Day 6

The participants of the International Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (IOCE) got a unique opportunity to try their hand as climate diplomats.

In November 2026, Türkiye will host the 31st UN Climate Change Conference Conference (COP31). It has become the main platform for global climate negotiations where countries discuss reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, developing low-carbon solutions, and other key issues. As part of IOCE, the participants were invited to develop and defend their own concepts on acute environmental problems. The participants were led by students who had come to Sirius for the International Climate Process and the Fundamentals of Multilateral Diplomacy program, run by the International Research Center for Ecology and Climate Change at the Sirius University of Science and Technology.

The program covers such important topics as international climate law, climate litigations, and to cross-border carbon regulation. Its global goal is to build a national talent pool of young experts capable of representing Russia’s position at the top international climate platforms.

Many of the Olympiad participants are already involved in their first research projects and are tackling complex socially significant tasks. Besides, it is important not only to possess fundamental knowledge, but also to be able to defend one’s position with well-reasoned arguments.

More experienced students helped our participants take their first steps in this direction. The work was organized in the format of simulation of diplomatic negotiations.

The participants formed four groups: Latin America (Costa Rica, Cuba), the Asia-Pacific region (Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Russia), West Asia (Türkiye, Abkhazia, Qatar), and Africa (Algeria, Nigeria, Zimbabwe).

Each team had to prepare a presentation, not simply identifying the problem, but proposing realistic, down-to-earth solutions. The young diplomats helped the schoolchildren organize the discussion and build persuasive arguments.

Anastasia Koteneva is a third-year PhD student at Siberian Federal University. Her research specialization is dendrochronology. Yet, climate diplomacy is a separate field that Anastasia also finds particularly interesting. She was the mentor for the teams from Cuba and Costa Rica.

"The main problems identified by my group were shortage of drinking water and high vulnerability to hurricanes. These factors provoke power outages, and people are forced to use coal, which leads in its turn to deforestation. As a solution, the group proposed developing climate-resilient infrastructure (including the rapid delivery of drinking water) and restoring natural ecosystems — in particular, mangrove forests. By and large, I can note the high level of the children’s preparation. All the points were initially very well prepared and structured. The participants who came here have truly impressive knowledge," noted Anastasia.

The team from Nigeria also presented well-thought-out and practical solutions. To curb flooding in the south, the participants proposed planting vetiver along riverbanks — this hardy grass effectively strengthens the soil and reduces the risk of bank erosion.

To counter desertification in the north, the team is betting on the Great Green Wall project. Planting drought-resistant trees such as neem, baobab, and acacia will make it possible to form a natural barrier and slow the advance of the desert.

Another important area is fighting air pollution. Here, widespread greening, i.e. planting trees near homes could be an effective step.

"The main value of this format is that participants speak openly about difficulties, share ideas, and join forces. As a result, it becomes possible to develop approaches that are useful for everyone. What impressed me most was the exchange of experience itself, the opportunity to learn how other countries cope with similar difficulties and to find solutions together that benefit everyone," says Muhammad Idris Yahya, the participant from Nigeria.

After the presentations, the teams went on a tour of the bobsleigh and luge track. The facility was built specifically for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and for the participants the tour became a true immersion in sports history. They learned about the competitions held there, modern sporting events, and the engineering solutions used in the construction of the track.