GU-Q students, faculty underline key role of youth voices at COP28

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) successfully concluded its multifaceted engagement at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), where faculty and students contributed to the global discussions.GU-Q students were recognised as innovative thinkers and problem solvers throughout COP28. Rania Harrara was a Greenpeace Mena delegate, serving on the Mena Feminist Task Force, and co-authoring the Mena Feminist Demands, while Mohamed Usrof participated as an International Youth Climate delegate representing Palestine for the UAE COP28 Presidency's programme, the IYCDP. He also represented Youngo, the official youth constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change during the Joint Opening Plenary.Being selected as a youth delegate paved the way for Mohamed to advocate for environmental justice and human rights among the heads of state and meet with the UN secretary-general. "The highlights were this journey of diplomacy and climate activism, but also raising awareness of human rights and justice,” he said while acknowledging the benefit of his GU-Q experience and advocacy in Washington, DC. "What makes a great institution or university elite is the people in it and the mentorship opportunities, the in-person exposure to critical analysis skills.”Dr Raha Hakimdavar, hydrologist and senior adviser to the Dean of Georgetown University Earth Commons Institute and the dean of GU-Q, and Environmental Ethicist Dr Jamie Olsen, manager, Instructional Design and Educational Technology at GU-Q, led the university’s involvement at the summit, including presenting the findings of a conference they organised, and leading a study trip to the summit for a group of ten competitively-selected university students.A high-level conference at GU-Q a month before COP28 on "Sustaining the Oasis: Envisioning the Future of Water Security in the Gulf,” gathered key issues and opportunities from regional experts, which were presented by Dr Hakimdavar and Dr Olsen at the climate summit during a panel titled "Sustaining the Oasis: Policy Insights on Water Security, Climate Change, and Ethics.”