Earlier this December, APECS' UN Climate Change Conference Project Group sent its first ever delegation to the United Nations' annual climate change summit, COP28, in Dubai. The delegates — Ryan O'Hara, Simone Weichenrieder, Anamika Poyil, and Veda Athalye — advocated for the cryosphere in the conference's climate negotiations and attended sessions and talks to better understand the relationship between climate change and climate policy and polar research and preservation.
APECS members at their panel event at the Cryosphere Pavillion at COP28. From left to right: Ryan O'Hara, Susana Hancock, Geetha Joby (on screen), Alexandra Filippova (on screen) and Simone Weichenrieder.
The delegation also represented APECS at the Cryosphere Pavilion, a collection of cryosphere-themed side events organized by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. At the Cryosphere Pavilion, Ryan, Simone, and APECS' 2022-2023 President, Susana Hancock, alongside APECS members Alexandra Filippova and Geetha Joby, who joined virtually, held a panel discussion arguing for the importance of diverse, early career voices in climate negotiations. The panelists emphasized the unique, valuable perspectives of early career researchers and the challenges faced by this demographic in getting involved in the climate movement. They encouraged listeners to get involved with and support early career networks like APECS. A recording of the event can be watched here.
APECS hopes to annually send delegations to COP in order to continue advocating for the cryosphere and involving young and early career voices in the UN's climate policy development. Currently, nearly 20 APECS members are involved in the 2023-2024 UN Climate Change Conference Project Group and are preparing for COP29 in Azerbaijan.
APECS China was also involved in COP28 through the event "Glacial Memory: Witnessing the Climate Crisis" that was held at the China Pavilion on 3 December. Wang Xianwei, Vice President of APECS China and Associate Professor, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shared the research results from young scientists on polar regions and glaciers. He also shared with the guests the call to "protect glaciers, which is to protect human beings themselves".
