Climate Hope: Caring for our Common Home

For over a decade, the University of Notre Dame has engaged with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP). The conference is the largest global event for discussions and negotiations on climate change. The meeting is held annually, with the presidency rotating among the five regions recognized by the United Nations. COP brings together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, and civil society to negotiate solutions and drive forward collective climate action.

In 2013, the University was granted a UNFCCC observer status, originally obtained through the work of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN). Today, the observer pass is steered by Notre Dame Global, allowing the University to send delegates to the annual conference.

Over the past ten years, Notre Dame has used its participation at COP to:

Provide students and faculty with learning experiences at the forefront of climate diplomacy
Contribute academic expertise to policy discussions
Highlight Notre Dame’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, as inspired by Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si’ and the University's strategic goal of Caring for Our Common Home

In recent years, delegations coordinated by Notre Dame Global and the Keough School of Global Affairs have attended COP sessions, participated in panels, published insights, and strengthened global partnerships. These engagements reflect the University’s dedication to sustainability and climate change by integrating education, research, and policy impact on the world stage.

Contact

For more information on the University's COP engagement, contact Maggie Dankert, director of academic strategy and partnerships, who serves as the University’s designated point of contact for the UNFCCC observer status.

COP31 Turkiye Call for Applications

The 2026 UN Climate Change Conference will convene from November 9-20 in Antalya, Türkiye. For more information, visit the COP31 Turkiye website and the Road to Antalya website.

Notre Dame faculty are invited to submit an application to be part of the ND delegation that goes to COP31. This will be a competitive process as the UNFCCC sets a quota for the number of individuals allowed in each delegation. If necessary, a selection committee will review the supplemental materials and open-ended questions to help us comply with the quota for the ND delegation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications should be submitted via this form by midnight EST on August 2, 2025.

COP31 ND Delegation SAMPLE Application

Recent Engagements

A large white #COP30 sign, with a brown base reading 'UN Climate Change Conference November 10-21, 2025,' stands before a textured brown building. A person walks on the right under a blue sky.

COP30 Belem, Brazil

In November 2025, three Notre Dame faculty members attended COP30 in Belem, Brazil. Daniele de Almeida Miranda (Biological Sciences), Marcio Bahia (Romance Languages & Literatures), and Sandra Vera-Munoz (Accountancy) observed negotiations, networked with scholars and practitioners, and witnessed the Belem Political Package agreement deliberations on how to advance adaptation finances and just transition mechanisms.

Pre-COP Conference São Paulo, Brazil

Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Research Partnerships for Climate Hope

Before the world gathered in Brazil for COP30, the University of Notre Dame hosted a re-COP Conference in São Paulo, Brazil. The University convened 12 faculty members from Notre Dame and 21 faculty members and scholars from several prominent Brazilian universities. For two days, participants shared their insights and concerns about climate-related issues. While the group brought unique perspectives based on their areas of expertise, they were united in their call for an interdisciplinary approach to climate action. Together, these thought leaders, scholars, and changemakers explored opportunities to deepen their commitment to global dialogue for sustainability and reflect on its mission to be a force for good—locally and globally.

Notre Dame Global and Notre Dame São Paulo, with the support of Notre Dame Club of Brazil, Notre Dame Research, the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership (NDDCEL), Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), and the Notre Dame Alumni Association, strengthen their partnerships in Brazil by hosting this conference together.

COP29 Baku, Azerbaijan

In November 2024, with the support of Notre Dame Global and Notre Dame Research, the University sent a team of faculty observers to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sessions at the conference included remarks and delegations from a diverse range of companies and organizations, including Deloitte, CISCO, the World Economic Forum, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, McKinsey, Ashoka, and many others.

Related articles:

Notre Dame team including NDDCEL director attends UN COP29 global climate talks

COP28 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Notre Dame’s presence at COP28, in Dubai, included student reflections, expert commentary, and research-driven policy discussions.

Highlights include: