COP is an international climate meeting held each year by the United Nations. It is short for “Conference of the Parties,” which are those countries that are “party to,” the international treaty called the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Parties to the treaty have committed to take voluntary actions to reduce the impacts of climate change.

In 2021, the UN admitted CSCNM (via our fiscal agent, the Santa Fe Community Foundation) as an Official Observer NGO with the right to attend the annual Conference of the Parties (COP). At these COPs, national representatives present their countries own progress toward addressing climate goals, negotiate the next steps toward international goals, and advance plans for climate financing. NGOs, businesses, and thousands of private citizens attend the COPs and then return to their home country with renewed energy, enhanced connections, and new ideas to combat climate change and its impacts.

COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, November 2021.

The Coalition’s delegation included Executive Director Beth Beloff, Councilor Randall Ryti (Los Alamos County), and Mr. Mark Hayden (General Services Administration, State of New Mexico). The delegation focused on the climate initiatives of states and cities, particularly in the areas of electric vehicles and infrastructure, green pricing agreements, and renewable agriculture. They also met informally with Governor Lujan Grisham and her party. Upon return, the delegation shared their insights across the Coalition membership and in community meetings.

COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, November 2022.

No elected Coalition members could take part in this COP.  The Coalition, however, used its quotas to support global, young adult climate activists in attending the COP.  These included: Jacob Wilentz, Coalition Intern, Duke University, USA; Roseline Mansaray, Friends of Friday, Sierra Leone; and, Sydney Males Muenala, Latinas for Climate, Ecuador. The activists participated in panel discussions, attended high level climate briefings, and gave voice to civil society demands for accelerated climate action.

COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 2023

CSCNM supported young changemakers at COP28. While none of our New Mexico members could attend, Maria Fernanda Camara (Project Coordinator, Latinas for Climate, Mexico); Natalia Phillips (City Campaigner, Plant Based Treaty, UK); and Jacob Wilentz (graduate student, Duke University) participated as part of civil society. Each representative participated in workshops or panel discussions and advocated for greater climate ambition and environmental justice in the formal negotiations.

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, November 2024

In 2024, the UNFCCC restricted quotas for some Western NGOs to expand participation by representatives from the Developing World.  Once again, Jacob Wilentz was our representative at the COP where he focused on the climate actions of states/provinces, cities, and counties.  State Representative Andrea Romero, New Mexico District 46, also attended COP29 on behalf of Elected Officials to Protect America.  Following the conference, Representative Romero, Jacob, and other Team members shared highlights, reflections, and climate action legislation for the New Mexico legislative session in 2025.

Progress toward sustainable, equitable actions to address the causes and impacts of the climate crisis takes place at all levels. From the United Nation, to Washington DC, to state capitals and city and county officials, to NGOs, and to individual citizens, climate actions are linked and mutually reinforcing. The Coalition delegations attending UN COPs return with new energy, expanded vision, and a renewed commitment to serve their communities - both today’s and future generations.