‘The opportunity of a lifetime’
As an official Observer Organization at COP29—the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan—Boston College sent a delegation whose members once again had a front-row seat to history in the making at the highly influential summit, which serves as the center of global climate change policymaking.
The University’s fourth consecutive COP contingent included four faculty members, six graduate and seven undergraduate students, and staff lead Kaley McCarty, assistant director of programs at the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, which organizes the initiative.
“We consider coordinating BC’s COP delegation to be one of the signature programs of the institute and we are very proud that the University has entrusted us with the responsibility,” said Schiller Institute Seidner Family Executive Director Laura J. Steinberg.
“Each year, I continue to be impressed with the quality of the students and faculty that we send to the conference. As those who attended our ‘Broadcasts from Baku’ events [held November 13 and 20] could hear, our delegates are well versed in a variety of climate- and sustainability-related issues. They’ve had the opportunity to meet high-ranking officials from around the world and have held their own in those conversations.”
The broadcasts, she added, provided “the BC community a chance to take a peek behind the scenes at this massive conference. I heard information from our delegates that I had not seen reported on in media coverage.”
Members of BC's delegation to COP29, held November 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. L-R (standing): Morrissey College graduate student Michaila Peters, junior Junsoo Chung, and senior Elizabeth Schwab; Connell School senior Lyann Tam; BC Law student Carly Morris; Morrissey College seniors Tommy Frohlichstein and Emma Villegas; BC Law student Korinna Garfield; Morrissey College sophomore Grace Boyer and senior Molly Dugan; (seated) BC Law student Sangeeta Kishore, Woods College graduate student Gustavo Cardona e Almeida, and Carroll School graduate student Ahmed Ferjani. (Caitlin Cunningham)
Representing schools and departments across campus, the BC delegates were chosen in a competitive selection process from a pool of some 300 applicants selected by a committee of faculty, staff, and students.
For Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences senior Elizabeth Schwab, it was “an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of the dynamics of climate negotiations. One of the most impactful moments for me was meeting a Boston College alumna from the United States delegation and witnessing firsthand how her expertise shaped critical discussions on equity in climate finance. I was also deeply moved by my conversations with Caribbean delegates, who emphasized the urgent need for greater financial support for vulnerable nations.”
Schwab also saw “the importance of collaboration and equity in crafting policies that truly address the global climate crisis. This experience will add depth to my thesis on the Paris Agreement, particularly in examining how different U.S. administrations have framed equity and climate finance. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these discussions and learn from such inspiring leaders. I am now more committed than ever to continuing to fight for climate justice in my future career.”
Among the key priorities of COP29 was securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and building resilient communities. At the climate summit, developed countries agreed to take the lead in providing some $300 billion per year by 2035 to help vulnerable ones fight global warming.
“It was truly the opportunity of a lifetime,” said BC Law student Sangeeta Kishore. “As an undergrad international relations major and now a law student specializing in human rights and environmental law, I’ve been following COP for as long as I can remember. Attending, I could actually envision my role in this field. The most meaningful aspect was sharing this experience with my fellow delegates, who each brought their unique voice to our discussions. Being a part of this delegation reinvigorated my passion for climate justice and introduced me to some of BC’s best.”
“Being part of the BC delegation allowed me to see how ideas and innovation can drive meaningful climate solutions on a global scale,” said Morrissey College junior Junsoo Chung. “Effective climate finance must support both mitigation and inclusive development, bridging public and private investments to create sustainable and equitable systems.” He also cited as significant “the opportunity to witness firsthand how countries, particularly in Asia, are navigating the balance between rapid economic growth and the urgent need for climate resilience.”
The Schiller Institute is dedicated to extending the University’s investment in COP participation through outreach programming that engages students, faculty, and the wider community, said Steinberg.
“We’ve heard from past delegates that attending COP has been a transformative experience for them and, for the students especially, has impacted their future career goals. We’re also very excited for our second annual COP Symposium planned for February, where the delegates will create a ‘mini-COP’ to continue to share their experience with the greater BC community.”
Find Broadcasts from Baku, and other details about the BC delegation, on the Schiller Institute’s BC@UNCOP page, or view them on