MockCOP2023 – Taking on global challenges. One student at a time.

“Everyone who has taken part in MockCOP has learned something valuable about global problems and how to take action on then including me.  When I started I thought of climate change in terms of environment but these days I think it’s a real picture of how countries have industrialised, how countries rely on each other (even when they don’t want to!) and also of how inequalities underpin structural resistance to change.” Secretary General of MockCOP Amber Demetrius said.

Participants and organizers from this year’s MockCOP .

“There were complex arguments, and a lot of preparation  , so MockCOP2023 was a resounding success”

Amber Demetrius, Secretary General of MockCOP 2023

Students from Ysgol Friars, St. David’s College, Ysgol Tryfan and Westbourne School represented a total of eleven countries, from Australia to Mozambique.

Participants spoke with enthusiasm when delivering their opening speeches and declarations of views, aligning themselves with the nations they represented, as well as their relative policies.

Representatives of some countries, including (but not limited to) the UK, Australia and Uganda truly “dressed the part”, adopting a diplomatic register when addressing their peers on the five resolutions discussed.

Much like a real COP, countries took turn in debating – heatedly at times – on which steps would be necessary in their opinion to reach achievements such as:

  • Banning non-essential single-use plastic by 2030,
  • Establishing clear commitments to address gender inequalities that are increased by climate change,
  • Becoming deforestation free nations by 2030 (for HEDCs) and 2035 (for MEDCs).
Shared resolutions on which the countries worked

Following the debate and the final resolutions, the last word was given to Poppy Stowell-Evans, chair of the Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) and a participant of the very first MockCOP, five years ago.

She stated: “Every day I find it more and more incredible how YCA was founded as a result of a MockCOP. For me, MockCOP was one of the first opportunities I had to learn about climate change and (lack thereof) climate action beyond the very surface-level information I had been surrounded by. It provided me with the opportunity to act on my passion, to learn, and to make incredible friends. It was amazing to speak at the closing of this year’s MockCOP to students from all across Wales. As YCA prepares for an exciting year, this really felt like a full circle moment!”.

Through a final poll students expressed excitement and gratitude for the experience and planned to organise an in-person version of the event.

Amber said: “This opportunity would have never been possible without the hard work of students,  teachers and partners ”. Through that hard work the participants have developed as ethical and informed citizens of Wales and the world.

Final Speech by Poppy Stowell-Evans.