As we prepare to depart Baku, Azerbaijan and look back on our time here, a mix of emotions fills me.
Leaving Baku, I am torn between frustration and dread at the lack of urgency from world nations on climate change, and gratitude for the amazing people in our delegation. I feel inspired by the community-driven work happening in Minnesota and the youth leaders I’ve met.
Attending the “Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards” was a highlight, where courageous women like Francesca Trotman, Yudmila Chunguane, and Isabel Prestes Fonseca were recognized for their impactful climate solutions in their communities.
What stood out to me was the simplicity and effectiveness of these women’s solutions, focusing on the genuine needs of their communities. It reminded me to keep my approach grounded in real, actionable solutions.
Reflecting on COP29, I learned the importance of staying collective, justice-centered, and solution-oriented, unlike the loud and often exclusionary atmosphere of COP meetings. The Gender Justice Climate Solutions Awards, run by and for women, was a refreshing reminder of the power of community-driven action.
Jen is a Climate Generation Window Into COP delegate for COP29. To learn more, we encourage you to meet the full delegation, support our delegates, and subscribe to the Window Into COP digest.
Jen (Nape Mato Win) is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. She has been passionate about a world beyond fossil fuels and centering Indigenous voices, culture, and history. Jen is also a beadwork artist, Indigenous gardener, and holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Positive cultural and ancestral knowledge are vital to Indigenous resiliency. Currently, Jen is the Environmental Justice and Stewardship Programs Manager at Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, an East Side St. Paul, Minnesota – Indigenous-led environmental nonprofit that stewards the sacred site known as Wakan Tipi.
