Vinay Karthik ’25 is grateful for the many highly rewarding experiences and opportunities he enjoyed as the Logistics Manager on the Communications and Media Team representing the mainland United States at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai. The WardlaLAartridge junior was chosen as one of 15 youth around the world to be on the Communications Team for the 10-day global event. He was the only minor and high school student on the team and worked with other experienced members of the YOUNGO Communications Team who had not only attended several COP conferences but were also leading professionals in their disciplines.
“Over the 10 days I spent at the conference, I grew very close to my teammates and I was really inspired by their climate advocacy stories and their commitment to climate awareness and action, despite most of them holding diverse full-time jobs outside of this work,” Vinay said. “It was great to see people from all different backgrounds coming together for a common cause to tackle the crisis of climate change and promote more coverage of youth events.”
During the conference, Vinay had access to the highly restrictive “blue zone,” the formal conference space where world leaders came together for negotiations. His primary roles included planning, scheduling and managing all of the youth media events at COP28 and covering the various youth engagements happening at the different blue zone pavilions, which are designated spaces for countries, organizations, and stakeholders.
He later expanded his capacity to include additional roles such as script writing and reporting on YOUNGO’s new broadcast channel “YOUNGO TV” which provided live broadcasts simplifying the events and negotiations at COP28 to youth and the public. He also assisted in producing a newsletter titled “YOUNGO Frontline” which provided updates on COP28. As part of this initiative, his team was able to meet and interview climate leaders from around the world and notable dignitaries such as former Vice President Al Gore and the Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.
For his extensive involvement in the Communications Team, Vinay was interviewed and featured by Antenna 1, a Portuguese public channel. Outside of the Communications Team, Vinay was able to connect with several inspiring personalities such as Beksultan Nurgali, who led the execution of the “World Painting” and won a Guinness World Record for the highest international collaboration in its creation.
“What I enjoyed most about COP was being able to meet individuals around the world passionate about tackling the existential crisis of climate change through unique avenues and understanding the different projects or initiatives they are taking part in,” Vinay said. “Although I was unhappy with the increasing number of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP, we did have some unprecedented successes such as the operationalization of a global loss and damage fund and an international agreement over a just transition from fossil fuels in order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The international unity and immense collaboration between climate advocates at COP has further fueled my hope for a more green and sustainable future.”