Breakout room 1 – Youth Action, Decarbonisation and Net Zero Strategies Session
Moderated by Julia Klein, Leah Dundon, Luke Huels

Presentation OrderTitleSpeakersAbstract
1 (5-7 minutes)
Meatless Mondays in university dining halls: environmental impact reductions and student opinionsNatalie Buchholz, Amanda Pastore, Sara Chelewski, Karan Mirpuri, Josh Waring, Charlie BucklarWe explore the impact of animal product consumption Colorado State University’s (CSU) dining halls. Using the University’s dining hall order log, we quantified the impact of animal product consumption under “business as usual” conditions (pre-COVID-19). This data was used to survey student and dining hall staff opinions on introducing “Meatless Mondays” initiatives in university dining halls. Student surveys assessed opinions before and after being informed of the campus-wide impact of animal product consumption. Dining hall staff were interviewed to assess opinions on difficulty and resistance to implementing a Meatless Monday initiative.
2 (5-7 minutes)packageLESS, a study of how reduced packaging grocers can help shrink our footprintsMatthew Twyman, Reagan Harris, Valeria Diaz Berrocal, Hannah Huber, Andrew HustonIn the United States, the EPA estimates approximately 30% (80 MT) of new annual landfill mass is from containers and packaging products, amounting to a per capita rate exceeding 450 lb of packaging waste per person. Packaging is a ubiquitous part of every supply chain. We focus on the food supply chain due to everyone’s near-daily interaction with it. In support of SDG12, target 12.5, we envision grocery stores and shopping experiences of the future, and consider greenhouse gas mitigation potentials for packaging options based on a more circular economic model where reduction & reuse of materials are prioritized.
3 (5-7 minutes)The Great Barrier ReefNathan Thompson, Esmeralda Barrientos, Spencer Tennant, and Aspen ArbuckleA timeline of chronological events connected to the Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Quality Education SDGs. We will connect how climate change caused reef decay to education and restoration efforts, after people realized what was happening and then making climate goals and ecological goals.
4 (5-7 minutes)Jeju volcanic island and lava tubesNick Godsey Nichole Grau Jenna CooksonJeju volcanic island and lava tubes is a National Park on an island off the southern coast of South Korea. Formed through volcanic activity hundreds of thousands of years ago, the island is now a tourist destination with the park being the centerpiece but also boasting great beaches for surfing, 3 World Heritage sites, and many museums. Bringing in tourism is essential to this island with only 2 cities but also comes along with some difficult challenges such as increased pollution, energy needs, and public transportation on this island.
5 (5-7 minutes)Is Your Cup of Coffee Green?Ayush Chutani, Leah Mendoza, Bryce Weinell, and Sarah PerrymanThe coffee industry is one of the many contributors to greenhouse gases. As time passes, climate change will pressure the industry to implement intensive practices to make up for decreased yield, only worsening coffee’s contribution to climate change. Therefore, we must evaluate areas in the industry, with higher GHG emissions and determine how we can better practices. Producers and consumers have begun to utilize sustainable practices. Through quantification, reduction, and offset, coffee companies can claim their coffee as “carbon neutral.” Consumers can choose to support these companies. A movement towards the production and consumption of coffee that has net zero greenhouse gas emissions, will allow for responsible consumption and production, through climate change mitigation.
Session Discussion

Breakout room 2 – Local to Global Climate Action to Advance the SDGs
Moderated by Sarah Hautzinger, Andrew Ramsey, Cody Sanford

Presentation OrderTitleSpeakersAbstract
1 (5-7 minutes)
Komodo National ParkLily Letzel, Kristin Karashinski, Mateo MontelongoWe will be addressing the importance of Komodo dragons and the biodiversity at the park.
2 (5-7 minutes)Sichuan Giant Panda SanctuariesShelby Baker, Sophia Thomas, Hunter RitchieThe Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries: Wolong, Mt. Siguniang, and Jiajin Mountains is the largest panda sanctuary in the world. This sanctuary helps conservation efforts not only for pandas, but for forestry and bamboo, and other land species as well. Because pandas are such a “cute” species, this helps to inspire people worldwide to become passionate about their conservation efforts. This park has a rich history, and is sandwiched between multiple big cities, making it a refuge for wildlife and people alike.
3 (5-7 minutes)Framing the Development of Stable Institutions Confronted by Climate ChangeSarah Viders, Brianna Bruyere, Charles Doktycz, Trevor Mueller, Dominic ScariatoThrough the framework of SDG 16 we aim to present a model for the creation of strong institutions that may best endure the negative effects of climate change as well as be best suited to bring about positive change in regard to climate issues. The creation of these strong and fair states originates from an emphasis on fair and effective communication across all levels of citizenship and collective political equality to bring about the most desirable outcomes for every individual within the state.
4 (5-7 minutes)Gender Inequality: How Healthcare and Climate Change are Impacting Women in the Global SouthAshlynn Piwowarczyk, Natalie Namba, Maryam Aida, Lipika Narisetti, Lily Hauptman, Eugene AgyeiDue to the healthcare challenges that women may face, as well as their unique roles in society, climate change poses a risk to the ability of women to gain access to healthcare across the globe. Furthermore, climate change certainly exacerbates other factors that marginalize women. Access to healthcare and climate change are inextricably linked, especially when considering the mental and physical health of women. Drought, for example, hinders the ability of women to collect water, placing a burden on their families. In the face of ever-increasing healthcare challenges, solutions must address mitigation and adaptation efforts. These solutions must include research, policy, education, and economic efforts.
5 (5-7 minutes)Life under water: Policies and Obstacles threatening our oceansNassy Khademimoshgenani – Hunter Dowdle – Olivia Barden – Brendan Gildea – Shannon Kirkland – Allison SewellOceans play a key role in climate regulation, transportation and recreation. Rising temperatures and ocean acidification significantly affect life in both water and on land. Over 3 billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, with ocean industries making up 5% of the global GDP. Our goal is to focus on the relationship between marine science, technology and human interaction in order to address illegal fishing, marine pollution, international policies within developing nations. Through our presentation we will explore both positive and negative interactions between policy and science impacting our oceans.
6 (5-7 minutes)​​Water Under Climate Change: From Sustainable Management to Resilient StewardshipMary SluderSustainable water management under climate change is ill-recognized given its importance, and it is unclear which policy instrument is optimal in promoting it. COP26 hosted the first Water Pavilion, and among presenters and attendees of Pavilion events, I interviewed a sample with water policy and management expertise. I collected data on the effectiveness and applicability of using bottom-up economic policies for sustainable water management. It seems this approach may be beneficial in certain contexts, but participants and event hosts emphasized that resilience in water is also key. Perhaps it’s time we move beyond sustainability and management towards resilience and stewardship.
Session Discussion

Breakout room 3 –  Transformative Science: Connecting Society to Nature
Moderated by Susie Ho, Gillian Bowser, and Nassy Khademimoshgenani

Presentation OrderTitleSpeakersAbstract
1 (5-7 minutes)
How Red Tide in Florida indicates global eutrophication problems and how we can fix themKeana Shadwell, Aubry Sapp, Joe Ogsbury, Robin YoungThis project focuses on the UN’s SDG14: Life Below Water, target 14.1. Eutrophication is a big problem to ecosystems and communities, as it kills wildlife, creates imbalances in the trophic system, and degrades water quality. The Red Tide in Florida is an important example of pollution-caused eutrophication that is indicative of eutrophication problems globally. Luckily, there are solutions that we can work together to implement on a nationwide and international level, including policy change to regulate agriculture monitoring algal bloom, finding alternatives for fertilizers, and funding research.
2 (5-7 minutes)Examining the Effects of Elevation Dependent Warming on Mountain EcosystemsOwen Juell, Ananya Terala, Emma Jordan, Keegan Schealer, Loni Graham-Ashby, Pierce GravesWith current climate change trends, high elevation areas are being impacted by elevation dependent warming at increasing rates. Differential warming in mountain ecosystems has impacted biodiversity, animal behaviours and migrational patterns, fundamentally changing high elevation ecosystems and their ecosystem services. Due to difficulties accessing mountain ecosystems, research has been limited throughout the world, indicating the need for further investigation. We use data and findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations and other independent organizations to examine the changing functions of mountain ecosystems due to elevation dependent warming through the lens of UN Sustainable Development goal 15.4.
3 (5-7 minutes)Regreening Without DisplacementInduja Kumar, Chandler Quaile, Brendan White, Isabel Sevilla, Laura Lenhart, Minna Munson and LeAnna WarrenThere is a growing desire to green cities through infrastructure adaptation and installation, but also through the actual planting of trees and creation of parks and greenspaces to mitigate the effects of climate change. Concurrently many organizations and academics are focused on protecting communities that are often forgotten and/or pushed out when improvements are made in cities. We want to echo this work by providing further examples of ways in which policy can strongly contribute to change in fair and equitable ways and promote solutions focused on protecting communities that are disproportionately vulnerable to displacement once greening begins.
4 (5-7 minutes)Great Himalaya National Park Conservation AreaGreg Hassler, Justin Hollis and Glenn StearnsThis E-Poster will give an overview of Great Himalaya National Park Conservation Area. We will be focusing on the threatened animals located in the park, as well as how climate change is affecting the park and its inhabitants. Furthermore, with increasing industrialization occurring in the park and its surrounding areas, we will also focus on the people being sustained by the unique ecosystem found in the western Himalayas. These topics will revolve around the 3 SDGs we have chosen to highlight as we find them to be some of the most important conversations to have regarding this national park.
5 (5-7 minutes)Khao-Sok National ParkLauren Balsley, Kyle Nolting, Nick Lundburg, and Star LarkinThis presentation will discuss Khao Sok National Park; one of the oldest and most diverse tropical evergreen forests. Khao Sok National Park has faced many threats and conservation issues like logging, palm-oil plantations, poaching, etc. However, this presentation will focus on three of the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals regarding the park’s threats and conservation issues; quality education, climate action, and life on land. Exploring the connection between mass tourism and climate change on economical, sociopolitical, ecological, and agricultural aspects of Khao Sok National Park.
6 (5-7 minutes)Burgess Shale Fossils in Yoho National ParkRylee Sharkey, Krystal Tran, Martin MoralesThe Burgess Shale Fossils found in Yoho National Park are some of the oldest, most well-preserved, soft-bodies organisms ever found. These fossils provide valuable knowledge of Cambrian organisms and the origins of multicellular life. The construction of The Canadian Pacific Railway ultimately led to the discovery of these fossils by making the Kicking Horse Valley accessible to tourists, adventurers, and most importantly to our story, geologists. The railway can be seen as a vehicle of exploration, but for the First Nations peoples, it was a vehicle of exploitation that had harmed the natural environment and exploited their artifacts and resources.
Session Discussion