Researchers from the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland will attend the UN Conference of the Parties (COP30), the UN’s global climate summit taking place this year in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to November 21, 2025. Leading up to this event, a CGS delegation will be present at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, from November 3 to November 5, 2025. COP30 will bring together world leaders, negotiators, policymakers, climate researchers, climate activists, and the media to discuss the state of global climate change and to advance meaningful climate actions around the world. Focused on meeting the 1.5°C global temperature rise target, the COP conferences allow for knowledge-sharing as countries prepare their next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Before COP, the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies are hosting the COP30 Local Leaders Forum to bring together mayors, governors, and subnational officials from around the world to showcase how local action is driving global climate progress.
The CGS delegation will bring its expertise to the UN climate conference to provide key insights into how countries can ramp up climate ambition to achieve national and international climate targets. Their participation comes at a pivotal moment for transformative climate action across the globe. The CGS delegation will share their latest research on climate trends, policies, and solutions to advance transformative and sustainable climate action.
Attendees this year are CGS Founder and Director Nate Hultman, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor Ryna Cui, and Assistant Director and Assistant Research Professor Jiehong Lou. CGS Director of Communications and Public Affairs Gail Chalef will be present at the Local Leaders Forum. In addition to participating in and hosting several events in Brazil, CGS will also launch several new research reports. Stay tuned for more.
