Mackenzie Green: studying abroad

As the effects of climate change grow more drastic with each coming year, many students have begun educating themselves about what they can do to fight back against it. One such student is senior Mackenzie Green, who attended a climate policy focused study abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark, organized by the Council on International Educational Exchange.

The program consisted of various educational activities about climate change as well as opportunities for students to explore Copenhagen. “We stayed in a dorm and we had classes in the morning for three hours,” Green said. “We had cultural activities and excursions in the afternoon and evening, so we got to experience Danish culture while also learning about policy and advocacy.”

Through her time in the program, Green gained valuable insights on how she can become a part of the solution to climate change. “Going on the program really helped me figure out what I want to study in college,” she said. “One day we went to the United Nations (UN) city, which is a spot in Copenhagen where there are a bunch of different branches of the UN that meet and work there. Seeing those jobs really helped me realize what it is I want to do, or at least what I want to study in college.” All that Green has learned from the program has inspired her to start working in climate advocacy back home in Palo Alto. “I am working with the Cloud Project, which is a student-led group with Gunn and Paly students where we teach kids in fourth through eighth grade about climate change and the environment in general,” she said.

Looking into the future, Green hopes that the United States can follow in the footsteps of Denmark and enact more radical change when it comes to climate policy. “Denmark is one of the leading nations in climate policy and sustainability,” she said. “Going somewhere where that is a focus on pretty much everyone’s mind is really inspiring.”