The Sights and Sounds of COP30

"On the positive side, it seems like health is really progressing as a lever for the climate agenda, with the Belém Health Action Plan, key health metrics in the global goal on adaptation and the potential of more funding for climate adaptation. But key components are still missing (and in some ways have gone backwards), including a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels and protecting forests."

"In the meantime, I worked with different friends and colleagues to produce a podcast episode to document my time at COP30. Special thanks to Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe, an M.S. candidate at Columbia Journalism School, for introducing and producing the episode. Here, I share real-time audio from the conference and daily reflections as I speak with colleagues, attendees and activists, all while navigating extreme heat, torrential rain and a fire inside the COP30 conference space."

Health advanced as a lever for climate action via the Belém Health Action Plan, inclusion of key health metrics in the global adaptation goal, and prospects for increased adaptation funding. Significant gaps remain, including missing or regressing roadmaps to phase out fossil fuels and to protect forests. Plans are in place to increase engagement at COP31 after witnessing intense negotiation efforts and building international connections. A podcast episode and real-time conference audio documented the experience, produced with colleagues including Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe. Field conditions included extreme heat, torrential rain, and a fire inside the COP30 conference space.

Read at State of the Planet