Reflections from Northwestern University's COP30 Delegation: Day 3
For a fifth year, a delegation of Northwestern University students and faculty supported by the Roberta Buffett Institute is among more than 50,000 researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and activists at the world’s largest annual international treaty negotiations and climate summit, the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held this year in Belém, Brazil. Each day, a different Northwestern delegate is blogging about their experiences and reflections. Day 3 features Kunjal Bastola, a fourth-year undergraduate studying journalism, political science, and environmental policy & culture.
Hello all,
I am writing to you from Belém, Brazil, also known as the gateway to the Amazon and home to many Indigenous Amazonian tribes. My research focus here at COP30 is on Indigenous representation in global climate conversations, particularly examining what the demands of Indigenous Peoples are and to what extent they are met, as this COP is being hailed as the “Indigenous COP.” I am also interested in if and how Indigenous Knowledge is incorporated into policy outcomes from the conference.
My day always begins with a juice box, and today’s fruit of choice was manga (mango). It is the best way to start an early sunny morning in Belém.
The first event I attended was the Local Communities & Indigenous Peoples Platform’s Annual Seventh-Generation Round Table: Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange for Collective Continuance of Knowledge Systems, Cultural Heritage, & Stewardship with Nature. I was moved by the stories and experiences Indigenous Knowledge Holders shared, especially the many youth who were at the center of today’s meeting. The seventh-generation concept, which emphasizes the need to take actions now that will ensure a better future for the people of the future, carries with it the weight of a long struggle for inclusion and justice. I am interested in seeing how the discussions so far translate into policy outcomes.
Now, it was time for a coffee break, and of all the free coffee being offered in the pavilions, I am here to declare that the Global Climate Mobility Pavilion has the best coffee. I usually opt for an Arabian coffee which has notes of cardamon and saffron, but today I went with the cinnamon coffee, which did not disappoint.
I then attended a meeting on Indigenous Peoples & Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0, where I heard from a panel on the state of Indigenous representation in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). According to a recently updated report published by the organizers of the panel, of the 195 active NDCs at the time of publication, only 90 mentioned Indigenous Peoples. The consensus from the speakers was that the number should be higher. Even with the recognition of Indigenous Peoples as rights holders per the Paris Agreement, substantial progress has yet to be made on taking tangible action to include Indigenous voices in climate solutions.
As I arrived at the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion for my next event, He Kāhu Pōkere ki te Rangi: Māori-Led Climate Innovation, Solutions, & Action, I ran into an Indigenous Nepali woman I met on Day 1 of COP. My family comes from Nepal, and to me, there is nothing that warms my heart more than building connections with other Nepali people, and especially at a global platform like COP, where small developing countries like Nepal are often overlooked. To be able to speak to other Nepalis, in our own language, about the lack of Indigenous representation on a global scale and what it means for them to be able to attend this event and tell their stories, is truly the most enriching part of my days here.
After my last event for the day, I made my way into the Green Zone for the first time, an area of COP open to the public, where I saw many local Brazilians gathered to take part in this crucial moment in their city.
We ended the day with a meal at Amazônia na Cuia, where we tried an array of local dishes, including filhote (fish) and açaí.
As we hit the halfway point of our week here, I reflect upon the continued struggle of Indigenous Peoples in asking for more than simply a recognition of their rights. There is a week and a half left of the COP that has promised to deliver on the demands of historically overlooked Indigenous communities. We will see if those promises are kept. Yet, even as progress is slow on a global scale, I see resilience. I see it in the words of Indigenous women sharing their stories about their reciprocity to nature. I see it in Indigenous youth leading the fight for a better future. I see it in the sense of community between the peoples of the seven Indigenous regions who know that while each may face a different climate challenge, the struggle for representation is a shared struggle.
Thank you for reading,
Kunjal Bastola
Kunjal Bastola is a fourth-year undergraduate studying journalism, political science, and environmental policy & culture. Her family is from Nepal, and it was when the 2015 earthquake hit the country that she understood the importance of equitable solutions to environmental issues. She has worked for CleanAIRE NC, which aims to improve air quality in North Carolina. She participated in Medill on the Hill as an environmental reporter on Capitol Hill, covering topics from Native water access to plastic pollution. She was also a Planet Forward Correspondent, reporting on topics like Arctic salmon farming and environmental education.