Feeling daunted by the idea of keeping clued up on COP28?
Fortunately, veteran climate activist and COP-watcher Gary Payton is on hand to do all the heavy lifting for you! As the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change conference unfolds in Dubai, he’s parsing the deluge of ensuing coverage, selecting insightful, well-written (and un-paywalled) articles about the conference that’ll be well worth your time
Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gary will be sharing one link per day (archived here) during the Conference of the Parties (with a brief annotation for context) and then offering reflection and wrap up articles as the conference concludes in mid-December.
To get Gary’s link of the day emailed to you each morning for the duration of COP28, hit the subscribe button below. (Once COP28 has wrapped up, THE CONDOR will land in your inbox once or twice weekly—rather than daily.)
About Gary
Gary is team member emeritus of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico. From the inception of the Coalition in the fall of 2018 until December 2022, Gary served as the Coalition’s Research and Technical Advisor. During his tenure, he designed and implemented its Legislative Advocacy program, secured recognition of the Coalition by the UN as an “Official Observer NGO” at annual COPs, crafted many of its communications, and managed its finances.
Prior to moving to Santa Fe in 2017, Gary’s environmental work was focused on Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. He credits Bill McKibben’s 2012 “Do the Math Tour” as a life-changing turning point. In 2013, he represented the state as the Idaho Ambassador to “50 States for Healthy Air,” a citizen lobbying event in Washington DC. Mid-decade, he devoted his energy to blocking construction of coal export terminals in port cities of Washington and Oregon. For his work, he was honored with the 2015 Idaho Conservation League’s highest award for environmental activism. Then, as an “Official Observer” at the COP21/UN Climate Conference, he reported on and gave presentations on the landmark Paris Agreement.
Gary continues to support the Coalition’s mission on a variety of short term projects.
A veteran and retired Colonel in the US Air Force, Gary is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University.