'G20 Model Meeting' Concludes Successfully with Emphasis on LiFE in New Delhi

The first official Model G20 event was a simulation of a G20 meeting in which school students played the roles of G20 delegates, Guest countries, and international organisations.

British School, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sector 8 R.K Puram, Lycee Francais International de Delhi, Modern School Barakhamba Road, Pathways World School Gurugram, Russian Embassy School, Ryan International School Vasant Kunj, and Springdales School Dhaula Kuan were among the schools that attended the meeting.

Over 60 high school students representing 12 nationalities, including ten G20 countries, attended the meeting. The students discussed the theme "Youth for LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)" during the meeting. They talked about the role of global youth in making the LiFE initiative a mass movement for climate action.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the LiFE concept at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. The concept promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that emphasizes'mindful and deliberate utilisation' rather than'mindless and wasteful consumption'.

The LiFE Movement seeks to harness the power of collective action to encourage people all over the world to take simple climate-friendly actions in their daily lives. Furthermore, the LiFE movement seeks to influence social norms concerning climate change by leveraging the strength of youth and social networks.

LiFE intends to establish and nurture a global network of individuals known as 'Pro-Planet People' (P3) who are committed to adopting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles. LiFE hopes to create an ecosystem through the P3 community that will reinforce and enable environmentally friendly behaviours to be self-sustaining.

The theme for the Model G20 event, "Youth for LIFE," was chosen with the critical role that global youth, as change agents, can play in climate action through the LiFE initiative in mind. The meeting was jointly inaugurated by India's G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, and Shombi Sharp, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in India. In his address to the students, Kant emphasised the important role that youth can play in climate action through Mission LiFE.

He praised the initiative of international students gathering for a "Model G20 Meeting" and deliberating on critical issues such as climate change and the role of youth in combating it. Sharp, reflecting on the significance of multilateralism, stated that the only way to solve common problems is through common solutions - overcoming differences and coming together. During its G20 presidency, India was uniquely positioned to bring other countries across divides together, he added.

The participating students, following intense rounds of negotiations throughout the day, concluded the meeting by adopting an outcome document titled, "Guiding Principles for Youth-led Mission LiFE". The outcome document was given to the Chair of the G20's Youth Engagement Group (Youth 20 or Y20) for review at their official Y20 meeting.

The "Model G20 Meeting" initiated school students into the negotiation process in a typical G20 meeting. The Best Speakers, Best Delegation, and Best Consensus Builders received certificates & medals. The G20 Secretariat organized the activity as part of the Secretariat's Jan Bhagidhari outreach.