At MCOP-5, student delegates from all around India talk about environmentally friendly solutions for the world.

The objective of the fifth iteration of the Model Conference of Parties is to equip next generations of environmental leaders.

Meghalaya is a natural resource treasure trove. State delegate Chahat Kumari, who was in Delhi with her colleagues for the Model Conference of Parties-5 (MCOP-5) expressed her hope that a method existed for identifying Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such bamboo and medicinal plants through the use of internet resources. Given that the students are enthusiastic in engaging in fair trade for the forest, the team wanted to investigate how NTFPs affect nearby communities.

Similar to the Meghalaya team, several other student groups from various states have pledged to dedicate themselves to their homeland and set out on a new path to execute ambitious action plans and skills.
Participating in seminars and discussions at the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF)-organized Model Conference of Parties-5 Finale (MCOP-5) were students from all around the nation who had travelled to the capital. For the seventy-two student delegates who attended the Generation 30-themed event last weekend, the five-day intense program proved to be life-changing as they learnt about improved environmental governance and biodiversity restoration by 2030.

Students were able to create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) action plans and learn about negotiation, consensus building, effective communication, learning through nature exploration, and leadership for conservation action through insightful workshops and interactive sessions led by experts.

Dr. Erach Barucha, a surgeon by trade who has spent more than 50 years working in the field of wildlife and environmental conservation, motivated the students during his lecture on the “common man’s guide to ecological restoration.” “A leader in the environment lacking effective communication skills is insufficient and incapable of engaging in constructive dialogue to establish agreement on crucial environmental concerns,” he stated to the assembly.

The Director of Environment Education at WWF India, Neha Raghav, emphasised the value of the organization’s educational initiatives. “The goal is to raise people’s consciousness, unite the populace, and provide them with opportunity to support conservation efforts. In order to prepare students for bigger challenges in the future, we want to expand the Model Conference of Parties to every state, the spokesperson stated.

Meghalayan delegate Akansha Mishra stated that she was motivated by the lessons she gained at the MCOP-5 and that she would return to her home state to spread awareness of the need of environmental conservation among as many people as possible. “We breathe what we buy is the most important lesson I learnt,” she stated.

Another representative from Himachal Pradesh, Ayaan Singh Bisht, stated, “Youth are essential changemakers of a country.” To raise awareness at the school level, we ought to organise more demonstrations and contests. Everyone must save the environment.

Ziya Rouf, J&K, Secretary of the MCOP5 Student Council, urged young people to get involved in preserving biodiversity and combating climate change by saying, “Young people can drive change by adopting sustainable lifestyles, supporting eco-friendly businesses, and holding leaders accountable for their environmental commitments.”

Local biodiversity protection depends on community engagement, according to Simran Jain of Sparkly Mindz Global School in Karnataka. The youth’s dedication to successfully implementing their action plans at the local level was reaffirmed by the MCOP student body.

To give student delegates the knowledge and abilities they need to create a sustainable future, WWF-India worked with environmental organizations such as the National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (IUCN-CEC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Capgemini India.