CSU Steps in As U.S. Sits Out COP30 Climate Talks
A four-member Colorado State University delegation maintained Colorado's presence at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil in November, staffing a Colorado-focused exhibit and co-hosting a global higher-education climate panel despite the absence of an official U.S. delegation.
With no official U.S. delegation present, CSU and regional partners stepped into a role typically held by federal diplomats. The absence highlights how universities increasingly represent American climate priorities on the world stage.
The November 2025 conference drew more than 50,000 participants from 194 countries. The CSU delegation—Courtney Schultz, Aleta Weller, Julia Klein and Gillian Bowser—maintained the university's 15-year streak of attendance at the annual UN climate talks.
"Sending a CSU delegation to COP is a strategic, year-round effort that allows us to be present where global climate priorities, partnerships and standards are being shaped," said Aleta Weller, assistant director of research and engagement for CSU's School of Global Environmental Sustainability. "We return with new perspectives and clearer signals on what's next for climate policy, finance, technology, and adaptation. That context informs how we align our research, educational programs, and student engagement for real-world impact."
The CSU team staffed a Colorado-focused exhibit from November 10–15, partnering with the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado College and Mountain Sentinels. The exhibit highlighted Colorado's efforts to tackle climate change through partnerships between public and private institutions.
CSU co-hosted a November 20 side event bringing together universities from around the world, including Tecnológico de Monterrey, Yale, Northwestern and the University of Edinburgh. The panel, titled "Higher Education as a Critical Global Partner for Enabling and Accelerating Climate Action," explored how universities can build capacity to address climate challenges across regions and scales.
CSU leads the Mountain Sentinels Alliance and co-leads the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education, both networks amplifying Colorado's voice at international climate forums.
CSU has attended UN climate conferences for 15 years, making this delegation part of a long-term institutional commitment to global climate policy.