Penn at COP31
This year marks Penn’s seventh year attending the UNFCCC’s annual climate conference as a delegation. In 2021, the University of Pennsylvania organized its first official delegation of observers, part of the research and independent non-governmental organizations group (RINGO).
To attend COP, Penn faculty, students, fellows, and staff apply for a limited number of week-long badges. Penn attendees contribute to COP in a variety of ways, including: participating in committee work, supporting the negotiations, implementing partnership programs, attending information sessions, sharing relevant research, and presenting at side-events.
The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and Perry World House are co-organizers of the annual delegation. The Kleinman Center secures the badges and is the information hub for all UNFCCC-related communication on campus.
Media Contacts
If you are interested in speaking to a member of the Penn delegation, please reach out to either communications director with related questions:
Lindsey Samahon, Kleinman Center: lsamahon@upenn.edu
Tara Medeiros, Perry World House: taramede@upenn.edu
Meet the COP31 Delegation
Lauren Anderson
Director of Programs
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate change, global governance, international development
Susan Biniaz
Non-Resident Senior Advisor
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate, sustainability international law
Julian Fisher
Director of Oral and Planetary Health Policies
Center for Integrative Global Oral Health
Areas of Expertise: planetary health, climate and health, sustainable healthcare, sustainable dentistry
Steve Finnn
Affiliated Faculty, Organizational Dynamics
Penn College of Liberal and Professional Studies
Areas of Expertise: regenerative agriculture, food waste, food security
Michael Franczak
Senior Fellow
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: international climate negotiations, loss and damage finance, climate finance, small island developing states, critical minerals
Leslie Labruto
Shleifer Senior Fellow
Kleinman Center
Areas of Expertise: climate finance, energy access, impact investing, clean energy finance, decarbonization, financing the energy transition
Scott Moore
Director of China Programs and Strategic Initiatives
PennGlobal
Areas of Expertise: environmental sustainability, technology, international relations
Khadeeja Naseem
Non-Resident Senior Advisor
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate change, loss and damages, sustainable development
Sam Nguyen
Climate Innovation Coordinator
School of Veterinary Medicine
Areas of Expertise: climate education, interdisciplinary climate learning, climate and health, veterinarian science
Angela Pachon
Director of Global Initiatives
Kleinman Center for Energy Policy
Areas of Expertise: electricity markets, gas policies, climate policy in Latin America
Aparajita (Pari) Rao
Program Manager
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate finance, multilateral climate negotiations, international climate policy, small island developing states
Benjamin Schmitt (virtual attendee)
Senior Fellow
Kleinman Center for Energy Policy
Areas of Expertise: European energy security, transatlantic national security, export control policies, and modern sanctions regimes
Koko Warner
Project Director, Penn International Climate Observatory
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate change impacts, adaptation, loss and damages
Michael Weisberg
Deputy Director
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate change, Latin America & the Caribbean, sustainability
Zinta Zommers
Visiting Fellow
Perry World House
Areas of Expertise: climate and sustainability, human rights, risk management, climate adaptation
If you are a member of the Penn delegation and would like to update your information on this page, please email Mollie Simon.
