24 UC delegates head to Antalya for COP31
A group from UC San Diego and Scripps will present ocean science data during the UN climate talks in Turkey.
By Harper Foster ·
Twenty-four representatives from the University of California system travel to Antalya, Türkiye, this month. They will attend the 31st United Nations Conference of the Parties. The two-week summit runs from Nov. 9 to Nov. 20, 2026. Delegates will meet with world leaders and policymakers to discuss climate implementation. The conference focuses on advancing the global energy transition. Organizers describe the event as the “Blue COP,” which places the ocean at the center of climate progress. The goal is to connect ocean health with economic growth and food security.
Seventeen of the UC travelers are from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. They will participate in speaking engagements and panel discussions. Their work includes studying coral reefs, marine chemistry, and public health. The delegation aims to use their scientific expertise to shape climate solutions. Meenakshi Wadhwa, director of Scripps Oceanography, said the group has an important opportunity to bring ocean science into global discussions. She stated, “At COP31, we have an important opportunity to bring ocean science into global climate discussions and ensure that research informs the decisions shaping our future.”
Scripps Oceanography and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are bringing the Ocean Pavilion back to the conference for the fifth consecutive year. The pavilion serves as a platform for the ocean community. It will host more than 65 panel talks, keynote addresses, and roundtables. The programming also includes multimedia art presentations. Visitors can meet with scientists informally to learn about their research. The pavilion links climate, ocean, and biodiversity issues.
The delegation includes students, faculty, and staff with varying levels of experience. Ahmyia Cacapit is a Scripps PhD candidate attending the second week. She studies the population dynamics of coral reefs using photogrammetry. Her work helps track how reefs resist disturbances like storm activity. Cacapit said she is excited to connect with Pacific leaders. She noted, “At COP31, I am excited to connect with Pacific leaders and organizers who are at the front lines of the climate crisis.”
McKenna Carlson is a Scripps master’s candidate attending the first week. Her research uses large language models to analyze climate policy documents. She aims to increase accountability for national commitments. Tom Corringham, a climate economist at Scripps, is also attending the first week. His work examines the economic impacts of extreme weather. He hopes to strengthen connections between researchers and policymakers.
Aurora Czajkowski is a Scripps PhD student attending the second week. She studies how freshwater plumes mix in the coastal ocean. Her research also tracks pollution from the Tijuana River Valley. Wael Al-Delaimy, a professor of public health, is attending the first week. He helped introduce climate change to health sciences at UC San Diego. He directs the NIH Global Center on Climate Change and Water, Energy, Food, and Health Systems.
Katrina Johnson, a Scripps PhD candidate, is attending the second week. Her research focuses on ship noise and its impact on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Margaret Leinen, director emeritus of Scripps Oceanography, is attending both weeks. She serves as vice chancellor emeritus for marine sciences. Her research includes studies of ocean carbon cycling. Lisa Levin, a distinguished professor emeritus, is attending the first week. She examines deep-sea biodiversity and the effects of climate change on deep-ocean ecosystems. She is a lead author for the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report.
Travel for the student delegation is supported by donors and Logitech. Scripps Oceanography continues a program where delegates pay the social cost of carbon associated with their travel. This cost is a science-based estimate of the damages from additional carbon emissions. Round-trip international flights often incur costs between $400 and $1,000 per traveler. Payments are made as donations to non-governmental organizations that work on climate impacts and greenhouse gas reduction.
