A news release this week announced that two University of Vermont sustainability researchers — Asim Zia and Jon Erickson — are heading to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil. This year marks the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP30.
According to the release, several scientists from across UVM will attend virtually from the Green Mountain State with “observer status.”
Zia, of UVM’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is organizing a panel focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and climate. Erickson, of UVM’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, will speak about ecological economics, with a focus on regional climate solutions. Both are fellows of UVM’s Gund Institute for Environment.
Zia has led over $70 million in research projects and directs UVM’s Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security and co-directs the Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab.
At COP, Erickson will explore state and regional climate leadership, including ways to create and strengthen climate-resilient regional economies.
The “Vermont contingent” has much to add to the global conversation. We are among those living it. Erickson notes in the news release that Vermont is part of the U.S. Climate Alliance — a group of 24 states representing 55% of the U.S. population and 60% of the U.S. economy. Collectively, these states have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 24% below 2005 levels while increasing collective Gross Domestic Product by 34%. Erickson has been tracking areas of progress (and lack thereof) since the landmark Paris Agreement 10 years ago, the release states.
“This is a proud moment for Vermont,” said Zia. “UVM is not only contributing cutting-edge research but is also leading a global conversation on how AI innovation can accelerate climate action and improve our resilience.”
The work being done in Brazil and across the globe affects us right here.
We all know that climate impacts are local. Scores of Vermont communities have been faced with the implications of extreme weather events, most notably flooding, but also droughts, dangerous frosts and even smoke from Canadian wildfires.
According to the event website, COP30 is centered around the goals of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, strengthening adaptation and resilience, and mobilizing climate finance. For small Vermont towns like ours, which are often more exposed to climate-driven changes creates economic and ecological threats. These global decisions filter down to local effects. If world leaders adopt stronger measures at COP30, the ripple effect means less severe changes regionally and a better chance for these towns to plan and adapt.
Erickson’s work hits very close to home. One of COP30’s critical agendas is scaling up climate finance and means of implementation, in other words: how communities around the world get resources to adapt, mitigate and build resilience.
For Vermont, that means federal and state policies influenced by COP30 outcomes might unlock more grant programs, technical assistance or infrastructure funds for things like flood-resilient bridges and culverts, forest management, community energy projects or additional winter tourism adaptation.
As a four-season state (five, if you count mud season), our small towns rely on natural resources (forests, farms and outdoor recreation), utilities or small municipal operations and seasonal economies (winter sports, leaf-peeping). Fortunately, COP30 emphasizes “nature-based solutions,” transitions to renewable energy and protecting ecosystems, according to the website.
Certainly, Vermont has already made strides in that direction. Recent floods and weather events have forced discussions toward mitigation and changes across communities and watersheds. It has led to a realignment of the climate conversation at the highest levels of state government. But those conversations often become rooted in dollar values.
COP30 emphasizes adaptation as being not just cost but “a lifeline.” For sure, small towns may have fewer resources and more vulnerability (aging infrastructure, limited budgets, small staff). When COP30 outcomes push for more inclusive adaptation planning and for stronger links between high-level negotiations and local action it means small Vermont towns stand to gain by being able to tap into those networks and structures. At least that the hope would be we could build better stormwater systems, update zoning for changing climate, enhance local emergency response, and protect local forests and streams. Climate is not a “far away” issue. We are living with it. The UVM team will share their work, and help to tell our story. For that, we should be grateful.
In the meantime, as the conversations in Brazil take shape, we should, as informed citizens, track what COP30 decides and how federal/state agencies respond; align local planning; chase down more funding sources; and engage at the local and regional level.
COP30 may be a global conversation, but Vermont towns can benefit from this global moment rather than simply being passively affected.
