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Hear from our COP27 delegates

Hear from our delegates

Monash was honoured to have once again participated in COP and have the opportunity to share our climate change expertise and knowledge with youth from across the world, thought leaders, activists and experts, other universities and policy makers, researchers and scientists. Climate change impacts us all and addressing the challenges is an urgent priority and core focus for Monash. With COP27 now concluded, here is what our Monash delegates had to say about their experience at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Dr Susie Ho
Monash Delegation Co-Lead, Director of the Monash Innovation Guarantee and Associate Dean of International and Graduate Education

Why are you passionate about climate change?

I am passionate about climate change because it affects the whole of the economy and our society. It affects every community and every walk of life, and it particularly affects the most vulnerable among us – including women, First Nations peoples, and youth. Everyone should be passionate about climate change because every one of us will have to take steps forward to secure earth’s life support systems and create a positive future.

I am particularly passionate about empowering young people to approach the issues of climate change and advance the SDGs. As recognised by the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, education is one of the most powerful mechanisms we have for accelerating sustainable transitions across the whole of our society.

As such, my mission is to create transformative education programs that provide future leaders and change agents with the skills, knowledge, mindsets and networks they will need. Our future leaders will need to innovate and move beyond business as usual in their future careers, whether they will go on to work in NPOs, government or UN agencies, startups, corporations, or within their local communities.

What were your hopes for COP27?

I had hoped that youth and other marginalised voices would be front and centre at COP27. I hope the next COP will create deeper engagement with those most impacted by climate change.

Youth were vocal about the big issue of COP27, ‘loss and damage finance’ – how much developed nations are willing to pay to developing nations, acknowledging that wealthy nations have reaped economic benefits from their own unsustainable development. As COP raced towards its late conclusion, a breakthrough occurred, with the EU spearheading a loss and damage fund. It became clear that a majority of countries want to quit fossil fuels, even if they are torn as to who pays the bill.

However, there was a sense of disappointment among youth. There was a feeling on the ground that discussions should have further integrated the voices of those most impacted by climate change, such as First Nations peoples, women, and young people. Perhaps this occurred because the voices of minority groups and grassroots civil society activists were somewhat muted this year, with protesters largely relegated to an approved space.

Has your experience at COP27 matched your expectations?

This year at COP27 we made incremental change when systematic transformation was needed, and this was most keenly felt and voiced by our young people. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez-Echandi, CEO of the Global Environmental Facility, said “investing in system change is investing in the youth”. Are we investing enough?

Whilst COP27 led to progress on the issue of loss and damage, we failed to accelerate mitigation and emissions reduction and as such youth called out some organisations for greenwashing.

On the other hand, the young people present were incredibly inspiring. Their voices were urgent, unwavering and clear. Global youth are mobilising to create real change, with a focus on climate and environmental justice.

What experience or expertise did you share at COP27?

I worked on the Action for Climate Empowerment Agenda under Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, as part of various global projects focused upon education and engaging youth in intergovernmental processes. I worked with the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education and the Climate Education, Communication and Outreach Stakeholders Community under the UNFCCC. I am also part of the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education Project, a project linked to UNESCO and the IPCC aiming to create global benchmarks for quality climate change education worldwide.

I was thrilled to moderate and organise various press conferences that allowed students from 10 different universities to raise their voices on issues such as climate justice, the Talanoa dialogues, and youth leadership. It was fantastic to be able to support our two incredible Monash youth delegates to participate in COP. They were also part of a youth art exhibition capturing the youth voice hosted in the US Center that was visited by John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and other dignitaries.

What were your key takeaways from COP27?

Climate action can be tiring and overwhelming at times, so it is really important that young people have a community to support them. COP provides an important forum for youth to come together and become part of a global community and movement. This will empower, energise and sustain them in their work ahead. This global community is also important because it allows young people to learn to collaborate across boundaries of discipline, culture and sector to create multidimensional solutions to this complex global problem.

Can you name three things individuals can do to mitigate climate change?

The most important part of being a sustainability leader, in any setting or any way you choose, is sustaining yourself. Prioritising your own health and wellbeing is crucial to maintaining your passion.
The issue of climate change can feel overwhelming. Choose one way you will take action, whether that is through your studies, activism, career or local community, and take pride in that action. This will help you navigate feelings that the problem is just too big to tackle. If everyone takes action, we will greatly accelerate our progress.
Find your network. Collaboration is your key to finding the energy, knowledge and resources to make a difference. Join communities of practice, related to the issue, industries or actions that you are most interested in.

Isabelle (Izzy) Zhu-Maguire
Monash University student, Master of International Relations

Why are you passionate about Climate Change?

There are no reasons why people should not be passionate about climate change. The effects of climate change will impact us all. And I, as a young person, will experience these effects more intensely compared to the generations before me. Climate change will also impact the people who are marginalised more intensely. Hence, I’m passionate as I need to use my privilege to fight for those who are marginalised and silenced.

What are your hopes for COP27?

I hope that global leaders will see strength in numbers. I hope that they see young people and indigenous leaders speaking out against climate change and they will feel the pressure to act on our cries. But I also hope activists will find community. Climate action is an exhausting space to be in and can be very isolating. So I hope activists are able to find each other at COP and create a community of love and support.

Has your experience at COP27 matched your expectations?

Many aspects have – for example, I expected to find a community of young people (particularly Asia-Pacific young people) and I did. I met the most amazing, empathetic, intelligent people and I am excited to keep working with them.

However, I did expect COP to be more accessible. I thought there would be more opportunity to contribute to high level discussions. However, in reality I experienced a rigid hierarchy whereby most activists do not get the opportunity to contribute. That was a disappointing reality.

What expertise have you shared at COP27?

I shared my organisation knowledge and organised two meet-ups with Asia-Pacific Youth at COP27. These were my favourite moments of the whole COP – meeting one-another and working together to create impact that could last beyond COP27.

I also shared my project ‘Afghan women at the forefront of climate change’ at a press conference. This was an incredible experience to create a voice for Afghan women who have been silenced.

What are your key takeaways from COP27?

Young people are incredibly intelligent – they are experts on everything. They know more than people think and should be trusted more as negotiators and delegates.

There is still much more work to be done – inaccessibility is still an issue for first nations people, people with disabilities and the poor.

What are the top three things we can do to mitigate climate change?

Speak out. Whilst progress is slow, much of the progress we are seeing is as a direct result of global unrest. The best thing you can do is stand-up and speak out.
Join movements. There are so many climate initiatives popping up around the world. But I believe the best thing you can do is join a movement that already exists that you care about. Localise the movement for your local context but create strength in numbers. Sometimes the best thing you can do is be an ally and supporter of a movement that is already proven successful.
Take time for yourself. Everyone at COP is exhausted, burnt-out and anxious. The movement will not survive if we are all just hanging on by a thread. Take the time you need to rest – sometimes, that can be the best thing you can do for the movement.

Jade Hameister OAM
Monash University student, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Global Studies

Why are you passionate about climate change?

In January 2018, at 16 years old, I became the youngest person in history to ski to the North and South Poles, and across Greenland. With the privilege of first-hand experience in all three polar regions, I now feel a deep emotional connection with earth and a responsibility to play my part in the protection of these incredibly beautiful and fragile environments.

What are your hopes for COP27?

Today’s youth will inherit this great threat of global warming and the political decisions of today’s leaders. I’m confident that my generation will have the technology, the passion and the unified movement to make a meaningful difference – but it’s up to the current generation of leaders to make sure we still have a fighting chance. I hope that we’ll be given that fighting chance.

Has your experience at COP27 matched your expectations?

As my first COP, COP27 has been overwhelming but also an incredible learning experience. I’m inspired by the coming together of diverse groups of people from around the world with a common goal – something we must get used to if we’re to have any chance of reaching the 1.5 degree target. I'm very grateful to Monash for giving me the opportunity to attend on their behalf.

What has your contribution been at COP27?

The almost 80 days I spent in the world's polar regions opened my eyes at a young age to the devastating impact humans are having on the environment. I’m not an expert on the science of global warming, but I’m likely the only person on the planet of my generation to have directly witnessed its effects in the three polar regions. I hope that by sharing my experiences I can inspire young people to create change.

What are the top three things we can do to mitigate climate change?

The most important thing we can do every day to make a difference is to be conscious consumers – every purchasing decision we make has an impact and with our decisions we can influence companies to make changes. For example:

buy 100 per cent green energy for your home
walk or ride a bike where you can instead of driving a car
consider a more plant-rich diet
reduce single-use plastics in your lifestyle
research everyday products you buy and look for companies that are committed to carbon neutral.

We also need to voice our expectations as to what outcomes we seek, particularly as my generation will inherit this great problem to solve. We must put aside our differences and think and act as one species facing an extinction event of our own making.

Shreejan Pandey
General Manager, Monash Energy Institute

Why are you passionate about Climate Change?

As a Nepali New Zealander, mountains are a core part of my identity. My family has lived among towering snow-capped mountains for generations. Over the past few decades, I have frequented the Southern Alps in New Zealand and experienced the impact of climate change; retreating glaciers and the lack of snow are the most evident. Following the oil price shocks in the new millennium, I was compelled to pursue an education and a career in renewable energy.