Dominguez, pictured here on the main stage at the UN Climate Talks, was selected to provide remarks for Research and Independent NGOs that develop strategies to address the causes and consequences of global climate change. Photo: Gillian Bowser/CSU
On a day when world leaders worked overtime to reach consensus on a framework to address climate adaptation, mitigation and finance, Colorado State University alumnus Daniel Dominguez provided remarks at the closing plenary of the Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, Scotland.
His remarks — delivered at almost 11 p.m. in Glasgow — followed statements from representatives for environmental nongovernmental organizations, farmers and indigenous people.
Watch the closing plenary at COP26
Dominguez’s remarks start at approximately 5:09:20 in this video: https://col.st/XP4NO
Dominguez was selected to represent Research and Independent NGOs that develop strategies to address the causes and consequences of global climate change. RINGOs — as the group is known — are the second largest of nine nongovernmental constituencies recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, making up 25% of the 2,000 nongovernmental organizations admitted to the climate talks.
“One of the great strengths of the research community is that we are engaged in partnerships with policy and decision makers and stand at the ready to do more to advance on the urgent challenges we have heard about from the IPCC and again here in Glasgow,” he said at the start of his remarks.
The IPCC — or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — released a report in August 2021 that found many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented and that some of the changes already set in motion — such as continued sea level rise — are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years.
Dominguez commended the explicit recognition of the importance of science in decision-making and said that the organizations he represents “stand ready to respond to the call for researchers.”
“We can bring together researchers from the natural and social sciences, the arts and humanities, and enrich our research with traditional knowledge, local communities and youth perspectives for robust engagement and action,” he added.
Dominguez highlighted that the world has recognized climate change science.
“It is time to innovate, adapt and create solutions to human health, social justice, the economy, governance and the natural and life science impacts of climate change,” he said.
“As a young scientist supported by two government institutions, I can attest that when you invite us to collaborate across international lines and in these programs, the research community can better meet the needs of all concerned,” Dominguez said.
In closing, he said that “the research and independent nongovernmental organizations emphasize and reiterate our commitment in partnering with you and support you as you address these challenges and to accelerate solutions.”
Dominguez graduated from CSU in December 2020 with a degree in watershed science from the Warner College of Natural Resources and is currently attending the University of Glasgow on a Marshall Scholarship. He is also a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow at CSU. A native of San Diego, Dominguez is a first-generation college student and served in the U.S Marine Corps as an avionics technician for the presidential helicopter detachment prior to attending CSU.
