Cali, Colombia. Maria Paula Salazar, Maria Fernanda Castillo, and Jafeth Rodríguez, students of the Sustainable Development Engineering program at the University of Costa Rica (Turrialba campus), along with Jimena Valerio, an Environmental Engineering student from the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), fulfilled the dream of every student in fields related to sustainable development by attending their first COP. Thanks to the support of the research organization Ecocitizen, these young people traveled to Cali, Colombia, to be part of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, COP16.
Ecocitizen, founded by Costa Ricans Adriana González Villalobos and Salvatore Coppola-Finegan, is a research organization accredited by the government of Luxembourg. Its mandate is to carry out public interest research, generating data and analysis from a human-centered perspective, working hand-in-hand with communities while respecting their values and belief systems. Ecocitizen’s field focuses on transdisciplinary and applied scientific projects to address biodiversity and climate change crises more holistically and inclusively. “Part of Ecocitizen’s vision is to help develop professionals who can contribute early to climate action and sustainable development from a humanistic perspective. We couldn’t be happier to have given them this opportunity. The seed has been planted, and I have no doubt it will flourish in fertile soil,” commented Adriana, CEO of Ecocitizen.
“The value of public higher education within Costa Rican society is immeasurable. For our part, we will continue to support more students as long as Ecocitizen exists,” said Salvatore, president of the organization. “In our field, we are committed to creating jobs for young Costa Ricans who want to expand their horizons in Europe. We believe the work we do in academia and research to fight the climate crisis must be led by young people, and we want to provide the space for that to happen,” he concluded.
The University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC) have been a great support in this process. Dr. Rosibel Orozco Vargas, director of the Atlantic Campus of the UCR, expressed that “This participation is a significant milestone for both the university and the students, as it allows them to be on the front line of one of the world’s most important events in terms of climate change and sustainability. They not only have the opportunity to develop their professional skills in an international environment but also become agents of change within their academic and social communities, promoting a positive and lasting impact through the knowledge and experiences they acquire at COP16. Undoubtedly, their participation clearly shows how they can be key players in building a more sustainable future.”
In turn, Engineer Diana Zambrano, Director of the Environmental Engineering program at TEC, stated, “I thank Ecocitizen for opening the doors to Valerio, both for the professional activities she performs within the organization and for the opportunity to participate in COP16. These spaces allow her to apply, complement, and expand the vision she has gained through undergraduate studies; it is a space that brings together various public, private, and the most important actors—civil society—as it raises awareness of the challenges and the need for solutions to achieve a sustainable society. Undoubtedly, the experience significantly contributes to Jimena’s professional and personal development,” Zambrano emphasized.
Maria Paula, Jafeth, Jimena, and Maria Fernanda have been part of the Ecocitizen internship team for over a year. Jimena expressed, “When I was told there was a possibility of being part of the Ecocitizen delegation at COP16, I saw all the opportunities for my career and personal growth. Participating in an event of this level is a great opportunity and a dream come true.”
Jafeth, who moved to Turrialba to study at UCR, mentioned, “Since my first year of university, I dreamed of attending a COP, and five years later, here I am, fulfilling that dream.”
During COP16, the students, under the direction of Salvatore as head of the delegation, participated in bilateral meetings with representatives of international organizations, NGOs, and academia. They were able to attend the opening plenary session as accredited observers. Additionally, they had the opportunity to meet Costa Rica’s former Vice President, Epsy Campbell Barr, and Luxembourg’s Minister of Environment, Serge Wilmes.
They were also active participants in the Academic & Research Caucus sessions, providing the much-needed Global South perspective in these spaces.
Thanks to Ecocitizen’s close relationship with the Pontifical Javeriana University of Cali, they had the opportunity to organize a discussion with their peers, creating a space for real impact within the student population of that university.
After fifteen days of intense activities, bilateral meetings, event organization, and the experience of participating in an international setting, these young people return to Costa Rica better prepared to be professionals and individuals, enriched by the opportunity to represent their country and learn in this global space.
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