Rutgers Engagement at the United Nations

Dr. Danielle Falzon, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, provides her reflections on attending the COP30 Conference, the United Nations negotiations on climate change, in Brazil in November. 

"Amidst discontent from countries and accusations of procedural misconduct, the Brazilian presidency of this year’s annual meeting of the United Nations negotiations on climate change (known as the Conference of the Parties or COP)  brought COP 30  to a close on Saturday, November 22nd. The outcomes were reflective of disappointing compromises between some countries that were working to advance climate action and reduce emissions, and others that were doing their best to protect their national interests and ensure the continued burning of fossil fuels."

Manuela Gomez, a recent graduate of the M.A. program in Peace and Conflict Studies and an alumna of the Political Science program at Rutgers University–Newark, is forging a powerful path in international relations; one rooted in personal experience, global engagement, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable peace.

Originally from Colombia, Manuela grew up amid decades of armed conflict, witnessing the profound toll violence takes on communities and individuals. Those realities sparked her early interest in peacebuilding and motivated her to pursue academic work that could help illuminate global pathways to conflict resolution.

Pamela McElwee, professor in the Department of Human Ecology, represented Rutgers University at the UN’s 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia.