Macalester College Professor Attends United Nations Climate Summit in Brazil (COP30)

This month, Macalester environmental studies professor Dr. Roopali Phadke has a front-row seat to historic climate talks in South America as she attends the 2025 United Nations Climate Summit (COP30) in Brazil. 

“This is an opportunity for Brazil, and Latin America, and the Global South, to be at the center of climate conversations,” Dr. Phadke says. “The Amazon is such an important region as the lungs of the planet.”

About 5,000 miles away from St. Paul, Dr. Phadke is connecting with government representatives and business leaders as they negotiate climate solutions with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving forests, adapting to climate change, and financing climate initiatives. 

“You’ve got the diplomatic delegates who represent nation-states, you’ve got the corporate sector, you’ve got the press, you’ve got civil society, and they are all here at this meeting trying to press for policy change,” Phadke says. “It’s such an extraordinary opportunity to have conversations with people from all of these sectors.”

COP30 could prove to be a pivotal moment in the effort to advance international climate action and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, 10 years after the treaty was adopted.

“This is a year when countries are putting forward their third round of national pledges to cut emissions,” Phadke says. “There’s a lot of hope that other countries, especially the European Union, will not follow the U.S. path and instead will ratchet up their support for climate action.”

The event—held Nov. 10-21—is happening in the heart of the Amazon. Phadke’s journey marks her fifth time attending, after participating in previous summits in Paris, Glasgow, Bonn, and Dubai.

Dr. Phadke will return later this month, bringing back lessons from the summit to share in the classroom. On Dec. 4, Dr. Phadke plans to host a discussion on campus to share her experiences with students.