Over the last few years the world has seen children raise their voice on environment issues and ask leaders across the world to consider their actions towards building a sustainable and healthier planet. Leading from the front, these children have been unafraid to voice their opinions and seek solutions to address the environmental challenges facing the planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has also made us all realize that as much as this is a health emergency, it is also a wake-up call that nature is sending us to reset and reconnect.It is in light of the above that WWF India in association with its partners- UNDP, UNEP, MoEF&CC and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will host the first ever digital Model Conference of Parties (MCOP) on the 22nd and 23rd of May, 2020. The conference aims to put the power of decision making in the hands of children and youth, those whose futures will be directly impacted by environmental crisis and allow them an opportunity to propose solutions to address and rectify the issues being faced in the country today. From Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Nidhanshi Bavoria and Ayushi Gupta of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Rehari, Jammu is leading the charge with the ardent support of Directorate School Education (DSE) Jammu, Anuradha Gupta and the Coordinator Shashikant Lakhanpal whose support is commendable in making the girls make it to the MCoP 2020 representing UT J&K.
The Chief Guest of the event will be the Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with experts on conservation and sustainable business and grassroots level organizations working in the field of environment (list added as annexure).MCOP 2020 aims to provide an opportunity to these future leaders to gain knowledge and experience in environmental problem solving. At the end of the MCOP, these young conservationists will present the “Delhi Declaration 2020” listing down the modus operandi on how to take these dialogues forward in their respective states while involving the administration to take action. These actions will determine the future of environment in not just the states that these brilliant young minds hail from, but for the future of the environment in the country as well.The conference will be live streamed, Day 1: 22nd May 2020; Time: 10:45 – 15:30 and Day 1 Live streaming: https://youtu.be/1uEsPK2-vK4. Day 2: 23rd May 2020; Time: 10:00 – 16:30 and Day 2 Live streaming: https://youtu.be/4s1y67mUbss.WWF-India has been working towards wildlife and environment protection in the country since 1969. WWF- India is part of the WWF-International network and its national presence extends to over 75 state and field offices across more than 20 states. The organization works in different geographical regions of the country towards the conservation of key wildlife species, protection of habitats, management of rivers, wetlands and their ecosystems, climate change mitigation, sustainable livelihood alternatives for local communities, water and carbon footprint reduction in industries and combating illegal wildlife trade. WWF India’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.