SFU climate action and sustainability leaders to attend COP 27

Simon Fraser University is delighted to be participating in the 27^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt this November. The annual international meeting brings together the 197 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This is the first time SFU has sent a formal delegation of SFU community members. Delegates are attending as official observers to learn how climate negotiations take place, connect with other global organizations, share with the SFU community what they see and learn and speak at sessions showcasing SFU's climate action leadership. Representatives from SFU 350—the student-led climate action group—will have the opportunity to engage with other international youth climate leaders.

The SFU delegation includes:

• Dugan O’Neil, Vice-President, Research and International
• Candace Ratelle-Le Roy, Executive Director, SFU Sustainability 
• Kayla Blok, Associate Director, SFU Sustainability  
• Jude Crasta, Program Manager, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
• Elodie Jacquet, Knowledge and Practice Manager, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
• Paige Hunter, Resource and Environmental Management, SFU 350 member, Research Assistant, ACT - Action on Climate Team
• Skye Noh, BBA Sustainable Business, SFU 350 member

Ratelle-Le Roy explains how SFU’s attendance is important for the university. “Our purpose in sending a delegation is to potentially influence the COP27 outcomes, build international connections and partnerships to further climate innovation and to share what we learn from the conference with the SFU community, furthering climate literacy."

Participation in COP 27 aligns well with SFU’s demonstrated commitment to climate action and envisioning a better future for the planet. Earlier this year, SFU formally declared a global climate emergency and previously joined the UN’s Race To Zero campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner.

SFU was recognized by the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for our leadership in advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—urgent work to address climate change and create more just and equitable societies. SFU ranked 8^th in the world for its commitment to sustainable cities and communities—SDG 11, and within the top 10 in the country for climate action (SDG 13) and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16).

During COP 27, The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue will be hosting two events: a networking lunch for delegates, and a panel on multilevel climate action. Both events are opportunities for the community to network and identify emerging insights from COP 27, and discuss strategies for collectively advancing climate and community resilience. 

"COP27 provides an exciting opportunity to connect the work we do at SFU 350 to student-led climate action across the globe,” says Hunter. “Our focus areas of institutional fossil fuel divestment and community reinvestment are emerging as powerful tools for climate resilience, and we look forward to sharing our process and success stories with youth from around the world.”

“We feel very honoured to be student representatives for our organization,” adds Noh, “and we are excited to bring back knowledge and insights to apply to our work here.”

The delegates will be sharing information with the SFU community and general public during and after the conference via social media and other channels.