COP30 - Belem, Brazil - November 2025
5 students from Emory University will be attending the UN's Conference of the Parties (COP) negotiations in Belem, Brazil. The students will meet professionals from around the globe and observe international negotiations between countries vying for climate action. As other Climate Hub contributors have noted, this year's conference is hotly debated and stands as a pivotal moment for international collaboration on climate goals set at COP21.
Student Delegates
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Lainey Render
COP30 Delegate
With a BS in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech, Lainey has a background working on resilient water infrastructure with Engineers Without Borders, sustainable food systems with the Urban Agriculture Project, and low-resource building efforts in post-conflict settings with Georgia Tech's High Performance Building Lab.
She is passionate about the intersection of the built environment with environmental and human health as well as sustainable global development in the face of the changing climate.
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Carter Douglas-Brown
COP30 Delegate
Carter is studying Environmental Science (Social Science and Policy) and Anthropology (Global Development, Health, and Sustainability). She is passionate about the intersection of people, policy, and the planet.
Carter has worked to promote environmental justice and stewardship here on campus through her leadership role at Outdoor Emory, as well as her active participation with other climate organizations here on campus.
Carter is studying Environmental Science (Social Science and Policy) and Anthropology (Global Development, Health, and Sustainability). She is passionate about the intersection of people, policy, and the planet.
Carter has worked to promote environmental justice and stewardship here on campus through her leadership role at Outdoor Emory, as well as her active participation with other climate organizations here on campus.
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Hannah Kezia Jose, '25 LGS
WHO Delegate
Hannah Kezia Jose is a dedicated Community Development Professional with expertise in knowledge management, program coordination, and capacity building. With extensive experience in climate resilience and disaster risk reduction, she has worked at both national and grassroots levels across India’s development and humanitarian sectors.
Hannah has collaborated with governmental and non-governmental organizations, including CARE USA, Sphere India, and Shreyas, in various capacities. Her work focuses on designing and developing capacity-building modules, knowledge management and communication strategies and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to support vulnerable populations. Skilled in fostering partnerships across global sectors and managing diverse stakeholder relationships, Hannah is passionate about locally-led adaptation strategies, participatory governance, and inclusive development. Her efforts aim to promote equity and resilience for marginalized communities, ensuring their voices shape sustainable solutions. Hannah holds a Master’s in Development Studies from BRAC University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Asian University for Women. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Development Practice at Emory University, concentrating in Sustainable Environment and Livelihoods, to further her expertise in sustainable development and environmental conservation.
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Rodrigo Puentes Muñoz
COP30 Delegate
Rodrigo has vast experience in the public health sector, where he primarily focused on statistical research using laboratory-based surveillance data to study infectious diseases. His background in statistical methods and epidemiological study designs has fostered the foundational tools to further explore the impacts of climate variability on health.
Rodrigo has vast experience in the public health sector, where he primarily focused on statistical research using laboratory-based surveillance data to study infectious diseases. His background in statistical methods and epidemiological study designs has fostered the foundational tools to further explore the impacts of climate variability on health.
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Belle Pobsuk
COP30 Delegate
Belle is a Business (Organization and Management) and Environmental Science major in the class of 2027.
Belle's previous professional background includes supply chain & operations at AA Tools a retail company, the Saikawa research lab, and ESG at Hilton Grand Vacations. This summer she will be going into consulting, specifically at Bain & Company.
Student work at COP30
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Amplifying Global South Voices for Climate Action and Evidence-Based Policymaking
The student delegates spent time organizing an official side-event at COP30 on November 18, 2025. A panel discussed how research and practice can lead to effective climate action and policymaking. Speakers also discussed mechanisms to enhance global collaboration and how to support Global South early and mid-career researchers and knowledge holders.
Meet the Program Director
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Eri Saikawa, PhD
Director of Emory Climate Hub & Faculty Advisor
Eri Saikawa, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University and the Director of Emory Climate Hub. Professor Saikawa's research is diverse covering areas of atmospheric chemistry, environmental health, biogeochemistry, climate science, environmental policy/politics. In addition to her work with Emory Climate Hub, she also serves as a Co-Director of the Resilience and Sustainability Collaboratory.