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Lívia Maciel Braga
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Background
I am an international student in the Master of Science in Sustainable Communities program at Binghamton University. In Brazil, I have worked in the public service sector for 13 years as an Infrastructure Analyst, gaining experience in formulating policies, developing regulatory instruments, and conducting technical studies.
During one of my classes in the Fall of 2022, I attended a presentation about Binghamton University’s Kaschak Institute. The presentation covered the Institute’s mission and the projects they were planning to implement with the assistance of undergraduate and graduate students. This presentation piqued my interest, as my academic focus lies in developing public policies and guidelines related to sustainable development, investments in sustainable infrastructure, and addressing the effects of climate change. I aimed to understand the initiatives being implemented regarding environmental issues, broaden my comprehension, and eventually contribute to actions in my country.
Despite my interest in the Institute’s projects and actions at that time, the opportunity to participate in it arose months later, in the Summer of 2023. When I contacted the Institute, the team was planning the Gender and Climate Change Negotiator Workshop. Seeing this as a promising starting point, I volunteered to help with the preparations.
Working on the workshop preparation proved to be a valuable experience, as it allowed me to connect with the Institute’s team and share my experiences. It further motivated me to become even more involved.
As the global climate crisis intensifies, there is an urgent need for professionals with the knowledge and expertise to assess the effectiveness of initiatives to reduce climate change’s impact, promote dialogue, and disseminate best practices.
Participating in the workshop as a negotiator helped me understand basic to complex concepts related to gender and climate change, the dynamics of the discussion arena, the language used, and, most importantly, to identify the main challenges and barriers to overcome.
Moreover, it is crucial to highlight the valuable work of the Institute in fostering connections among people from different countries, encouraging the sharing of experiences and interests in support of such a significant cause.