“Our Leaders Have Failed Us at Every COP So We’re Building Our Own”: Youth Hold Virtual COP 

19 November - 01 December 2020

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26 13:30 UTC

• • Two weeks of virtual climate talks mirroring the real COP, except run by young people, for young people
  • Mock COP26 is being held between 19 November - 01 December 2020, in the same month that COP26 would have been held in Glasgow

• Press and interview opportunities available with student staff organisers of Mock COP26 at our press conference on 26 September. Press registration available at http://mockcop.org/pressconf

Between 19 November and 01 December 2020, youth climate leaders will host a virtual Mock COP event in the same month that the now delayed COP26 would have been. The event is being hosted by Students Organising for Sustainability UK, with student staff members and volunteers taking the lead in organising. 

At Mock COP26, 3-5 delegates per country will participate in and will receive targeted opportunities for education and to express their own ideas. 

The aim of the event is to empower young people to be able to engage with their local, national and international leaders about the Climate Emergency. The discussions will be framed around five conference themes: climate justice; climate education; climate-resilient livelihoods; health and wellbeing; and Nationally-determined Contributions.

At the end of the event, delegates will present a collective high-level statement to leaders, summarising what they believe should be prioritised at COP26 in 2021. 

Prithvesh Ashok from India said:

“Mock COP26 gives us - the youth- a stage to resonate our concerns. It gives us a way to put our voice out there amongst all the noise.”

Dom Jaramillo from Ecuador said:

“Young people are no longer waiting to be given permission to speak but are taking the floor themselves. Climate leaders have slammed the door of climate negotiations in our faces. Since they won’t listen, we won’t play their game anymore. We are building our own COP.”

Sofía Hernández, a young member of the COP25 Costa Rican delegation, said:

“COP25 failed the world. The hashtag #TimeForAction was plastered across the conference centre, but there was no ‘action’ to be found. Global leaders neglected human rights- the human face of the crisis- and prioritised their economic interests.”

Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Philippines said: 

“Marginalised communities are underrepresented, or have been drowned out by the most powerful countries. We demand urgency and for those being most affected by the crisis to have a seat at the table.”

[ENDS]

Notes to editors:

• The event is being organised by 18 student staff members and over 200 students from around 45 countries
• More information can be found at http://www.mockcop.org
• Instagram: @mockcop26; Twitter: @MockCOP26;  #ForTheYouthByTheYouth #MockCOP26 
• For further information or comment email us here