Last week, I had the exciting opportunity to run the first and only secondary-school Model Arctic Council ever to take place in Asia: Model Arctic Council Hong Kong!  Over five days at Harrow International School Hong Kong, I led a small group of pupils from schools all over China through a specially designed new programme called ‘International Leaders of Tomorrow (with Model Arctic Council)’.

We began with two and a half immersive learning days focused on diplomatic and leadership skills, including how to speak in public, conduct successful negotiations, build consensus, and research, draft and debate diplomatic documents.  I was incredibly impressed by how well the pupils took to the tasks, especially considering all the lessons took place in English, a second or even third language for all of them.  Even native English speakers would have found the pace and content a challenge!

After our learning days, we conducted an intimate but intense Model Arctic Council simulation on the issue of the so-called ‘Last Ice Area’.  The participating pupils — now playing delegates for Arctic States and Indigenous Permanent Participant organisations — had to grapple with a dual challenge.  Not only did they have to research and understand this complex issue — which combines biogeography, climate science, the precautionary principle, international environmental law and even geopolitics — they had to aim to reach consensus by bridging gaps between their divergent fictive positions.

And I’m pleased to say they did so with aplomb!  As usual, they faced serious difficulties — including power-plays by influential Arctic States that threatened to collapse negotiations entirely — but with careful work and the help of teacherly debriefings, they managed to agree their ‘Hong Kong Declaration’ on the issue.  Congratulations to them!

It was a real pleasure to be in Hong Kong for the first time, and to deliver Asia’s first MAC for schools.  Very many thanks to AISL Outdoor and Mosaic Education for approaching me to bring model diplomacy into their schools offer, and for making this innovative educational event possible.  I hope it’s but the first of many there.