Mingling with leaders from around the world – as well as a newly elected Prime Minister and ANU alumnus Kevin Rudd – thirteen ANU students were on the ground in Bali for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Bachelor of Philosophy (Science) student Ed Boydell shares the experience.

The quality of ANU research and teaching shone at the December 2007 UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia.

The University’s leadership in climate change research was represented by Professor Ross Garnaut (RSPAS), who was part of the Prime Minister’s delegation; Professors Brendan Mackey (Fenner School), Tony McMichael (NCEPH), Luca Tacconi (Crawford School) and Dr Frank Jotzo (College of Asia and the Pacific) who all contributed to side events.

In addition, I was among 12 students from the course “Greenhouse Science and Policy”, led by Dr Janette Lindesay of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, who witnessed the historic conference as observers.

The University’s observer status to the UNFCCC was secured by the ANU Institute for Environment, and students received competitive scholarships from the Vice-Chancellor to cover expenses.

“It gave tremendous insight into the processes and functions of the UN, as well as the extensive involvement of the private sector”, said Peta Margerie, one of the other scholarship recipients. “You can’t experience this in a uni classroom.”

Joining an international community of more than 10,000 delegates, we attended UNFCCC plenary sessions of and side events. Each of us pursued our own research topic of interest, which ranged from local renewable energy, climate change and health to the adaptive capacity of communities in the developing world.

We witnessed climate leaders Ban Ki Moon, Yvo De Boer and Al Gore call the world to action. Private audiences with members of the scientific community, UN organisations, lobby groups and negotiators gave us an inside glance of the complexity of the climate policy process. We made numerous contacts with members of the Climate Change community in Australia and worldwide.

The experience was invaluable and enlightening and for many of us has set a research and career precedent.

The students have completed a learning reflection on their experience, and will make a collaborative presentation to the ANU community early in Semester 1.

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