PRESS RELEASE : UN, UK, Italy and Egypt students debate climate issues in Kazakhstan before COP27 [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 October 2022.

In preparation of the forthcoming COP27 meeting that will take place from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, UN Resident Coordinator Office, British Embassy in Kazakhstan, Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan and Embassy of Egypt in Kazakhstan in partnership with KazGUU University organised a student debate ‘COP27: the Voice of Youth from Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh’.

The event was aimed to raise awareness about climate change, to put the topic on the public agenda, inspire and encourage youth to find climate solutions.

The pre-COP27 debates united about 30 students of International Relations, Economics, and Law faculties from KazGUU University, forming 4 teams to discuss countries’ collaboration, climate change mitigation, adaptation and sustainable finance.

Addressing the students, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Ms. Michaela Friberg-Storey noted:

Today’s event is a continuation of a good tradition. It’s time to regain trust and work together constructively to build on Glasgow and deliver a package of concrete outcomes at COP-27. UN Country Team collaborates with the Government of Kazakhstan in terms of updating NDC for further submission to the Conference of the Parties this year. It won’t be easy, but scientists say that it is possible-and that each degree matters, each year matters, and each decision matters. In this regard youth is a strong force, which helps us to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and make us more accountable.

Ms. Kathy Leach, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan said:

The Glasgow COP brought together close to 200 countries (including over 120 world leaders) and gave the world the tools needed to keep 1.5C alive. The Glasgow Climate Pact remains the blueprint for accelerating climate action in this critical decade. Yet the Pact is simply words on a page without action. This is a pivotal moment to redouble our efforts. Every country must revisit and strengthen their climate change targets. We must also support climate vulnerable countries by making sure commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured, driving real, practical action on the ground. None of this will be possible without mobilising climate finance. We continue to work with countries, international financial institutions and private financial institutions to meet the commitments they have made and help secure greater access to critical finance.

Mr. Marco Alberti, Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, said:

COP26 messages were pretty clear: ensuring promises on emissions reductions; delivering for climate vulnerable countries by ensuring commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured; getting finance flowing; working together and continuing to be an inclusive Presidency. This is the very core of the message we would like to deliver to our Egyptian friends. The strapline of COP27, “Together for implementation” is made up of 2 key words: implementation, which is the common goal we must share to save the planet; and together, which indicates the path we must pace if we want to reach out to that goal.

Next month, Egypt will be hosting COP27 with a view to building on previous successes and paving the way for future ambition.​ Ms. Manal Elsayed Yehia Elshinnawi, Ambassador of Egypt to Kazakhstan, said:

Egypt’s COP27 Presidency believes in the necessity to have inclusive, rules based, ambitious and substantive outcomes, up to the scale of the challenge and reflective to the political will, based on science and guided by principles, building on decisions and commitments from Rio 1992 to Glasgow 2021. Effective implementation requires meaningful and inclusive engagement with all stakeholders. This acquires particular significance in relation to youth, as we live in a world where 52% of its inhabitants are under 30 years old. Youth as well are leading at the frontline of creative and effective solutions that support their local communities and the broader global response to the climate crises. Thus, the incoming Egyptian Presidency is keen to make COP27 a hallmark for youth inclusive and meaningful engagement.

Ainur Karbozova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University, commented:

Since Kazakhstan joined the UN back in 1992, our country is one of the most active members of the United Nations with all the important political initiatives being put forward from the UN headquarters. The United Nations is a solid supporter of all the reforms in Kazakhstan, but at the same time facilitates successful implementation of SDG Agenda by engaging students to tackle climate change issues as well. We are therefore very thankful of our students having such a unique chance of wearing hats of the global politicians and facing current challenges of humanity.

The conference will provide an opportunity for multilateral collaboration between countries to phase out fossil fuels, accelerate the shift to renewables and implement energy efficiency measures to support demand reduction.