October's Presentation

Floods, Fires, and Forward Progress: Report from the UN Climate Conference in Brazil

Panel Discussion by Austin College Climate Ambassadors, moderated by Dr. David Baker

Every year, diplomats from nations around the world gather at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to negotiate international climate policy. Known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), this conference is hosted by a different country each year. In 2025, Brazil hosted the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) in the city of Belém in the Amazon rainforest.

Austin College serves as an official observer at the UN COP conferences. While observers cannot speak during the negotiations, they can influence climate change policy by providing expertise and transparency in the process. Austin College sends a student delegation, known as Austin College Climate Ambassadors, to represent our campus and local communities on the world stage.

In this interactive panel discussion, Austin College Climate Ambassadors will provide background on the UN Climate Change process and share their direct observations at COP 30. Topics such as biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and conservation will be discussed. A significant portion of the presentation will be dedicated to the Question and Answer section, where Climate Ambassadors will address your specific questions and learn what climate issues are important to you. This dialogue will allow Climate Ambassadors to better represent you at COP 31 in Türkiye in November 2026.