Reflections on COP30 – A Maynooth Perspective

Gain expert analysis, ask questions & engage in a thoughtful conversation on where the world goes next in the fight against climate change

Join Emeritus Professor John Sweeney and PhD candidate Rafaela Scheiffer for an insightful discussion on the outcomes, challenges, and implications of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30, held in Belém, Brazil.

Hear firsthand accounts of the challenges (such as the underwhelming progress on fossil fuel phase-out) and successes in the fight for global climate action from experts at different stages in their research journeys.

Gain expert analysis, ask questions, and engage in a thoughtful conversation on where the world goes next in the fight against climate change.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Maynooth’s leading voices reflect on one of the most important climate summits of our time.

Registration Required.

Speakers bios:

John Sweeney is Emeritus Professor at the Irish Climate Analysis and Research UnitS (ICARUS) at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. For the past few decades, he has been the main communicator of information about climate change, extreme weather and other meteorological information to the Irish public through all forms of journalistic media. John has had a large impact on communicating climate and meteorology to the people of Ireland. He tackles the important issue of communicating climate change science to the public in a calm and accurate manner. He reaches radio and television audiences by using easily understandable examples that do not distort the underlying scientific message, thereby bridging the gap between the scientific community and the public.

Rafaela Graça Scheiffer is a Brazilian researcher and activist standing in the intersection of natural sciences, humanities, technology and social sciences. Her PhD investigates the potential of Universities to drive systemic transformation in advancing Climate Justice. She was at COP30 as part of Ireland’s delegation for her PhD research, interviewing international scholars about their perceptions of decoloniality in the climate negotiations.