The 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Belém do Pará, Brazil from November 10-21, brought together global leaders, scientists, activists and members of civil society to advance international climate action. Ohio State faculty, students and alumni participated in virtual events and engaged at COP30 through a variety of opportunities.
Pre-COP30 roundtable highlights perspectives from Ohio and the Amazon
On November 3, the Ohio State Brazil Gateway — in collaboration with the Federal University of Pará, the nonprofit Meli Bees Network, and faculty from Ohio State’s Department of History — hosted a virtual roundtable in anticipation of COP30. The event brought together academic experts from the United States and Brazil, along with Indigenous leaders, to explore the role of civil society in shaping climate policy.
Speakers discussed expectations for COP30 and emphasized the importance of incorporating local and traditional knowledge into global climate solutions. More than 30 participants joined the conversation.
Eaglin and Elmore participate in COP30 programming with students and alumni
Professors Jennifer Eaglin and Bart Elmore from Ohio State’s Department of History attended COP30 with a group of students and alumni. The group has participated in previous COP conferences as part of a course that includes attending events and discussions across the conference’s different zones.
While in Belém, Eaglin met with Professor Hilton Pereira da Silva of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), continuing a dialogue initiated during the Pre-COP30 event hosted by the Brazil Gateway, UFPA and the Meli Bees Network.
Pereira da Silva contributes expertise in climate and health at COP30
Hilton Pereira da Silva — a professor at Federal University of Pará and coordinator of the Laboratory for Bioanthropological Studies in Health and Environment (LEBIOS) — is also an Ohio State alumnus and a proud Buckeye, holding a Master of Public Health ’98 and a PhD in anthropology ’01.
At COP30 in Belém, Pereira da Silva participated in several activities related to his work with LEBIOS, which played a key role in drafting the Letter of Belém on health-related issues. He moderated discussions at the International Integration Forum and spoke during the session Health and Climate Resilience in the Blue Zone, contributing his expertise to global conversations on climate and health.
Lucchesi advances agricultural perspectives on climate action
Luiz Lucchesi ’97, who earned his PhD in agronomy from Ohio State, participated in COP30 as a member of the Confederation of Agronomist Engineers of Brazil. He submitted a position paper to the COP30 Presidency and key forums on “The Contribution of Agronomic Engineering to Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainability.”
The paper builds on a 2024 proposal by Ohio State Distinguished University Professor Rattan Lal, advocating for global recognition of the role Brazilian agriculture plays in sequestering atmospheric CO₂ and converting it into soil organic matter across the country’s vast agricultural regions.
Lucchesi, a professor at the Federal University of Paraná, highlighted the intersection of agriculture and climate action and showcased how Ohio State alumni continue contributing to global sustainability efforts.