Students debate climate change at mock COP conference

Students from three schools in the Wellington College Student Alliance took part in a day of climate change negotiations at a Mock COP 31 conference.

Bohunt School, Charters School and Garth Hill College joined five other schools in the Waterloo Hall, along with Wellington College International Bangkok, whose students joined online.

Groups from each school represented different countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil and Indonesia, with negotiations focusing on cities, energy, forests and food, and oceans, with climate education and finance running across the discussions. The programme also connected international negotiations with practical climate action in schools.

The event took place at Wellington College on Thursday 8 October, in collaboration with the college’s Politics department, MUN Society, Sustainability and Climate Education and the Student Sustainability Committee, and InterClimate Network.

Ana Romero, Head of Sustainability and Global Climate Education Advisor, said: “This year’s Mock COP demonstrated the power of placing students at the heart of climate education. Our student leaders took responsibility for guiding negotiations, while delegates explored different national perspectives and worked towards shared solutions. Their ideas will help shape the student declaration we take to COP31, connecting learning in school with participation in international climate discussions.”

Wellington College Student Alliance is a partnership between Wellington College and 27 state secondary schools. It runs a core programme of events for partner schools, including revision skills days, subject specific days, an Oxbridge programme, an Outdoor Education programme and the Wheeler Programme, a bespoke mentoring scheme that takes in 24 selected pupils each year. When possible, it also invites a small number of students from partner schools to events being run by the College for its students.