COP30: Belém, Brazil

COP30: Belém, Brazil

Nov 10, 2025 – Nov 21, 2025

From November 10th through November 21st, our COP30 delegation represented the 51 community in Belém, Brazil. The delegation consisted ofsix faculty, five graduate students, nine undergraduate students, andone staff member, representing colleges and departments across campus. Delegates were competitively selected from a pool of approximately 150 applications by a committee of faculty, staff, and students from across campus. The Schiller Institute is committed to producing outreach programming that extends the University's investment in sending a delegation to COP and allows students, faculty, and others to benefit from our COP programming.

Our signature event is the COP Symposium, which will take place on Friday, March 13.Please see below for more details. Additional programming included51 alum and Former US Climate Negotiator, Catherine Goldberg, giving a lecture about her past as a delegate and climate action and COPs moving forward; and Broadcast from Belem events where delegates remotely connected with the campus while on-the-ground.


COP30 Symposium

Friday, March 13, 2026 | 10am - 2:30pm

245 Beacon Street

This event is open to everyone. Please to attend.

The event takes place throughout the building. See the program below for location and speaker details. Note that we are still updating this page as more details become available. Please check back!

3rd Annual Boston College COP Symposium

Bringing the Global Climate Summit to the Heights

The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, in collaboration with Boston College’s student and faculty delegates to COP30, is proud to host our 3rd Annual COP Symposium.

The Schiller Institute manages Boston College’s official status as an observer organization to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—the international environmental treaty tasked with coordinating the global response to climate change—and oversees the university’s participation at the annual Conference of the Parties, or COP. As the world’s leading climate change conference, COP serves as the primary arena for global negotiations, where world leaders, scientists, and advocates gather to establish policy and track progress toward international climate goals.

A core component of our programming is working to ensure that Boston College’s observer status and participation in these global summits benefit the entire 51 community, not just the group selected to attend each year. Our annual symposium is a vital part of that commitment, conceptualized by our student and faculty delegates as a way to bring the insights and momentum of the global summit back to the Heights. We designed this event to function as a "mini-COP"—a high-energy, interdisciplinary space for dialogue, workshops, and connection. We believe one of the most impactful aspects of the actual COP is the serendipity—the chance encounters at a refreshment table or the unexpected conversations between sessions that lead to new connections and collaborations. We hope you will join us – you never know who you might meet!

The day’s programming is structured to mirror the diversity of the international conference, featuring a panel discussion, a formal presentation, poster sessions, and multiple workshops and interactive exhibits. Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to network with numerous climate professionals and hear firsthand accounts from 51’s own delegates.

Themes we will cover this year include:

  • US Climate Commitments and Action
  • Green Careers and Building Climate Skills
  • Climate Stories and Art
  • Indigenous Climate Action
  • Outcomes of COP30 and Looking Ahead to COP31
  • Local Implications

By bridging the gap between global diplomacy and local action, the symposium offers a unique platform to interpret the implications of COP within our own context. We invite you to join us for this day of collaborative learning and networking as we work together to translate global climate momentum into campus-wide impact.

Sara Ascher

Sara Ascher, World Resources Institute

Sara Ascher is the Senior Project Manager for the National Climate Action Team. She helps build better systems for knowledge sharing, communication and collaborative teamwork to assist in reaching the Climate team's and WRI's mission and goals.

Sara is an ordained clergy person in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. Prior to coming to WRI, she served as a congregational minister and then as the Executive Director of the International Council of Unitarians & Universalists. Her multicultural and intercultural program and strategy development, collaborative team leadership and adaptive project management provide a solid foundation for her work at WRI.

Sara holds a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School at Yale Divinity School and a second Masters in Global Affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

She lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts with her spouse, David.


Tracy Bach

Tracy Bach, RINGO and Dartmouth College

Tracy Bach is an expert in climate change law and policy with over 15 years of experience in international negotiations. A professor of law and public policy, Bach’s work has focused on climate change, voluntary carbon markets, international environmental law and human rights, and health care and environmental health law. She has served as an international consultant to the United Nations Development Programme and UN Environment Programme, and as a workshop teacher for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). At Tuck, she teaches The Private Sector in International Climate Negotiations Practicum and serves as an adviser to the Center for Business, Government & Society and Revers Center for Energy, Sustainability, and Innovation. She has led Tuck student delegations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summits since 2019.


Danielle DeLuca

Danielle DeLuca,Cultural Survival

Danielle DeLuca, Senior Development Manager, has been managing Cultural Survival’s working in fundraising at CS since 2019, after 10 years working across program areas. Based in Guatemala between 2009-2014, Danielle began her time at CS with the Community Media Program, where she trained alongside our Guatemalan team doing legislative advocacy to advance Indigenous freedom of expression. In 2012, she began working in our Advocacy Program in defense of Indigenous land and resources through campaigns and work at the United Nations. Between 2013 and 2017, she helped to establish the Indigenous Rights Radio program. She speaks English and Spanish and holds a degree in Cultural Studies from McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, and a certificate in Fundraising Management from the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Contact Danielle at danielle@cs.org.


Catherine Goldberg

Catherine Goldberg,Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab

Catherine Goldberg () is aSenior Fellow with theNet Zero Industrial Policy Labat Johns Hopkins University where she advises countries on how to develop strategic green industrial policy. She is also a Senior Advisor with America Is All In and was part of All In’s COP30 delegation.She has nearly a decade of experience shaping international climate and energy policy and negotiations under both Democratic and Republican administrations. From 2016 – 2025, Catherine served in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Change, where she led negotiations underthe UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), G7, and G20, and worked closely with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry.Her expertise is in coordinating climate/trade measures, industrial policy, and supporting workers and communities impacted by countries’ transitions to net zero. She earned a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.S. in Geological Sciences from Boston College (Class of 2016). At 51, she was on the women’s rowing team and minored in International Studies.


Mariana Kiimi

Mariana Kiimi ,Cultural Survival

Mariana Kiimi (Na Ñuu Sàvi/Mixtec), Advocacy Associate, is from San Juan Mixtepec in Oaxaca, México. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master's degree in Migration Studies from Universidad Iberoamericana. Mariana has participated in research projects regarding human rights, migration, cultural diplomacy, and experiences and perceptions of COVID-19. She has also volunteered at migrant shelters in Mexico City during the arrival of caravans from Central and South America. She is fluent in Spanish and English and is learning Mixtec to have a deeper connection with her community. She loves embracing and promoting her culture in different fields. Reach Mariana at mariana.kiimi@culturalsurvival.org.


Edson Krenak Naknanuk

Edson Krenak Naknanuk,Cultural Survival

Edson Krenak Naknanuk (Krenak), Brazil Program Manager, is an Indigenous activist, writer, and scholar from Brazil. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Legal Anthropology at the University of Vienna, Austria. Since 2019, Edson has been supporting Cultural Survival's programming in Brazil as a key strategic region. As an accomplished writer, his work has received significant acclaim. He is the recipient of the 10th Tamoios National Prize for Indigenous Writers for his book "O Sonho de Borum." His tale, "Kren and Pockrane, Why There Are Not Twins among the Krenak People," is featured in the UNICEF-nominated anthology "Nós: Antologia de Contos Indígenas," among other academic publications on Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous perspectives on Just Transition, and climate issues.
His global advocacy is reflected in his leadership roles with several international organizations, including:

  • Securing Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition: Executive Committee - Cultural Survival Representative
  • Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America (SALSA): Member at large (2024–2027) co-creating a network of indigenous scholars and academics working with Indigenous communities in South America
  • Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI): Board Member to support Indigenous Peoples and communities impacted by tailings and pos-mining.

Edson is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and learning Krenak and German. Contact Edson at edson.krenak@cs.org.


Gaia Larsen

Gaia Larsen, World Resources Institute

Gaia Larsen is Director of Climate Finance in WRI’s sustainable finance team. An attorney by training, her work focuses primarily on shifting investments toward protecting people and the environment

At WRI, Gaia has focused on several issue areas, including the governance of international finance and how to shift domestic and international public funds toward just and effective climate action. She leads global research and convening to help further effective integration of climate into financial governance globally and nationally.

Prior to joining WRI, Gaia was a fellow at the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University.

Gaia holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.


Djalma Ramalho Aranã Caboclo

Djalma Ramalho Aranã Caboclo,Cultural Survival

Djalma Ramalho Aranã Caboclo (Aranã Caboclo), Brazil Program Associate, is an Indigenous artist, researcher, and strategic communicator from the Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A screenwriter, designer, and linguist, his work moves across advocacy, audiovisual creation, language revitalization, and territorial defense, with a strong focus on Indigenous and Quilombola rights, climate justice, and the impacts of extractive industries on traditional communities. Djalma holds a degree in Languages, Literature, and Linguistics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Multilingualism, Language Policies, and Bilingual Education, where he is contributing to the revitalization of the Aranã Caboclo language. His work brings together art, research, and political advocacy to amplify community voices in both national and international spaces. Contact Djalma at djalmarg@culturalsurvival.org


Tia-Alexi Roberts

Tia-Alexi Roberts,Cultural Survival

Tia-Alexi Roberts (Narragansett), Communications and Editorial Assistant, is an enrolled member of the Narragansett Indian Nation and is a multi-talented individual who actively promotes her Indigenous culture .She uses various platforms, such as podcasting, and her employment with Cultural Survival and Native Pride Productions to shine a light on Indigenous arts, cultures, and creators. Currently pursuing a Communications degree at Southern New Hampshire University, Tia has launched her own podcast, "The Art of Being Indigenous," and comes to Cultural Survival with the goal of fostering strong connections and cultivating Native communities. Contact Tia at tia.roberts@culturalsurvival.org.


Camila Paz Romero

Camila Paz Romero,Cultural Survival

Camila Paz Romero (Quechua), Keepers of the Earth Fund Program Associate, was born in Chile and lives in Wallmapu, the ancestral territory of the Mapuche Peoples. She has worked with several organizations advocating for Indigenous rights, the protection of their territories, and Mother Earth. Camila holds a degree in Anthropology from the Austral University of Chile and an International Diploma in Design and Management of Public Policies based on the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendent Peoples. Her work has centered on amplifying Indigenous voices, particularly youth and women, in national and international instances, such as the United Nations, to ensure their full and effective participation in decision-making and policy development processes. She currently follows and actively participates in the discussions on climate change and biodiversity. Contact Camila at camila.romero@culturalsurvival.org


Trigg Talley

Trigg Talley,America Is All In

Trigg Talley () is America Is All In’s Special Representative and was a core part of All In’s COP30 delegation. Trigg is a former U.S. climate diplomat who served for nearly two decades at the U.S. Department of State, where he played a central role in shaping U.S. engagement in international climate negotiations and program funding and implementation. He was the Director of the State Department’s Office of Global Change and served as Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change, helping coordinate U.S. policy across agencies and representing the United States at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), IPCC, Green Climate Fund, G20, and G7, among other multilateral fora. He was also responsible for managing millions of dollars in foreign assistance for clean energy, forests and nature, and adaptation programming. From 2019 - 2020, Trigg was a visiting fellow at the East West Center in Hawaii working on local sustainability issues and Pacific Island engagement. As of this year, he is also a professor of practice at the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland.

FRIDAY - MARCH 13 | 245 BEACON STREET

10:00 AM

OPENING PANEL

US Climate Commitments and Action, Outcomes of COP30, and Looking Ahead to COP31

  • , Senior Project Manager of National Climate Action, World Resources Institute
  • , Faculty at Dartmouth University and member of the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency to COP
  • , Director of Climate Finance Access, World Resources Institute
  • Trigg Talley,
  • Moderated by: Tara Pisani Gareau, Director, Environmental Studies Program, Boston College

Location: Schiller Institute Convening Space (Room 501)

11:05 AM

WORKSHOPS, POSTER SESSION, & INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS

  • Poster Session: Meet delegates and learn about the themes of the Symposium through informative posters and dialogue
    • Location: 4th Floor near Office 401
  • Workshop: Boston Climate and Carbon Footprint Mapping. On a map of Boston, participants will mark where they live, work, commute, etc. and identify climate-related experiences, such as transit, access to green spaces, and coastline. Participants will then assess personal, household, or campus emissions and brainstorm actionable solutions.
    • Led by:Edson Severnini, Schiller Core Faculty & Associate Professor, Economics Department, Boston College
    • Location: Room 400
  • Workshop: Past, Present, and Future of Climate Diplomacy. Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes at COP? Meet with former US climate negotiators and current representatives of to learn about what it takes to be a US climate diplomat and what you can do to help advance global climate action.
    • Led by: Trigg Talley and Catherine Goldberg
    • Location: Shea Center (Rm 202)
  • Interactive Exhibit: Climate Emotion Sticker Poll. In one word, describe how the climate crisis feels to you today.
    • Location: 2nd Floor near main entrance
  • Interactive Exhibit: Where is Home? Map. Place a pin/sticker where you call home, and respond to the prompt: “How have you noticed the weather changing there since you were a kid?”
    • Location: 2nd Floor near main entrance
11:50 AM

LUNCH

Location: Schiller Institute Convening Space (Room 501)

12:15 PM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Indigenous Climate Action

  • Speakers from Cultural Survival to be announced!
  • Moderated by: Jesse Swann-Quinn, Associate Director, Environmental Studies Program, Boston College

Location: Schiller Institute Convening Space (Room 501)

1:15 PM

WORKSHOPS, POSTER SESSION, & INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS

  • Poster Session: Meet delegates and learn about the themes of the Symposium through informative posters and dialogue
    • Location: 4th Floor near Office 401
  • Workshop: From Experience to Expertise. Whether you were a delegate at COP or led a local initiative, your extracurricular work has shaped your professional toolkit. Join us to practice articulating these experiences as high-level professional skills for your resume, LinkedIn, and networking conversations.
    • Led by: Julianne Smith, Associate Director, Career Education & Access, Career Center
    • Location: TBA
  • Workshop: Climate Data 101. Participants will learn how to read and interpret IPCC reports and figures, and emissions datasets.
    • Led by: Jeremy Shakun, Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences Department, Boston College
    • Location: Room 231 (Data Viz Lab)
  • Workshop: Communicating Climate Science to Non‑Experts. Participants will learn about a case study in effective climate communication as well as tips for communicating science that could help in job interviews, elevator pitches, and everyday conversations about the climate.
    • Led by: Ethan Baxter, Associate Dean for the STEM Disciplines, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences & Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences Department, Boston College
    • Location: Room 305
  • Interactive Exhibit: Climate Emotion Sticker Poll. In one word, describe how the climate crisis feels to you today.
    • Location: 2nd Floor near main entrance
  • Interactive Exhibit: Where is Home? Map. Place a pin/sticker where you call home, and respond to the prompt: “How have you noticed the weather changing there since you were a kid?”
    • Location: 2nd Floor near main entrance
2:00 PM

NETWORKING AND WRAP-UP

Close the day with networking and light refreshments

Location: Schiller Institute Convening Space (Room 501)

Campus Map and Parking:

Parking is available at the nearby Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue Garages.

Boston College is also accessible via public transportation (MBTA B Line - Boston College).

Directions, Maps, and Parking

Visitor Parking Information

COP30 Delegates

Back To Top