Speyside High students fight for climate change in mock COP28
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SPEYSIDE High School was one of 12 schools across the north of Scotland who participated in the mock COP28 conference to highlight their opinions and thoughts on climate change.
The mock conference commemorated the beginning of COP28 and mirrored the ongoing talks between world leaders, politicians and organisations in Dubai.
The urgency of these talks was highlighted at the beginning of COP28 in an address from King Charles, saying: “Change will come by working together and making it easier to embrace decisions that will sustain our world, rather than carry on as though there are no limits — or as though our actions have no consequences.”
Groups of passionate fifth and sixth-year pupils each represented a different country and took part in negotiations to create what they saw as solutions to the ongoing climate crisis.
Speyside High seniors represented the USA at the event and members of the school’s Model UN club staged a mock protest during the conference.
On the school’s social media accounts, they said: “This was an amazing opportunity for our teams to build their skills and experiences.
“We are so proud of our young change-makers!”
The event took place on November 27 at the Highland Council Chambers in Inverness and was organised by The Open University, Highland One World, and DYW Inverness.
Gemma Burnside, partnership manager at The Open University and organiser of the event, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we are able to host the mock COP again in 2023.
“The event gives pupils the opportunity to develop their communication and negotiation skills, as well as gain a better understanding of climate change and democracy, equipping them with the key tools to lead the sustainability debate in the future.”
The event was launched in 2021 virtually to highlight COP26 and became an in-person the following year.
This year’s event saw the number of participating schools rise to 12, from four in its first year.
Catriona Willis, coordinator at Highland One World, said: “Young people are understandably concerned about the climate emergency and what this means for their future.
“The mock COP provides an excellent platform for participants to consider alternate futures, while developing important Global Citizenship skills including critical and systems thinking, political literacy, communication, empathy, and a belief that people can bring about positive change.”
