Over the past two weeks, leaders from around the world attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.  These included President Barak Obama, U.S. Adminstrator for the EPA Lisa Jackson, Prime Minster of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon...the list goes on and on.   I'm proud to say that among these high-profile world leaders were college students from around the world represeting the view of youth.  Several colleges and universities from the U.S. and Canada sent delegations to COP15, and although we aren't able to list everyone, here's a (somewhat) brief synopsis:

Dickinson College (PA) sent 15 students and two sustainability administrators to participate and report on COP15.  The intedisciplinary research team conducted interviews, stakeholders, citizens, and conferenece participants to learn about values and perceptions on climate change issues.  The team broadcasted three live conference calls with AASHE, which are posted on our blog and website, and they posted blogs and tweets.

13 student representatives from DePauw Univeristy (IN) updated two blogs: "The Copenhagen Questions" and "Cornfields to Copenhagen."

Six students from American University's (DC) Washington College of Law begged their international environmental law professor to take them to Copenhagen.  Because they were able to convince him, the students were able to sit in on some of the negotiation sessions, participate in environmental group strategy sessions, and attend some of the hundred side events being held around town.  The law school students also reported their findings on the Center for Progressive Reform Blog.

Sustain US sent a delgation of 25 young people ages 19-26 to the UN Climate Negotiations.  The group was selected through a competitive nation-wide process, and used the months leading up to COP15 to build on work from last year's Poland delegation, educate themselves about the issues, network with other youth and organizations, fundraise to cover their costs, and lead the Climate Countdown campaign!  Campuses represented included Wayne State University (MI); Catholic University (DC); Hofstra University (NY); Whitman College (WA); University of California, Santa Cruz; University of Chicago; University of Vermont; University of North Carolina, Asheville; Tufts University (MA); Johns Hopkins University (MD); and Middlebury College (VT).  Graduates of George Washington University (DC); Cornell University (NY); Stanford University (CA); University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Davis; Georgetown University (DC); American University (DC); and University of Cincinnati (OH) were also in attendance.

University of Toronto (ON) sent at least 12 students to COP15. They tweeted and blogged about what they learned.

Duke University's (NC) Nicholas School of the Environment sent a delegation of 18 faculty and students.  They blogged about their experiences and hosted two side events at the conference.

University of Michigan sent a delegation well, and they also blogged during the event.

A group of Yale University (CT) students, staff, and faculty took part in COP15 in a number of ways, including a student-led workshop.  Partnering with the University of Copenhagen, the delegation of Yale students, including a large contingent from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, convened with more than 60 students from a dozen universities all over the world to explore ways they and their institutions can minimize environmental damage and promote sustainable solutions. The event will took place December 13 and 14 at the University of Copenhagen. Yale also exhibited at the conference.

University of British Columbia had a delegation of at least six students.

Georgia Tech students from the School of Public Policy joined the more than 10,000 world leaders, business elites, environmental activists, academics and other participants at the 15th annual Conference of Parties.  They blogged and tweeted about their experiences as well.

Seven Rice University (TX) students in attendance blogged too.

Carnegie Mellon University (PA) posted two videos about the three students that they sent.  These three CMU students also helped out with the University of Copenhagen and Yale University workshop, mentioned above.

We'd love to hear how other higher education institution participated!

-Andrea Webster, Publications and Education Coordinator, AASHE Bulletin Editor