As many as 153 students represented various countries set to participate in next month's UN gathering, expressing their positions with regard to climate change issues in speeches delivered during the simulation.

The students simulated the roles of the US, South Africa, the UAE, G20 countries, and China, in addition to Egypt, the COP27 host, explaining each county's position and opinion on climate issues and pledges.

The model included a simulation of the handover process of the UN event’s presidency from the president of COP26 in Glasgow to the president of COP27, which is slated for 6-18 November in Sharm El-Sheikh.

It also witnessed discussions on the issues of climate finance, with students simulating African nations and explaining the continent's dire need for the international community’s support in transitioning from traditional energy sources to cleaner ones.

The students also organised a simulation model of the 17th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY17) set to take place ahead of COP27 (on 3-5 November), also in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Cairo University simulation models were organised in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, the National Anti-Corruption Academy, the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, and the Economic Governance Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad praised the model as “a source of pride,” while assuring that the Sharm El-Sheikh conference will be the beginning of the implementation phase for many of the proposed initiatives in several spheres.

Egypt is keen to ensure that the discussions of the climate conference are not “all talk,” said Fouad, who is also the Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy for the COP27.

Leslie Reed, USAID Director in Egypt, said the dangers of climate change that had once been a source of concern have now become a reality, as the severity of climate change is already being felt.

Hopes are pinned on COP27 to turn climate-related pledges into action to help facilitate the move to green energy in order to reduce harmful gas emissions and adapt to climate change as per the Paris Agreement.

This includes pushing developed countries to honour their pledges to mobilise $100 billion annually to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation measures.

The Paris Agreement – adopted at COP21, signed by over 190 states including Egypt and came into effect in 2016 – aims to limit the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.