My experience at COP29 thus far has been eye opening. I have attended a variety of panels, events, and networking sessions that have allowed me to learn more about a variety of environmental issues, meet and talk to students and professionals from across the globe, and better understand the efforts being made by countries to address the climate crisis.  

Something that stood out to me is that water appears to be one of the most underrated but key components to addressing climate change. When it comes to water, it was interesting to hear many panelists say that it is important to look at water in terms of adaptation and as an opportunity instead of as a problem. This is because although water quality and accessibility are issues that essentially every country faces to some degree, water also provides many opportunities for innovation and renewable energy generation.  

One of the panels on water that I found most interesting was “Action on Water: Water solutions for climate actions” because it talked about the water issues the world is facing but also discussed the importance of involving local people when working on and implementing projects. For example, when it comes to water use in agriculture, panelist Sharon Cherono, Project Officer for Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF), discussed the importance of presenting information to farmers in a more relatable way. By effectively communicating with farmers, as a society we can shift to more sustainable farming practices. 

It was also explained during this panel that countries are working on a variety of projects to protect water resources, including the Freshwater Challenge, which is the largest global freshwater initiative. It is focused on restoring 300,000 km of freshwater and 350 ha of wetlands. Additionally, there is often a focus on water wars and conflicts between countries over access to and ownership of water. However, I have seen through several of the panels at COP29 that we can also view water as a way to unite us through countries collaborating on conservation and restoration efforts. 

I am looking forward to learning more about water and its restoration during the remainder of the conference, as well as understanding the overlap it has with a variety of environmental topics and issues, such as biodiversity. 

Amanda Stowe is a Environmental Science major in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Arriving at COP29, I quickly realized that this wasn’t just a conference but a confluence of ideas, activism, and solutions for a sustainable future. From grassroots protests to high-level discussions, the atmosphere was charged with purpose and urgency.

The first day began with a powerful protest led by representatives of the Niger Delta communities in Nigeria, demanding reparations for decades of environmental degradation caused by oil companies. This demonstration was a reminder of the human cost of environmental negligence and the urgent need for justice in climate action. The sessions I attended afterward at the Nigerian Pavilion emphasized practical ways to empower youths with the skills required for a green transition. This focus on actionable solutions for the youth was refreshing and essential. Meanwhile, at the UNFCCC pavilion, a session titled “The Digital Climate Library: Art, AI, and the Climate Narrative — Bridging Digital Access and Global Action” highlighted the role of technology and storytelling to amplify climate voices. It was interesting to learn how digital innovations like Web3 can bridge gaps and foster global collaboration.

The next day started by attending a session titled “Unlocking the Newfound Potential of Geothermal Energy” where I was quite impressed with the potential of geothermal energy as a sustainable and widely adoptable renewable source of energy. I had an insightful conversation on the sidelines with Sam Abraham, a member of the panel, which further expanded my understanding of the potential of geothermal energy. Another highlight was the Presidential briefing on methane reduction from organic waste. Leaders from the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Champions shared actionable steps, including the United States announcement to update its Clean Air Act emissions standards for municipal solid waste landfills by 2025. The UAE also shared plans to reduce methane emissions from its waste sector, targeting a 50% landfill diversion by 2025 and 80% by 2031. These commitments reflect the critical role of methane reduction in global climate strategies.

COP29 has already proven to be an impactful experience—a space where grassroots advocacy, technological innovation, and policy intersect to tackle the climate crisis head-on. My biggest takeaway? The solutions are as diverse as the people here, and collaboration remains our strongest tool for change. The conference offers a powerful reminder that while the challenges are immense, the potential for meaningful change is even greater.

Mayowa Oladele is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

The first two days of the United Nations COP29 conference have been incredibly hectic, informative, and surprising. I spent today and yesterday in the Green Zone of the conference. The Green Zone is a less restricted area and features cultural events, workshops, panels, speakers, and company stations. The Blue Zone, where I will be for the rest of the week, is a more restricted area where official negotiations take place.

The people I have spoken to so far and the events I have attended have been incredible. One of my favorite sessions so far was a roundtable discussion with Rishi Jain, the Director of Impact at Liverpool FC. As a huge soccer fan myself, it was amazing to hear about the ongoing sustainability initiatives at the highest level of the sport. It was a very informative and interactive talk and he went into depth on all of the ways Liverpool works to reduce their carbon footprint. From working with sustainable partners, to reducing the number of fans driving to their stadium, to building electric lawnmowers for their field, they seemed to be looking at sustainability from every possible angle.

It was very eye-opening to hear stories of how climate change is affecting countries in the global south as well. For example, one person presented the story of air pollution in Mongolia. Mongolia has experienced a 2.56 Celsius increase in surface temperature over the past 70 years. This change causes extremely harsh winters which can wipe out nomadic people’s herds in a single winter. Having nowhere else to go, these nomads flock to the main city in search of economic opportunity. The city has a capacity of 500,000 and currently 1.5 million people are living there. There isn’t enough heating infrastructure to support everyone, so most people burn coal to stay warm. This results in severe air pollution which causes 7,000 deaths a year. That’s one in ten deaths in Mongolia. Unfortunately, as the presenter shared, the number of deaths isn’t high enough to demand immediate action and garner support, and she believes that no number of deaths will be enough. Air pollution is a political and economic choice that the Mongolian government has made, and a choice that a lot of countries continue to make.

I have learned a lot in these past two days and every event I attended has introduced me to new ideas and perspectives. I am very excited to see what the Blue Zone is like and to continue learning and meeting more people.

Faiz Farooqui is a UConn@COP Fellow and Computer Science major in the College of Engineering.