Students to be included in Pakistan’s COP delegation

Hiba Essa, Abdullah Quresh prove mettle in two-day simulation

ISLAMABAD: Recognising the importance of including students in discussions on climate change, at least two pupils will be part of the country’s delegation to a global summit next month.

“Considering the importance of the youth in environmental issues, I have decided to include two students in our official delegation to represent Pakistan at COP-23, which is scheduled to be held in Germany next month,” said Climate Change Minister Mushahidullah Khan at the closing ceremony of a two-day role play event titled Conference of the Parties 23 (COP-23) in my City, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with Fredrick Naumann Stiftung and COMSATS University in Islamabad.



“Students and youth have an important role in combating climate change effects,” he added.

Elaborating on the steps his ministry was taking to mitigate effects of climate change apart from participating in the conference, he said that they are working on bringing changes in curricula to include courses on environment to prepare the younger generation for dealing with climate change disasters.

COP in My City is a global simulation exercise among students, designed on the pattern of actual COP negotiations. The purpose of the exercise is to sensitise students on climate change issues and to inform them about the process of climate change negotiations.

The simulation has already been held at 200 locations in 70 countries.

The competition in Islamabad was won by Hibba Essa with Abdullah Quresh coming second. These two will head to Germany as part of Pakistan’s COP delegation.

Third and fourth places were secured by Fatimah Mehmood and Ali Shambeel Jafri.

The Ministry of Climate Change received interest from over 100 applicants from across the country to participate in the competition. Of these, 54 applicants from 22 universities were selected for the two-day event.



The competitors were divided into 10 groups of whom seven represented nations and national groups while three represented the media, the fossil fuel lobby and climate activists.

The competition comprised of two rounds, including “World Climate Simulation” and “World Energy Simulation”.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2017.