COP26 in Glasgow is set to be one of the most important climate negotiations since COP21 in Paris.
This year, we’ve got a two-pronged system! The following cohort of young and experienced media professionals will be taking in all the action in Glasgow and supporting our virtual team in capturing the news and reporting as it unfolds.
Our call for applicants received tremendous feedback, with over 900 applications from around the world. Now, from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean to Indonesia in Asia, we are excited to introduce you to our on-the-ground COP26 team. They’re a really great bunch!
Yiyao Yang, China 
Yiyao is a committed young professional with experience in journalism and development.
She learned about dislocation and communication barriers through her work in China, Japan, and countries with fragile infrastructures, such as the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, where she witnessed the adverse effects of climate change. Besides climate stories, she covers migration and contemporary art. Yiyao is now studying at Hertie School in Berlin.
Paul Adepoju, Nigeria
Paul is a freelance journalist with a passion for reporting about development stories. His pieces have been published in major outlets including Devex, Quartz, Business Insider, Nature, The Lancet, New Scientist, British Medical Journal and several others. Paul’s climate stories have appeared on top outlets, including CNN. Paul also works with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) as a Community Manager for the Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum, co-winning the 2021 ONA Community Award.
Doménica Montaño Moncayo
Doménica is a journalist from Ecuador who loves to write stories about the environment, climate change, indigenous communities, and human rights. Her favorite story is one she wrote over a year ago about nine girls who sued the Ecuadorian state for violating their rights with the gas flaring systems that are still being used by oil companies in the Amazon. She’s very proud to say that that story was awarded an honorable mention in a human rights journalism competition.
Zico Cozier, Trinidad and Tobago
Zico is currently the Assistant Editor at Cari Bois Environmental News Network, he conceptualised and hosts a local television show called “Trinidad is a Real Place” on TTT Limited, and he’s a Communications Officer at The Cropper Foundation – a non-profit that advocates for the advancement of sustainable development in the Caribbean region. Zico is passionate about environmental advocacy, learning languages, and karate.
Yanine Quiroz Pérez, Mexico
Yanine is an environmental journalist based in Mexico City. She covers climate change and other environmental stories for Animal Mx, Animal Político, Este País, Botany One and Letras Libres. She is a member of the Mexican Network of Science Journalists and has experience in cross-border journalism.
Made Anthony Iswara, Indonesia
Made is a data journalist who strives to integrate research, communication and development economics to advocate policies. He has won 5 journalism awards and is among the five winners that won Best Article for the 2020 EU4Wartawan Competition organized by the European Union.
Monika Mondal, India
Monika is an independent environment journalist, from India. If not eating, reading or writing, she must be scraping waste to work on some shabby DIY project. She lives a minimalist life, speaks Hindi, Bangla, English, and has been a beginner level Spanish and Italian speaker for over 2 years, with little success.
Onke Ngcuka reports on the climate crisis and the environment with the Daily Maverick’s Our Burning Planet unit. Ngcuka not only writes about the crisis but tries to limit her impact by trying to live and eco-friendly life. She is also a climate justice fellow with a Rosa Luxemburg Foundation & JournAfrica! programme.
Francisco Parra, Chile
Francisco Parra is a freelance journalist based in Santiago, Chile. His work is mainly published by La Tercera, El Desconcierto, MediAmbiente and Climate Tracker. He has spent the last years covering climate change negotiations and environmental stories from Latin America.
Now that you’ve met our COP26 in-person fellows, we’re officially ready to bring the climate negotiations to you.
Perspectives from this geographically diverse team will be published and posted on our website and social media. Be sure to Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and Subscribe to our COP26 Daily Tracker newsletter for insights.