Journey towards Insight - SCA Students Takes a Step Towards CoP30

By Ian Kim ‘26 • Dec 5, 2025

Springfield Commonwealth Academy (SCA) expanded its global footprint this year by taking their team of students to COP30, the United Nations annual climate summit - giving them a firsthand experience at the world's most influential environmental discussions. The experience offered students the opportunity to not only see through the high-level diplomacy but also to blend themselves in with the uniquely global cultural society.

With world leaders, policy makers and climate scientists, they together worked hand in hand to negotiate solutions for the planet's most urgent environmental challenges. Through this, SCA students were able to sit in on sessions focusing on carbon reduction, renewable energy innovation and international cooperation. For those who usually encounter these topics through textbooks or other sources on a daily basis, seeing the delegates debate and compromise in real time helped provide an experience and better understanding of how the policies are shaped.

Outside the halls of negotiation, students took time to explore the diverse pavilions representing diverse countries, regions, communities and cultures from across the world. Each pavilion showcased its own cultural identity, climate concerns and sustainability projects starting from the Arctic conservation efforts all the way to Amazonian indigenous knowledge. Through endless conversations with the activists, researchers and young leaders from across the nation, SCA students learned how climate change affects communities differently based on their geographical, cultural and economical status.

This cultural immersion was one of the most significant aspects of the trip. Students were able to enjoy different traditional foods, listen to regional music and freely participate in workshops led by the youth groups and environmental organizations. Many stu

dents who took part stated that the experience helped them recognize the importance of understanding different cultural perspectives when addressing global problems. By continuously interacting with peers from Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, they gained a broader yet more empathetic understanding of the challenges climate change brings to diverse populations worldwide.

The trip was an experience that reflected SCA’s commitment to experiential and global oriented education. The school wishes to continue expanding opportunities that connect classroom learning with real-world issues hoping to develop students who are capable of thinking critically, acting responsibly and leading confidently on an international stage. Teachers accompanying the group stated that many students returned with a renewed sense of purpose - feeling empowered to participate in climate action and inspired by the diverse voices they listened from.

By taking a part in COP30, SCA demonstrated how schools can help young students engage with pressing global challenges. Most importantly, students were able to return with a strong belief that their voices matter highly in shaping the future. Through exposure to international diplomacy and cultural diversity, the experience affirmed SCA’s mission: preparing students not only for academic success, but for meaningful participation in a rapidly changing world.