(LOWELL) – On December 2nd, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) participated in a panel alongside the University of Massachusetts Lowell COP29 student delegation. The event, aimed at connecting global and local climate initiatives, took place in Alumni Hall on the UMass Lowell campus and was moderated by Juliette Rooney-Varga (Professor of Environmental Science, Director of the Climate Change Initiative, and Co-Director, Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy). COP29 represented the 29th conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Representative Meschino connected this international discussion back to Massachusetts climate policy.
“Fundamentally, you need to remember three big ideas when talking about climate change,” said Representative Meschino. “First, climate change is about what happens to people. It is imperative to remember the human impacts of climate change, whether that be sea level rise, increasingly frequent and intense weather events, or impacts on human health. Second, the solution is economic. We should be looking to policies that are both environmentally and fiscally sound to address climate change. And third, Massachusetts’s targets are meant to be ambitious; while it won’t be easy, if we can achieve the goals set out in the 2050 Roadmap, our state will be healthier, safer, and stronger.”
Every year, delegates from countries around the world come together at the annual COP to discuss global progress on the fight against climate change. Four students from UMass Lowell prepared for and attended the negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan on behalf of the university: Ellie Bancroft, Sibel Manafova, Brooke Sienkiewicz, and William Lefebvre. The student delegation discussed their experience attending the international conference, noting the willingness of parties to continue negotiating despite setbacks, the common focus on mitigation and carbon sequestration, and the experience of working with people from different nations and cultures united by a common goal. A frequent theme panelists discussed was connecting amorphous international negotiations to concrete action that individuals can take at the state or local level.
“Getting involved in your community – your school, your neighborhood, your workplace – is so important to local action,” said Representative Meschino. “Take on leadership roles in your community, vote, and get to know your legislators – we want to hear from you! It will be up to the next generation to pick up the mantle and follow through on the hard work that has already begun. Looking at this panel and the students in this room, I am hopeful and optimistic that we can take positive action to address climate change.”
State Representative Joan Meschino represents the communities of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset. Rep. Meschino and her Legislative Aides can be reached at the State House at 617-722-2092 or by email at Joan.Meschino@MAHouse.gov. To learn more about Rep. Meschino’s constituent services and legislative work, please visit www.JoanMeschino.com.
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