Climate Conversations: COP28

Join us for a discussion about the outcomes of the 28th UN Conference of the Parties (COP28) and what it means for the future of climate policy.

Every year, the United Nations brings together representatives from across the globe to address the climate crisis. Member states’ negotiators assess the latest information and science about the climate crisis and craft global goals aimed at slowing climate change and mitigating the worst of its impacts. While a record number of stakeholders converged in Dubai for COP28—including policymakers, activists, scientists, industry leaders, and journalists—determining the success of the deliberations will take months, or even years. Sara Schonhardt (E&E News) will moderate a discussion between Lama Elhatow (Johns Hopkins University) and Nathan Hultman (University of Maryland) that looks at what the conference outcomes actually mean, how countries will embrace the final agreements, and what climate actions we should expect.

Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action is a monthly webinar series from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that aims to convene high-level, cross-cutting, nonpartisan conversations about issues relevant to policy action on climate change.

Participant Bios

Sara Schonhardt is a reporter at E&E News. Sara covers climate and energy developments globally, with a focus on international climate negotiations, finance and how countries are approaching the transition to cleaner economies. Prior to joining E&E News, Sara worked as a reporter for more than a decade across much of Southeast Asia, with stints for The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and Voice of America. She was a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Indonesia until 2017. Sara has a degree in journalism from Ohio University and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.

Lama Elhatow is currently a Professor and Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University for the Environmental Science and Policy and Energy, Policy and Climate programs. Lama is also an Environmental and Social Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) focusing on projects in sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure services, and financial markets. Lama engaged in the UNFCCC climate change negotiations with Climate Action Network-International as a Climate Policy Officer from 2009-2014, and again in 2022, working with governments in the Arab region to reduce their GHG emissions whilst following both the mitigation and adaptation tracks. Lama is a passionate environmentalist and an avid learner of the complexities of our ecosystem and is often amazed at the interconnectedness of everything within it.

Nathan Hultman is the founder and director of the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, and professor in the School of Public Policy. His work focuses on setting and achieving ambitious national climate goals. He was recently senior advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate at the U.S. Department of State, and served for two years in the Obama White House including for the Paris climate negotiations. While in government, he helped develop the U.S. 2025 NDC, led the writing for the 2021 U.S. Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement, and helped negotiate the U.S.-China Glasgow Declaration. He has participated in the U.N. climate process for over 25 years, starting with COP3 Kyoto, and has attended 21 COPs.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the conversation are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.