Embassy Bogota invited a diverse group of State Department exchange program participants and alumni—IVLPs, Climate Change Fellows, and Fulbright Scholars—to discuss climate change in Colombia in advance of the United Nations Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa. The Alumni Dialogue on Climate Change featured moderated discussions on Climate Change in Colombia: Vulnerabilities and Opportunities and Climate Change and the Public: Education and Outreach, as well as smaller, facilitated discussions on Disaster Relief and Prevention, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Rights and Human Rights.

The Dialogue served as a platform to discuss innovative ideas to mitigate the impact of climate change in Colombia and how the State Department alumni network could contribute to addressing this important issue. It also presented a networking opportunity for program participants and alumni to connect with one another, Government of Colombia stakeholders, and the interagency Embassy community on environmental issues of mutual interest. A Facebook group was established after the event, where discussion continues and climate change resources are shared on an almost daily basis. Remote access to the event was available to program alumni outside of Bogotá via the CO.NX platform, and a recording of the event can be found on the Climate Change Fellows section of the Partners of the Americas website.