A climate summit organised by Malaysian secondary students and attended by some 500 peers from Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Algeria and Japan has received recognition.
Tunku Kurshiah International Youth Climate Action Convention 2025 included policy debates, field excursions and problem-solving challenges focused on climate response.
The four-day United Nations-style youth initiative took place at Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC) campus in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
Led by Anis Thurayya Kenali Ahmad Fuaad, the organising team designed the programme to move beyond awareness campaigns, pushing participants towards practical solutions.
“From the start, we wanted to focus on the ‘how’, not just the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of the climate crisis,” she said in her acceptance speech at the award ceremony in George Town, Penang.
Also present were teammates Amanda Ramonna Rajman Zareqh, Noorul Lydia Qistina Ashraf @ Muhammad Ashraf, Aisymiera Qasryna Zainuridza and Liyana Batrisyia Said Niazi.
The summit also featured innovation tasks such as presenting Sustainable Development Goals.
Anis Thurayya said the aim was to simulate real-world decision-making under pressure.
“We created a space where young people had to negotiate survival of the planet.
“Climate science can be complex, but the need to act is simple.”
Beyond the conference, the all girls boarding school integrated sustainability measures into daily school life.
The students helped set up an energy efficiency committee to coordinate conservation efforts, expanded the use of solar panels on campus and ran energy-saving campaigns.
Simple behavioural changes were encouraged within the school.
“Students started using reusable cutlery and being more conscious about water use, even turning off the tap while scrubbing their hands,” said Anis Thurayya, adding that outreach programmes were extended to the Seremban community.
Support from Education Ministry, Malaysian National Commission for Unesco and United Nations Development Programme helped the project scale up.
The students were recognised with the Outstanding Youth Leadership and Project Impact Award under Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme (PNBCAP) by Think City, presented by Penang environment committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo.
Other award recipients included SM Permatang Tok Jaya for its Circular Economy Initiative, SMJK(C) Chung Ling for Integrated Sustainability Systems, SM Kulim for Environmental Storytelling, and Temasek Polytechnic for Excellent Sustainability Education.
During the event, Think City and Penang Green Council signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise collaboration under PNBCAP, beginning with a sustainable schools programme aimed at strengthening climate literacy and preparedness among students.
Also present were Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, deputy state secretary Datuk Seri Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, Think City board member Suryani Senja Alias, Penang Green Council chief executive officer Josephine Tan and Think City International senior director Dr Matt Benson.
