University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) students are among 16 U-M student delegates who will be attending the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12. The students are available to comment.

Sarah Dieck Wells is a dual-degree master's student at the Ford School of Public Policy and SEAS. While pursuing her graduate studies, she has worked with U-M's Graham Sustainability Institute to develop and implement community engagement strategies to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency projects at the state and local government levels, and has supported communities aiming to leverage federal funding opportunities to support local sustainability initiatives.

"I am very excited to represent the University of Michigan as a student delegate at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in December," she said. "In addition to conversations related to climate financing and collaborative strategies to improve global resilience to the impacts of climate change, I am looking forward to hearing how countries respond to the findings from the first Global Stocktake process, which evaluates collective progress toward meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

"The updated contributions and climate policies set forth by nations are critically important to accomplishing these global adaptation and mitigation goals, so I will be watching this aspect of the negotiations closely."

Dieck will attend the second week of the two-week conference.

Contact: [email protected]

Shuhaib Nawawi is a doctoral student in resource policy and behavior at SEAS. His research explores a reduced complexity building-energy modeling approach for co-optimizing the objectives of occupants and the power grid in a changing climate.

Previously, Nawawi worked as a business development executive for Malaysia's only Fortune Global 500 company, PETRONAS, where he strategized and implemented decarbonization initiatives via solar and battery storage systems within the companies' oil and gas facilities. He also was a 2020 Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's in energy systems engineering.

At COP28, he hopes to gain a richer perspective on the complexities of international climate decision-making in the energy and built environment sectors.

"The irony of having the most important climate meeting in the petrostate United Arab Emirates chaired by an oil mogul is glaring," he said. "Given the fossil fuel industry's history of opposing, rather than aligning with, climate science and mitigation efforts, the concerns and criticism are evident. At COP28, I hope to see an outcome that leverages oil and gas's capabilities to genuinely decarbonize the world, moving beyond mere greenwashing."

Nawawi will attend the first week of the two-week conference.

Contact: [email protected]

Carmen Wagner is a dual-degree master's student at the Ford School of Public Policy and School for Environment and Sustainability, specializing in environmental justice and environmental policy and planning. Her master's project at SEAS, working with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, focused on overcoming barriers to disseminating and accessing climate information services in Samoa and Vanuatu. She provided policy recommendations for local governments, NGOs and regional/international development organizations. Wagner is also interested in ensuring a just energy transition, energy efficiency efforts and renewable energy investments internationally.

"Energy systems across the world will need quick, smart and technological transformations toward clean energy to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. However, we must include frontline communities in decision-making processes and ensure equitable deployment of clean energy," she said. "This work involves policymakers, engineers, local communities, corporations and many more. At COP28, I look forward to learning more about how countries, policymakers and communities work to ensure a just transition.

"Furthermore, I'm curious to see the impacts of the COP27 Loss and Damage Fund, which provides funds to vulnerable nations impacted by climate change. My master's project in Vanuatu and Samoa exposed me to the major need for funding, resources and capacity-building in countries most impacted by climate change. I'm interested in whether this help has been provided and what work has been done with these funds."

Wagner will attend the first week of the two-week conference.

Contact: [email protected] 

Read the full experts advisory on the Michigan News website.