PhD student to represent Strathclyde at COP29
A PhD student has an opportunity of a lifetime to attend COP29 as the University of Strathclyde’s sole representative.
Angeline Ondeng’e - who has just completed her MBA programme at Strathclyde Business School and has now embarked on a PhD within the Stephen Young Institute – is heading off to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which takes place from November 11-22.
Angeline will be able to visit COP’s blue and green zones as an observer and says she is excited to be given this opportunity as the sole Strathclyde representative.
“Before doing my MBA I was working with NGOs in Africa, coordinating activities within the finance department; this gave me experience with NGOs and their funding models and I saw a gap because donor funding is never enough. So, my PhD research is concerned with finding an alternative to NGOs so they are sustainable and they can in turn keep on impacting communities in a positive way.
“There’s this narrative that Africa can’t be part of the fight against climate change because we have too many other pressing priorities that we need to address and that we lack the finances to fund climate change solutions. But climate change is something which is universal, it’s not going away and it affects all countries: Africa is responsible for only a fraction of global emissions but is affected disproportionately by its effects.
“What I'm looking forward to at COP is seeing how the issue of climate finance is addressed – whether the attitude to developing countries has changed. When I came to Strathclyde I had the same kind of idea that Africa couldn’t be part of climate change agenda but being at Strathclyde has changed my perspective to see that Africa has the capacity to be part of the global solution also, so long as climate finance is just and equitable”
Angeline will be attending graduation on November 8 and then heading off to Azerbaijan where her first session as an observer will be on finance.
Angeline made an application to be the Strathclyde representative in the summer but had no expectation she would be successful. On being selected, she said, “It’s important that the University is giving such opportunities to young people. I have my previous work experience of course but I’m just at the beginning of my PhD in my academic journey. It’s great to get this opportunity as a student, allowing me to gain different perspectives and different experiences.
“Climate change should be talked about by people of all backgrounds. Developing economies aren’t the largest contributors to climate change but are still affected yet they don’t have the finances to do anything about it. The world needs to pool its resources in this area.
“I’m excited to be going to COP, making connections, seeing different perspectives and joining in with discussions about these important issues for us all.”
Published: 7 November 2024
