Students’ Global Climate Change Conference
The Grange School hosted more than 200 students from twenty-three schools across four continents for a ‘climate change’ themed Model United Nations Conference on Friday 2nd February 2024. Students debated and negotiated online to reach consensus on the resolutions from COP28 as well as on topics such as single-use plastics, fast fashion and food waste.
This student-led ‘Good Cop Bad Cop’ event was the third organised by Engage with China, a UK registered educational charity which works in UK schools to build China understanding amongst young people. Pupils from countries including the UK, Sri Lanka, Brazil, China, Zambia, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Dominica participated in the conference giving them all an opportunity to come face to face with students their own age from very different backgrounds and life experiences. Each school delegation spoke from the perspective of another country enabling them to develop research skills, team-work and empathy. One of EwC directors, Theresa Booth, said, “By representing another country at the conference students experienced a flavour of what real global negotiations are like and appreciated that respect and good listening skills are essential if consensus is to be achieved.”
Conference President and A-level pupil at The Grange School in Cheshire, Remi Livesey, aged 18 highlighted that “The beauty of this type of MUN debate is the chance to speak from another perspective. This ability is a great 21st century soft skill. Everybody absolutely did an amazing job and it was a really good debate with some great points and some high-level thinking. I was privileged to be this year’s President.”
This annual Model United Nations Conference is unique in three key ways, namely the decision to remove the competitive element usually integral to MUN conferences; giving pupils an opportunity to share the lived reality and impact of climate change in their own country or local area during the opening plenary session and inviting participation from schools in both the independent and state sectors. Dr Lorraine Earps, Headteacher at The Grange School said “As a school we value this conference for its ability to bring another dimension to learning for our students. It is important that all our young people are able to develop the skills of diplomacy, understanding how to work towards consensus and finding ways to overcome the challenges that we face globally now and in the future. This is our third year hosting the event and we are committed to growing it as a platform to enable young people from across the world to come together building relationships and finding shared solutions to global issues. There is a real magic in seeing our future leaders joining in the discussions from across so many time zones sometimes even given up their own holidays for the chance to be involved.”
Chair of Governors at The Grange, Cheshire, Trevor Brocklebank, was also very excited about the school’s involvement in the annual Good Cop Bad Cop conference and how it might expand in the future. He said, “Today we live in a global society where time zones and travelling distances no longer significantly impact worldwide activities such as trade and communications. As we all strive to retain our individual identities, cultures and beliefs, as part of this vast community we must be mindful that we don’t put up invisible barriers. We need to stay open-minded and receptive to all points of view, especially when debating the big issues. This MUN Conference is an outstanding example of how we can actively encourage students to adopt this inclusive and empathetic approach to take with them into the working lives. Good Cop Bad Cop provides a platform where they can develop the leadership, negotiating and diplomacy skills that ensures future generations work together. As a school we are delighted to host this event and will explore opportunities to grow participation and increase the reach, potentially looking to involve businesses and other key stakeholders.”
Senior figures were also invited as guest speakers to encourage the students to develop skills and to take climate action seriously. These included Dame Caroline Wilson, UK Ambassador to China, herself a fluent mandarin speaker, and Madame Zhang Jin, Minister Counsellor from the education section at the Chinese Embassy in London. Also speaking included Julian Hobbs from Vestas, producers of wind turbines and George Harding-Rolls from Eco-Age, an agency seeking to create a post-plastic system and reduce individual plastic footprint.
