International Climate Conference Participation in Glasgow, Scotland

Student Joins Drexel Delegation at COP26

Sarah Wetzel, BS public health ’23, was one of several undergraduate students in Drexel University’s delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s annual Conference of Parties (COP).

Held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021, the COP26 conference aligned with the goals of Drexel’s 2021 Climate Year initiatives.

In preparation for the COP26 conference, Wetzel and the other undergraduate student attendees took a “Great Works: Climate Action” colloquium course in the Pennoni Honors College. Taught by Adam Zahn, the Office of Global Engagement’s Director of Global Engagement, the course studied COP-related issues and featured guest speakers with COP experience.

Asked by DrexelNow about the opportunity to attend COP26, Wetzel shared:

“Like many of my peers, I’ve always been invested in the fight against climate change, but I’ve never been given the space to do anything substantial. Now, as a public health student, I am learning concrete ways to improve lives and address some of the inequities in our society. I originally saw COP26 as an opportunity to learn more about ending the inequities caused by climate change.”

“I’ve been so inspired by young activists here — not just the ones in the streets, but the ones who engage with politicians and organizations throughout the year...I’ve heard from young women who have no choice but to advocate for their communities, which are burning, contaminated by pollution from mines, or devastated by poverty. I want everyone to understand how vital this issue is.”

The Drexel delegation for the second week of COP26 at Loch Ness. From left to right: William Newman, Sarah Wetxel, School of Education EdD candidate Anita Forrester, Kristy Kelly (behind Forrester), Niyi Onanuga and Atharva Bhagwat.

Photo courtesy of Atharva Bhagwat

Highlighting the Need to Fight for Better Air Quality for Children

Ana Ortigoza, MD, PhD, a researcher at Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL), and Michelle Bachelet, MD, former President of Chile and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, participated in a high-level panel on taking advantage of air pollution mitigation to accelerate climate action at COP26.

This November 11, 2021, panel was moderated by Xavier Altamirano, Executive Director of Horizonte Ciudadano, and was in collaboration with the Melimoyu Ecosystem Research Institute (MERI) Foundation.

Ortigoza and Bachelet are pediatricians by training who have focused on population health. During the conference, both highlighted the growing evidence base on the role of social factors in determining vulnerability and population exposure to poor air quality and other environmental risks associated with climate change.

“There is an urgency for children to be able to prioritize these climate actions in their health, not only because they are vulnerable from a biological point of view, but also because many of these children currently live in poverty in Latin America. And poverty adds vulnerability to it,” said Ortigoza.

They emphasized actionable items that can help in decision-making processes at each level of intervention to inform and promote local, national, and regional responses.