Four Post 16 Geography students were selected to participate in the Cop27 simulation organised by the British Council at Belfast City Hall on Wednesday 16th November, acting as nations of the world trying to reach agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to tackle global warming. Taking on the roles of envoys to Australia, Sophie Gordon and Jessica Graham received praise from the diplomats from China and India for their pro-active suggestions to mitigate the impacts of climate change across the globe.  Sophie Steele and Leah McMurray were amongst a contingent representing the USA, who were regarded as the villains of climate change, alongside the Chinese and there was friction particularly between them and Bangladesh, who hurled accusations at the “uncaring Americans.” However, they managed to stand up for themselves and at the end of the event, collaboration between all nations, after some tense negotiations, resulted in the Northern Ireland teens doing more than the real governments did in Egypt, and managed to reach the Paris 2015 agreement to reduce global temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, which would help save the planet. So, here’s hoping the actual diplomats and politicians take heed!

Mrs C Chisim