Young leaders from the International University Network for Climate Action (UniC) represented the international university student voice at NYC Climate Week 2024, September 21 or 25. This Network, an initiative that was launched in 2020 under the leadership of Rector Sophie D’Amours, four students to highlight their promises, ambitions and achievements.
This first delegation brought together three students from Laval University and one from McGill University. Together with two members of the UniC Network secretariat team, she participated in various panels, conferences and networking events, to recruit other members and to meet partners and colleagues.
Chosen from among the Network’s 1,400 members, the four representatives benefited from a series of preparatory training for their participation, particularly on storytelling and security in New York, and from financial and logistical support.
Laura O’Brien, who was a master’s student in international and transnational law at Laval University, was happy to be chosen as a representative. “When we are motivated by environmental issues, we share the same jargon and similar ideas. By participating in events like NYC Climate Week, it allows us to enrich ourselves, but also to confront ourselves with the current reality. We can only work with our generation, we have to work with other generations,” affirms the student, who has been committed to the environment for several years.
The representative enjoyed the space given to the university environment during the event. “At a conference, a professor was speaking in front of members of the industry and experts on climate change. He set the foundations of the discussions and introduced nuances in the discussions,” said Laura O’Brien.
According to her, it is interesting to bring together academics and people from industry who have more business. “When I attend industry-led events, I feel we tend to forget what we need to be involved in now and not in 5 years’ time , that it is treated as one case among many “others,” reports the student, who emphasizes how fast it is. acting
Climate Week NYC brought together five themes that divided the delegation members according to their interests and expertise. Laura O’Brien focused on financial topics as they relate to her master’s essay.
Delegation members share highlights from NYC Climate Week 2024 as well as their key learnings during online event open to the public, October 15 from 12pm to 1:30pm.
Members of the student community who want to join the UniC Network you can register for free.
2024-09-25 14:36:13
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