Youth Tackle Climate Policy at MCOP-GBA 2025 in Shenzhen

From June 21 to 22, 2025, the Model Climate Change Conference of the Parties – Greater Bay Area (MCOP-GBA 2025) brought together 116 youth delegates from more than 30 secondary schools across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao at the High School Affiliated to SUSTech in Shenzhen.

Co-hosted by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the event offered students an immersive experience simulating real-world climate negotiations. Delegates tackled three key agenda items, including Just Transition and Adaptation Goals, mirroring discussions held at actual UN climate summits.

Supported by the China Youth Development Foundation Mercedes-Benz Star Fund and the Shenzhen Project Care Foundation • Youth Leadership Fund, the initiative aimed to equip students with essential skills in multilateral diplomacy and policy-making.

Over the course of two days, students assumed the roles of country representatives, drafted position papers, negotiated bloc strategies, and produced over 10,000 words in formal resolutions.

“Role-playing as a national delegate deepened my sense of responsibility as a global citizen,” said Chen Weijie, a participating high school student.

The conference underscored the power of youth engagement in shaping a sustainable future and demonstrated the value of hands-on educational platforms in building the next generation of climate leaders.