Visiting Lecturer Gerard Finin (M.R.P. ’86, Ph.D. CRP ’91) and students of the multi-disciplinary special topics course Global Climate Change Science and Policy traveled to New York City to participate in the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD). In its seventh year, the conference was hosted by The Earth Institute at Columbia University.
The ICSD was part of the week-long Climate Week NYC 2019 event, which provided a forum for non-profit organizations, various levels of governments, and businesses to share practical solutions and goals for climate adaptation and mitigation.
At a dinner meeting following the conference, Finin and the students met with guests from the Kingdom of Tonga, which included: Hon. Mahe Tupouniua, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Dr. T. Suka Mangisi, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Permanent Mission of Tonga to the United Nations; Rose Kautoke, Assistant Crown Counsel; and Siosiua Utoi’kamanu, Kingdom of Tonga Representative.
Students discussed the strategies for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The guests from Tonga and the class shared their thoughts on the challenges SIDS face when trying to accelerate climate adaptation and mitigation practices both domestically and at the international level.
“Although SIDS have historically been relatively small contributors of global carbon emissions, they have been the most vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change – from degradation and loss of fisheries to devastating cyclones,” shared Louis Chua (M.S. R.S. ’20) following the dinner.
Later in the semester, a student team led by Finin in the course will focus on the Kingdom of Tonga. They will be developing strategies and consulting for the kingdom, leading up to the COP25 conference, which will be held in Santiago, Chile later this year.
Global Climate Change Science and Policy is a multi-department seminar supported by Engaged Cornell. In addition to Finin, the course is taught by faculty from other colleges within the university, including Assistant Professor Linda Shi of City and Regional Planning.
Past courses and workshops of Finin’s have worked with constituents of Tonga to study the climate change impact on the kingdom. This past spring, Finin took his International Planning and Development Workshop to Tonga where they saw firsthand the impact of global warming on their livelihood. Students witnessed the coastal erosion conditions and water infrastructure, which were just a few challenges among many that communities face as a result of climate change.