Day 9: Putting the pieces together

Our week two delegation continued our momentum today as the negotiations at Cop 28 picked up coming into the second week. As Sophia stated and reiterated throughout the day, our second day at Cop was the best day to date!

Our day began with impromptu conversations on the subway and in the entrance line followed by a packed RINGO briefing that laid out the day's happenings. Due to tight seating, Kaleb joined the panelists at the lectern among climate scientists and researchers. He fit right in!

Following the meeting, we joined RINGO and members of other groups for an observer-only session with the UNFCCC executive secretariat. They answered questions on the state of the negotiations and heard perspectives from each observer constituency, better helping us frame our understanding of the negotiations and getting us up to speed on the happenings of week one.

After checking out some pavilions and grabbing lunch, we headed to network with other young people from North America at the US pavilion. The whirlwind hour was spent talking with other students, meeting state department officials, and sharing stories and insights from COP meetings and sessions. Great to connect with other climate-focused students and US officials! 

The afternoon brought us to sessions on AI and technology’s role in mitigating climate risks and resilience against environmental hazards. We were particularly struck with the ability to use AI to create a 15-day advanced warning forecast for flooding in Malawi, allowing for ample evacuations in affected areas that prevent loss of life. We also joined a panel on decarbonizing agriculture, featuring Louisa’s grad school friend and colleague!

After the conference, we followed in the footsteps of our first-week friends and explored the old city of Dubai, complete with delicious Emirati food and so many spices, gold, and silk. 

Today was exciting and inspiring but the urgency of reaching a climate deal began to sink in. With only a few days left in the conference, the mood of the COP shifted to reaching a successful negotiation. We’ll be following the final negotiations closely as the final days of COP unfold.