Applications are now closed for UBC's delegation at COP26. Learn more about the successful applicants and their efforts to engage with the international climate negotiation process.
Each year UBC receives a limited number of observer badges for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) negotiation space, known as the Blue Zone. Members of the UBC community have attended COP22, COP23, COP24, and COP25 as official observers. To learn more about what happens at UNFCCC COP events, click here.
This year, following one of the recommendations from the Climate Emergency Task Force report, the UBC COP26 delegate selection process was an open and transparent competition for all students, faculty, and staff. Applicants were asked to outline how they will use this opportunity to advance a sustainable and just society, how they might accelerate climate actions, and how their unique expertise and perspective can benefit COP26.
From 72 very high-quality applications, a selection committee agreed on eight delegates based on the final number of observer badges available.
The successful applicants include three students, one staff, and four faculty members.
| Robert | Godin | Assistant Professor, Chemistry, UBC Okanagan |
| Rashid | Sumaila | University Killam Professor and Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics |
| Kathryn | Harrison | Professor of Political Science |
| Juvarya | Veltkamp | Director, Canada Climate Law Initiative, Peter A. Allard School of Law |
| Temitope | Onifade | PhD Candidate, Law |
| Max | Cohen | PhD Candidate, Geography |
| Eman | Alsulaiti | Undergraduate Student, CENES – Modern European Studies |
| Walter | Mérida | Senior Advisor to the President and Vice-Chancellor; Associate Dean, Research and Industry Partnerships, Faculty of Applied Science |
OPEN COMPETITION
For COP26, UBC received four badges for each week of the event (October 31-November 6 and November 7-12). All current UBC students, faculty, post-docs, and staff were invited to apply to be part of the UBC delegation. The program for COP26 is available here.
Applications are now closed.
Participate Remotely
There may also be opportunities for UBC faculty, students and staff to engage with COP26 in an online context and with university partners from around the world, including through the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency group, which is one of nine NGO constituencies recognized by the UNFCCC. The others are ENGOs (Environmental NGOs), BINGOs (Business and Industry NGOs), LGMAs (Local Governments and Municipal Authorities), IPOs (Indigenous Peoples Organizations), TUNGOs (Trade Union NGOs), YOUNGOS (Youth NGOs), Farmers, and Gender. RINGO is the second largest of these constituencies, comprising 25% of the 2,000 admitted NGOs.
If you have questions about UBC’s engagement with COP26 we invite you to contact us at UBC.atCOP@ubc.ca.