Engaging Students in Climate Diplomacy
Students are selected into the UN Climate Negotiations course and program through a competitive application process. The program is offered through the Walker College of Business and welcomes students from all disciplines. The course familiarizes students with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the annual Conference of the Parties (COP). Each fall, a delegation of students and faculty from App State travel to the COP and participate in the negotiations.
Travel to COP 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is planned for November 30 - December 6, 2023.
Fall 2023 Draft Syllabus
COP 28 Delegation
Mia Altieri
Degree Program: MA Political Science - Environmental Politics and Policy Analysis
“Policy at all levels of government must increasingly adopt and integrate climate focused perspectives. I want to learn how global environmental discussions impact local, state, and national policy approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation. In particular, I’m interested in how we can develop cooperative environmental strategies in all aspects of the political sphere.”
Bella Carpenter
Degree Program: BS Sustainable Development; Minor in Sustainable Business
“Expanding my knowledge of sustainability to an international perspective is at the forefront of what I hope to gain along with taking my studies to a new level of application. With the realm of global climate policy becoming relevant in all industries, I hope to observe different aspects of regulation and emerging innovations to help foster a stronger sense of how they will play a role in my future, both personally and professionally.”
David Cooperberg
Degree Program: BSBA Management; Minor in Accounting
"Many folks have an opinion on climate change, but there are many gaps in the comprehension and clarity on what is being done to address the issue. Given this educational opportunity I hope to achieve a deeper level of understanding, and educate others on the importance of the UNFCCC for a healthier planet."
Grace Gliwa
Degree Program: MBA Interdisciplinary Business; MS Applied Data Analytics
“The passion behind climate change and the implications of UNFCCC have fueled my excitement for this opportunity. Understanding where policy meets implementation, as well as the financial needs of such, will improve my ability to apply sustainable practices to businesses, towns, and my own personal life alike.”
Gabe Montalbano
Degree Program: BSBA Economics; Minor in Behavioral Economics
“A key part of solving the climate crisis is fully comprehending the motivations powering leaders in the public and private sectors. COP 28 is a space where those are laid flat on the table through negotiations, a truly valuable process to witness firsthand. I hope to deeply grasp all factors that are continuing the climate crisis and use that knowledge to shape my future leadership decisions.”
Daniel Rose
Degree Program: MS Appropriate Technology
“Although I enjoy the technical aspect of environmental sustainability, it has always been clear that the integration of these systems is highly dependent on the policies that guide them. This opportunity will allow me to gain a more holistic view of global sustainability initiatives, which will further my understanding of how to establish similar policies for cities, businesses, and other establishments.”
Faculty
Dr. Lee Ball
Chief Sustainability Officer
Dr. Ball's scholarly and professional interests focus on nature-based solutions, sustainability leadership, sustainability literacy, resilience, biophilic design, regenerative design, decarbonization, climate justice, and change agency related to community engagement. He has a doctorate in Sustainability Education, a master's degree in Environmental Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science.
Dr. Dave McEvoy
Professor and Chair, Economics
Dr. McEvoy serves at the Organization Head for App State's involvement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. His research is focused on the design and effectiveness of international environmental agreements. Dr. McEvoy has graduate degrees in environmental economics from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University College London.
Past Delegations
Get Involved
Email mcevoydm@appstate.edu.
In the Press
Jan. 23, 2023
An Appalachian State University delegation of students and campus leaders returned from the recent United Nations climate change conference in Egypt with a shared sense of hope and purpose, an eye-opening firsthand look at international policymaking — and a job offer.
The trip to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend the 27th Annual Conference of Parties (COP27) in November marked the second consecutive year that App State was represented at the event, which is held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The 12-day conference drew over 40,000 delegates representing 198 countries engaged in the global response to climate change.
- Podcast episode: AppState at the United Nations Climate Conference - 04/28/23
- Honors College Students Travel to Egypt - Honors College Appstate - 11/30/22
- Three App State leaders attend climate summit in Scotland - Watauga Democrat - 11/11/21
- AppState leaders reflect on COP 26 conference - Watauga Democrat - 11/30/21