College student from Hudson takes part in largest climate change conference

Jonah Seifert from Hudson is among 10 students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB-SJU) who traveled to Belém, Brazil, in November to take part in the world’s largest climate change conference: The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – also known as COP30. Drawing roughly 50,000 participants from across the globe, COP30 represents the pinnacle of international climate discourse.

CSB-SJU is one of only three higher education institutions in the Upper Midwest granted “observer status” at the conference. This means participating CSB-SJU students were allowed to observe formal negotiations and panel and roundtable discussions about the future of global climate change. This trip is part of CSB-SJU’s ongoing commitment to giving students opportunities to expand their worldviews. Seifert is a senior studying environmental studies at SJU.

“This experience gives our students a front-row seat to the global conversation of climate policy,” said Troy Knight, associate professor of environmental studies. “Seeing how decisions are made on an international stage helps them connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world change and deepens their understanding of how collaboration can shape our shared future.”

After returning from the conference, Seifert and his classmates will continue their work by conducting research, interviewing experts and compiling information related to their chosen topic of interest. They will share their findings and experiences when they return to Minnesota, contributing to a broader understanding of global policy and its impact on efforts to address climate change.