“We, the leaders, must deliver for we, the peoples”
– UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
The Senior School Debating Club tested their diplomacy, understanding of international relations, critical thinking and team work at Model United Nations at Cardiff City Hall(link is external) this week. Representing India, Germany and Japan, Westbourne delegates used their debating skills to negotiate and form their own climate change resolutions in a mock up of COP24 against 20 other schools.
Cardiff City Hall
The setting was magnificent and magnified the seriousness of the proposed resolution, which was made up of 5 points and included banning non-essential single use plastic, addressing gender inequalities, commiting to a Green Recovery following Covid, deforestation free nations and making climate education a compulsory part of the curriculum.
The Declaration of Views from each country showed the pupils the wide-ranging opinions and circumstances of a cross section of countries. After an open debate, there was a chance to talk with other delegations to amend resolutions; if enough seconds were had these were put forward to the Council to be voted on.
