Yuvamanthan Model United Nations (YMUN) held at IIT Gandhinagar

To engage the youth in a global dialogue on international diplomacy, leadership and collective duty, the Student Council of the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), in collaboration with Awaam, the Society, Politics, and Debating Clubof the institute, organised the ‘Yuvamanthan Model United Nations’ (YMUN) on September 20, 2024. Following the directives of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, India, the MUN focussed on ‘Lifestyle and Environment’, bringing together delegates from a wide range of countries, to facilitate crucial discussions around global climate action, sustainable development, and environmental cooperation.

The event was inaugurated by Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, who stressed upon the importance of such gatherings in promoting the holistic development of individuals. Noting the urgency of environmental conservation, Prof Moona expressed his delight in beholding the enthusiastic participation from students, staff, and faculty alike.

The YMUN was divided into two halves: the Conference of Parties 29th Edition (COP 29), and the All India Political Party Meet (AIPPM). In the COP 29, representatives from different countries presented their agendas, foregrounding the various initiatives undertaken by them to
enable policy changes in favour of ecological preservation. A multitude of perspectives unfolded during the course of an hour, as contrasting ideologues debated on issues of clean energy, sustainable urban development, and climate finance.

The AIPPM witnessed an engaging discussion on environmental priorities, state-level impacts, and national policy frameworks involving prominent national and regional leaders from different parts of the country.

From Narendra Modi to Mamata Banerjee, Mehbooba Mufti to M K Stalin, Rahul Gandhi to Nitish Kumar, a diverse set of voices emphasised upon the role of state and central governments in mitigating the unprecedented effects of climate change. An important thread of this discussion was budget allocation on the environment – an aspect that often remains under-recognised in the public discourse.

Jigar Mahedu, a representative delegate of France was identified as the Best Delegate for COP 29. Devendra Dubey representing South Africa was endowed with the High Commendation Award, while Manish Prasad was presented the Special Mention award for COP 29. The Best Delegate award in AIPPM was conferred to Rupak Banerjee, who represented Mamata Banerjee from West Bengal. Manas Agrawal as Mehbooba Mufti and Dhruv Sharma as M K Stalin were awarded the High Commendation and Special Mention Award respectively.