The sixth edition of COPin Bogotá was launched on 24^th November, in virtual mode, with the participation of several leading schools committed to climate action and the search for a sustainable environment.

The words of our headmaster Jaime Acosta and our deputy head Myriam Copete motivated the students to make a stand to preserve and protect the global environment.

Also present was the environmental engineer, Yurshell Rodriguez from the Island of Providencia who focussed our attention on the climatic tragedy brought about by Hurricane Iota.  A clear example of how climate change affects all nations and the need for action now, to prevent future disasters.

The Adaptation, Finance, Mitigation and Technology Committees conducted two parallel work simulations where the delegates and the chairmen stood out for their commitment and for keeping to the designated agenda.

The Day of Action was directed by the technical staff of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (PTAR) of the Salitre.  The guide Martha Barros and the engineer Abel Eduardo Lopez took us on a 90 minute, virtual tour of the premises and gave us a preview of the future Parque Metropolitano (PTAR) Salitre. It was very constructive to hear about the measures that benefit our city and the environment: ‘a step towards settling the enormous debt we owe the River Bogotá.’

After two days of preparation and hard work, on the third and last day, the Closure was carried out in three stages. Firstly, a conference ‘Saving the Amazon’ was given by Daniel Gutierrez. He explained the extensive work being done by the NGO in the Colombian Amazon.  Namely the reforestation through an Adopt-a-Tree campaign, followed up by the biannual, ground based photographic monitoring and the empowerment of indigenous communities involved in this project.  At present the NGO has planted over 100.000 trees.

The second stage of the Closure was led by the delegates and the chairmen who highlighted lessons learned and made proposals for concrete climate actions to be carried out locally and at a global level.

The third and last stage was the Closure with speeches from our headmaster Jaime Acosta, the deputy head Myriam Copete, students, Diego Rodriguez and Sebastian Guzman and the Secretary and Under-Secretary of COPin Bogotá. They thanked the participants and encouraged them to continue working for changes in attitude towards our Planet.

The conclusions of the discussions carried out in COPin Bogotá 2020 will be sent to the 2021 UN Conference on Climate Change that will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Saint George’s School thanks all who took part and calls for positive actions in favour of our little planet.

 

COPin Bogotá 2021 awaits us!

 

ACADEMIC AWARDS:

 

MITIGATION A:

• Best delegate: UNITED STATES A (Maria Paula De La Espriella – Colegio Santa Francisca Romana)
• Outstanding delegate: LDC (Luna Fernandez – Saint George’s School)

 

MITIGATION B

• Best delegate: EUROPEAN UNION B (Martin Valbuena- Anglo Colombian School)
• Outstanding delegate: GRUPO SOMBRILLA B (Camilo Mantilla Mendoza – Gimnasio La Montaña)

 

ADAPTATION A:

• Best delegate: LDC’s (Mauricio Bacca – Saint George’s School)
• Outstanding delegate: BASIC (Mario Alberto Gomez – Gimnasio Campestre)

 

ADAPTATION B:

• Best delegate: AILAC B (Manuela Hoyos – Liceo Colombia Bilingue)
• Outstanding delegate: BASIC B (Rosita Quintero- Saint George’s School)

 

FINANCE A :

• Best delegate: BASIC A (Sebastián Ariza Melo – Gimnasio Campestre)
• Outstanding delegate: UNITED STATES (Maria Isabel Maya and Paula Cancino – Colegio Santa Francisca Romana)

 

FINANCE B:

• Best delegate: BASIC B (Valentina Hernandez -Saint George’s School)
• Outstanding delegate: GRUPO AFRICANO (Mariana Gonzalez – Centro Cultural y Educativo Español Reyes Católicos)

 

TECHNOLOGY A:

• Best delegate: BASIC A (Felipe Macallister – Gimnasio Campestre)
• Outstanding delegate: EUROPEAN UNION A (Manuela Rojas Sosa – Gimnasio Los Portales)

 

TECHNOLOGY B:

• Best delegate: EUROPEAN UNION A (Daniela Torres – Gimnasio Los Portales)
• Outstanding delegate: UNITED STATES A (Maria Alejandra Hernandez – Colegio Santa Francisca Romana)

By Marina Larrahondo – Science Head Department and Sofía Vélez 11 grade student