{"id":13895,"date":"2024-11-21T10:09:59","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T10:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=13895"},"modified":"2024-11-21T11:15:29","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T11:15:29","slug":"championing-sustainability-across-the-globe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2024\/11\/21\/championing-sustainability-across-the-globe\/","title":{"rendered":"Championing Sustainability Across the Globe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With COP29 taking place now, CONNECTED spoke to two alumni who are using their experiences from both Reading and COP to implement climate action in Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n

COP<\/a> (Conference of Parties) is the annual series of formal meetings where governments and world leaders come together to assess, measure progress and negotiate the best ways to address climate change.<\/p>\n

To gain an insight into the importance and impact of COP, CONNECTED spoke to children\u2019s literature graduate Gurpreet Kaur, who participated in the 2024 COP29 Climate Change Summer Camp<\/a> in Azerbaijan; and to renewable energy: technology and sustainability graduate, Saifuddin Abdul Karim, who attended the 2023 COP28<\/a> in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Gurpreet and Saifuddin shared how they have both taken learnings and connections made at COP back to Malaysia to make significant strides on sustainability.<\/p>\n

Gurpreet Kaur<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Gurpreet believes it is important to educate yourself on climate change, in order to educate the next generation. She has long held a passion for education \u2013 before beginning her master\u2019s in children\u2019s literature<\/a> at Reading, she was a teacher in Malaysia. But it was during her studies in the UK that Gurpreet believes she realised her passion and really discovered herself.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThe beauty of the University of Reading is that it offers many different opportunities for students. I wish I could have stayed for longer as there was so much more I wanted to experience \u2013 from discovering my love for picture books, to gaining knowledge in areas I could never have imagined I would.\u201d<\/p>\n

After graduating in 2019, Gurpreet returned to Malaysia where she taught English at a Government School to 10-12 year olds and was soon promoted to Head of the English Department and Project Coordinator for their Eco-School Programme.<\/p>\n

\"\"She explained: \u201cThe project is an international programme where they educate and empower students\u00a0on climate change. It was through this project that I learnt about the COP29 Climate Change Summer Camp. The Camp invited young educators, along with climate leaders, to share relevant knowledge and skills so that leaders can best integrate climate change awareness with education and empower the next generation.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI was already invested in making a change and was hungry for more knowledge on climate action.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“So when I saw the advertisement I jumped at the chance to apply and was honoured to be selected as one of four people representing South East Asia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch Gurpreet\u2019s application video:<\/p>\n