Politics of Climate: The United Nations Summit Education Abroad Program

 

The Politics of Climate: The United Nations Summit Education Abroad Program seeks to connect OSU students to the politics of climate negotiations, allowing them to learn about and participate in UN Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings on climate change held every year. The COP is a formal meeting held yearly under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In COP meetings, parties assess and evaluate the progress countries have made in addressing climate change and negotiate new agreements and practices on environmental issues. 

 

In this program, students study the history of international negotiations over climate issues and examine the environmental agendas of countries around the world. Students also learn about the causes of climate change and research possible solutions to climate issues. At the COP meetings, students have the opportunity to engage with politicians, diplomats, business leaders, and environmental activists. OSU students also share their own experiences with climate change and participate actively at COP meetings and youth working groups. The Politics of Climate program is supported by the Mershon Center, College of Arts and Humanities, and Ronald and Deborah Ratner Award.
 

 

Students participating in this program will be enrolled in History 4705 in the semester that they travel to the COP meetings. The course offers an introduction to the history and politics of the COP negotiations, the science of climate change, and efforts of business leaders, scientists, engineers, and activists to ensure a sustainable future. Students also study the principal themes of the upcoming COP and explore individual interests related to the climate negotiations and global efforts are climate-change mitigation

 

For more information about the experiences of OSU students in the program, please see stories from COP meetings below.