Copenhagen Delegation

Sustainability students, administrators immersed in climate-change conference

December 8, 2009

Dickinson sustainability administrators Sarah Brylinsky and Neil Leary (standing at rear) with Dickinson students who are participating in the climate-change conference in Copenhagen. Student participants (seated from left): David Munn '10, Jared Bernhardt '11, Kelly Rogers '10, Gwen Dunnington '10, Danielle (Doni) Hoffman '10, Philip Rothrock '10, Jennifer Ramos '11, Bettina Cerban '10, Luan Nguyen '10, Han (Maria) Mei '12 and Grace Lange '12. Not pictured: Andrea Dominguez '10, Kristen Lee '10, Brandon McCall '10 and Brett Shollenberger '11.

Fifteen students and two sustainability administrators are participating in the United Nations climate-change conference, which opened Monday in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Dickinson’s interdisciplinary research team is conducting interviews with international negotiators, stakeholders, citizens and conference participants to learn about values and perceptions on climate change issues during the two-week session.

With daily blog and Twitter updates, students are reporting on conference proceedings, their research and the progress of negotiations. The team also will broadcast three live conference calls with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to allow students, faculty and administrators from around the world to question how conference proceedings relate to the development of sustainability initiatives in higher education.

Five students will blog each day from the conference. The group will focus on a wide range of issues associated with climate change mitigation, including the idea of common but differentiated responsibilities, deforestation, carbon mitigation and trade issues.

The delegation is attending as an observer organization and as members of an international youth group.

“Youth have a unique perspective that balances the urgent need to create a safe planet for our future, while still understanding the complexity of international issues,” said Sarah Brylinsky, the college’s sustainability-education coordinator. Brylinsky and Neil Leary, director of the Center for Environmental & Sustainability Education, are leading the delegation.

Student engagement

“Youth have a unique perspective that balances the urgent need to create a safe planet for our future, while still understanding the complexity of international issues,” Brylinsky said.

Students are enthusiastic about playing a prominent role in the conference.

“I care deeply about the problem of global climate change,” said Andrea Dominguez ’10, an East Asian-studies major from El Paso, Texas. “I have tried to follow the science as well as the policy developments for years. I wanted to see firsthand how international negotiations unfold, especially with such a large issue, and to see how each country brings its own voice and vision to the conference. I expect a very busy two weeks in Copenhagen, and a life-changing experience. I am very excited about being in the middle of this international event and to witness how countries use cross-cultural communication and negotiating techniques to come to an agreement.”

Philip Rothrock ’10, an environmental-studies major from Wilmette, Ill., signed up for the Dickinson program—From Kyoto-to-Copenhagen, Negotiating the Future of the Planet—to enhance his understanding of global environmental policy, and to have a greater impact in his chosen field of conservation management.

“My academic concentration is ecology and biodiversity conservation, and I believe that being able to manage change effectively is a critical need in this field,” Rothrock said. “After attending the conference, I hope that I will have a better understanding of how and why other political priorities and realities influence biodiversity conservation legislation and action. I expect that we will be able to develop relationships with people from around the world who have the same passion and interest in issues regarding global climate change.”

Beyond Copenhagen

Kelly Rogers ’10, a policy-management major from Stroudsburg, Pa., said she is approaching the conference with a focus on special-interest lobbying and international policy.

“Climate-change policy is incredibly important,” she said. “I feel compelled to understand it better. The future of our world depends on us to make the right decisions, as quickly as possible."

Rogers plans to use her experience as an intern in the state capital as a guide in Copenhagen.

“Throughout my internships in Harrisburg I have noticed the incredible power of special-interest lobbying groups on state government,” she said. “I would like to see if this power exists at the global governance level as well.”

For her honors thesis proposal in policy management, Rogers is studying the policy implications of natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale formation.

“In Copenhagen I would like to focus on international policy of natural-gas drilling, particularly as it relates to mitigating methane emissions,” she said.

Read the Copenhagen blog.

Follow the Copenhagen delegation on Twitter and Facebook.

Participate in their research at:

http://www.popcop15.com

http://www.twitter.com/popcop15

For more information:

http://dickinsoncop15.weebly.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/unfccc_youth

http://groups.google.com/group/usyouthcop15?hl=en