About the Program at COP 30 in Belém

Learn about the program.
 

Scenes from the U.N. Climate Change Conference 2025

Environmental historian of Brazil and OSU Associate Professor Jenn Eaglin was able to present her research on the ecological implications of Brazil’s ethanol industry to the United Nations Conference alongside faculty from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). Additionally, OSU Professor Bart Elmore spoke about how universities can serve their communities through efforts to address climate change. 

OSU undergraduate Ryan Donahue and recent OSU alums Christine Andreeva and Elan Kyser were also able to travel to Belém for COP 30 and were spectacular Buckeye ambassadors at the United Nations conference. Students were able to connect with key policymakers, sit down with executives from a major international agribusiness firm, help facilitate conversations at the Higher Education Pavilion inside the Blue Zone, and engage with key leadership representing the Research Institutions and Non-governmental Organizations (RINGO). This year was the first time in history that the US State Department did not send a United States delegation to the conference following Executive Branch orders so being able to send OSU delegation to COP 30 is especially important and a great opportunity to represent what. 

While in Belém, Andreeva, Donahue, and Kyser were also able to venture outside of the city to a tract of rainforest that OSU faculty and students are hoping to preserve in the coming years. The area is called “The Heart of the Amazon,” and Donahue is currently leading an effort to find ways to finance a project that would ensure the protection of this ecosystem in perpetuity. To learn more about the Heart of the Amazon Reserve project. This is the third year OSU students and faculty have been able to send a delegation to the UN Climate Summit! Professor Nick Breyfogle, also an environmental historian in the history department, helped launch the COP study abroad program alongside Professors Eaglin and Elmore in 2023 when the team took ten OSU undergraduate students to COP 28 in Dubai.

OSU undergraduate Ryan Donahue and recent OSU alums Christine Andreeva and Elan Kyser were also able to travel to Belém for COP 30 and were spectacular Buckeye ambassadors at the United Nations conference. Students were able to connect with key policymakers, sit down with executives from a major international agribusiness firm, help facilitate conversations at the Higher Education Pavilion inside the Blue Zone, and engage with key leadership representing the Research Institutions and Non-governmental Organizations (RINGO). This year was the first time in history that the US State Department did not send a United States delegation to the conference following Executive Branch orders so being able to send OSU delegation to COP 30 is especially important and a great opportunity to represent what.