I was at COP28 - and this is what you need to know
Behind the mixture of headlines coming from COP28, Ana tells us 4 reasons to be optimistic about the future of COPs:
Youth and Education
This was the first COP to assign a day for Youth and Education. It did so in an inclusive way with lots of stakeholders hosting events, covering perspectives of how education is essential to tackle climate change. Ana’s own event about Capacity Building Practices to promote regional and international synergies on Action for Climate Empowerment was well attended by senior delegations at COP and followed by over 300 people online. This combination of decision makers and young people is a powerful force for change.
Young people’s voice
This COP was interested in having voices of young people represented from different social movements, including demonstrations about the rights of indigenous people in nature, involving young people advocating for human rights and social justice. This is a big step forward.
Youth Champion
The Presidency of COP28 created the position of ‘Youth Climate Champion’ for the first time. The champion is to serve as bridge between the presidency and young people. COP provides further details: “The Youth Climate Champion role is designed to amplify the work of youth-led and youth-focused organizations within the COP process. H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, is the first-ever Youth Climate Champion with a Ministerial role. H.E. Al Mazrui is also the Secretary General of the Education and Human Resources Council, Chairperson for Special Olympics UAE, and President of the National Center for Education Quality and the President of the board of trustees of Zayed University.”
Schools and educators
There is a place for schools and educators in future COPs and it is an important way of building young people’s leadership in their futures. Ana spoke at the inaugural Festival of Education in Bangkok, talking about her work as a youth advocate and the phrase ‘How old will you be in 2050?’ This resonates with young people who are passionate about climate education. Schools can visit COP Green Zones and are encouraged to do so. Wellington College and Wellington College International presented a student declaration to the COP presidency on behalf of over 6,000 international students in the group, forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with other educational institutions, NGOs, and governmental bodies during COP28. These collaborations aim to create a network for sharing resources, knowledge, and best practices in climate education, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and action.
More education providers prioritising climate education amplifies the voice of young people even further. To hear more about Ana’s work and think about how you can get involved listen to the JetStream podcast: https://dukeboxradio.com/podcast/jetstream-7-sustainability-leadership-at-wellington-college/
The COP28 President H.E. DR. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber concluded the conference by saying that ‘This historic consensus is only the beginning of the road’. Ana is optimistic about developments but there is always more to be done.
You can hear more from Ana at the Global Education Benchmark Group in New York, or at the next GESS Talks Webinars.
Ana was talking to Chris Woolf, International Director at Wellington College International.
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