Shaheen, Hassan & Coastal New England Senators Introduce Bipartisan Offshore Drilling Ban
| by Newswires; Rachel Christopherson
National Ocean Economics Program data cited in the against offshore oil drilling for New England.
Middlebury cohort participates in global climate solutions at COP30 in Brazil
Meet the delegates from Middlebury Global Climate Policy Network joining the international climate conference in Belém, Brazil November 10-21, 2025!
They are joining world leaders, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and delegates from around the globe who will be gathering in the Amazon city of Belém at the 30th United Nations (UN) Conference of the Parties, or COP30. What is the goal of COP? To negotiate national responses to climate change on a global level. COP30, the 30th conference, aims to accelerate the implementation with a focus on finance pledges and equitable engagement. This is the first time the COP has been held in Brazil.
In all, 5 representatives from Middlebury will travel to Belém, including 4 current graduate students and one recent alumnus. Each has prepared with intention. As representatives of the Middlebury observer delegation at COP30, they will lead panel discussions around climate finance and the role of higher education in climate policy. They will also be volunteering for the Ocean Pavilion and the youth and indigenous delegations. Travel to COP30 for the delegation is generously supported by Middlebury’s Ron and Jessica Liebowitz Fund for Innovation, Kathryn Wasserman Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation, and the Center for Blue Economy.
Importantly, the delegation will also be updating the broader Middlebury Global Climate Policy Network with live sessions, posts, and answering questions from the network. This professional network of students, staff, faculty and alumni across Middlebury College, Schools, and the Institute has been an incredible opportunity to connect a community with shared interests. The network was initiated in 2025 with generous support from Middlebury’s Ron and Jessica Liebowitz Fund for Innovation.
Want to Learn more? Join us Friday!
LIVE from COP30 with the MIIS Delegation
Friday, Nov. 14th, 10AM to 11:15AM PT
via Zoom and live from the Center for the Blue Economy
Description: COP30 is underway. It is the 30th year. Is it working? In this session, we will explore questions around what climate leadership looks like on the international stage. We will hear from current Middlebury Institute students who are at COP30 on what they are experiencing. Are you interested in ways you can become more engaged? Join this conversation and learn about the recent launch of the Middlebury Global Climate Policy Network.
Facilitated by: Angela Izi
Join via zoom
This session is part of the Fall Forum:
What Works Now? Middlebury Fall Climate Forum
November 14-16, 2025 (event schedule)
Breakout: Leadership Past, Present, and Future: International Agreements and Policy
What is the Middlebury Global Climate Policy Network?
The COP Network brings together Middlebury College and MIIS students, alumni, faculty, and staff who share a common interest in international climate policy. The primary goal of this network is to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster deeper understanding of global climate negotiations through direct engagement with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP).
The network aims to demystify the COP process by creating an experiential learning opportunity for participants, and sharing their knowledge with the broader network community. A key component of this initiative is to support the participation of at least two students and one alum to attend COP30 through the Middlebury observer delegation status. These participants will gain firsthand insight into the complexities and dynamics of international climate negotiations. The network also organizes virtual events before and after COP to share knowledge, insights, and ideas.
To join the group, any Middlebury student„ alumni, faculty, or staff from the College, Institute or any of the Schools can sign up though this short survey. The group is coordinated through periodic emails to share events and a Linked-In group to share ideas, opportunities, and make professional connections.
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California Coastal Communities Brace for Rising Seas
| by Sea Grant California; Rachel Christopherson
With 3,427 miles of tidal coastline, California is one of the states expected to be most affected by sea-level rise.
Oregon Bans Offshore Oil Drilling
| by Rachel Christopherson, KTVZ News, and & Office of Governor Kate Brown
Oregon has permanently banned offshore drilling in the midst of a federal push to open 90 percent of federal waters to oil exploration. The Center for the Blue Economy’s National Ocean Economics statistics are a part of the reason why.
Our Blue Economy: Successes and Opportunities
| by Rachel Christopherson; Michael Conathan
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened a hearing entitled, “Our Blue Economy: Successes and Opportunities,” on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Center for the Blue Economy Advisory Council Chair, Mr. Michael Conathan, was there to testify.
Putting the Blue in the Green New Deal
| by Jason Scorse; David Helvarg
As nearly half of the U.S. populace lives in or near coastal areas, the Green New Deal needs to prioritize the sustainable use and preservation of the marine environment – called the “blue economy.”
Telling the Story of the Blue Economy in Cape Cod: Expedition Blue! Takes Shape
Using Center for the Blue Economy collaborative research as a baseline, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Seaport Economic Council funds Expedition Blue!, telling the story of the blue economy in Cape Cod.
Virtual Reality "Sea Level Rise Explorer" Helps the City of Santa Cruz
Dr. Juliano Calil, Center for the Blue Economy Senior Fellow, Adjunct Faculty at the Middlebury Institute, and co-founder of Virtual Planet has created a 3D virtual reality “Sea Level Rise Explorer.”