the UConn School of Law.