COP28 gives USC students hands-on experience with global environmental policy

Since fall 2021, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Environmental Studies, Political Science and International Relations Shannon Gibson has shepherded a small group of USC students through  the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) on climate change. The conference brings together a wide variety of people–heads of state, high-ranking policymakers, media, activists, and more–to address the impacts and root causes of climate change and work toward solutions. It culminates each year in a unanimous treaty (usually referred to as an agreement) that lays out next steps for participating nations.

This year’s agreement included language calling on all parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade.” The language was milder than that favored by many policymakers and activists, but still marks the first time a COP agreement has explicitly recognized the need to eliminate fossil fuels from the international energy system.

This year was also remarkable for Gibson and her students, as it marked the first time that students could participate in COP as part of a for-credit course, ENST 499 Global Climate Negotiations: Policy Research and Communications. Developed with support from a USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability Teaching Innovation Award, the course organized graduate and undergraduate students into research clusters around the topics of civil society (i.e., climate activism), climate finance, and climate change mitigation.

Students’ work focused on learning the history and processes of COP, how to conduct qualitative research, how to communicate about climate policy to a general audience, and analysis of COP28 activities and policies. They also completed a pre-COP28 communications and planning retreat at the Wrigley Institute’s Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island before attending COP28 remotely from the USC Sustainability Hub on the University Park Campus.

“This experience really shows students the underbelly of global politics, sort of ‘how the sausage gets made’ when it comes to climate treaties. They get to see all the prep work by various stakeholders, the normative battles that emerge over various issues, and then how the treaty text unfolds in real time,” Gibson says.

However, the firsthand exposure to policymaking was not her only goal for the course. As the students gained research experience, she also wanted them to learn how to translate that research for a non-academic, non-specialist audience.

“I’ve come to realize that we’re not going to solve the climate crisis or inspire new young activists by publishing yet another peer-reviewed journal article that sits behind a paywall,” Gibson says. “I really wanted to shift this course to focusing on everyday communications–social media, YouTube, blogs, and so forth–where it will hopefully reach the people who really matter and who need to be engaged.”

While attending COP, Gibson often sees her students gain a “healthy dose of cynicism” as they witness the realities of policymaking, see how activists are sometimes literally shut out of discussions, and watch nations greenwash policies or resist urgent change. At the same time, however, she feels optimistic. Many of her students told her they were inspired by the work of activists and vulnerable nations, and she knows their work helps shed light on the more problematic aspects of COP, such as the presence of large numbers of fossil fuel lobbyists and the potential conflicts of interest posed by hosting the conference in locations whose economies are almost entirely dependent on oil.

Keep reading for her students’ firsthand accounts of what they learned from ENST 499 and COP28. (Student submissions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)

Students share their COP28 experiences

Andrew Bawiec (they/he) ’25

Environmental studies major, theatre and GIS & sustainability science minors

I have a strong interest in climate justice issues. I did an internship in summer 2021 investigating flooding inequities in Maryland, and I attended the National Environmental Justice Conference in March 2023. However, my exposure to climate justice issues was limited to the United States. I took this course to expand my climate justice perspectives outside of the U.S. and the Global North.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of advocates fighting for “radical” climate justice. In the U.S., it sometimes feels that ideas like decolonization and anti-capitalism are niche concepts that very few people would support or advocate for in public. However, there are thousands if not millions of advocates around the globe fighting for these issues, especially from the Global South and Indigenous Peoples. It was refreshing and inspiring to escape my Global North bubble.

Giancarlo Ceja (he/him) ’24

Environmental studies and international relations majors, web technologies and applications minor

I was surprised by the disconnect that existed between the COP28 presidency and civil society. Throughout the conference, the president would regularly proclaim COP28 as the “north star” for climate governance and combating climate change. At the same time, onlookers were rightfully critical of weak texts and the unwillingness to call for a phase-out of fossil fuels.

Learning about the differing viewpoints that the Global North and Global South have on tackling climate change was extremely important, seeing as there is a large disconnect regarding the role of markets, sequestration methods, and alternative energy. As decisions at COP are made by consensus, it is critical to understand these divides that prevent certain language from making it into agreements.

Will Erens (he/him) ’25

Political economy major, environmental studies minor