ADA University has hosted the opening ceremony of the COP29 Climate Change Summer Camp for young teachers, Report informs.
The opening ceremony, moderated by ADA University's Vice-Rector Fariz Ismayilzada, brought together a distinguished panel of speakers, including, Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President-designate, Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister and Lead Negotiator of COP29, Nigar Arpadarai, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, Alessandra Roccasalvo, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Leyla Hasanova, UN Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova, Saja Farooq Abdullah, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also addressed the participants via video link.
The summer camp, running until August 9, brings together an impressive cohort of 75 young teachers, with 54 representing various countries and 21 from Azerbaijan. This diverse group will engage in a series of intensive training sessions focused on climate change and the COP process.
This initiative is a crucial step towards achieving the objectives set for COP29. By educating young teachers, the program aims to create a ripple effect, spreading climate awareness through classrooms across the globe. The camp will equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate climate education into their curricula effectively.
The summer camp is a result of collaboration between various national and international organizations, including, the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources, Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, UNDP and UNICEF offices in Azerbaijan, ADA University, Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization, UNESCO, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Office for Climate Education (OCE), Teach for All (A Global Network).