The TSL 2024 International Student Debates took place on 17-18 July. The Debates brought together 55 students from 34 countries to express their views on ‘Nature-based solutions vs Technology-based solutions to achieve the UN SDG’s by 2030?’.

Primary students from around the world explored the roles of key stakeholder groups – Government, Business, Conservationists and the Public – and debated whether Nature-based solutions or Technology- based solutions would be more effective for their stakeholder group to achieve the SDG’s

Our judges had a difficult time choosing the most outstanding debaters!

The winners are listed below.

Primary Student Awards

Best Individuals (Proactive with well researched arguments and good response to opposition questions)

• Dao Binh Minh (Vietnam)
• Ahona Bhattacharyaa (India)

Judges’ Commendations (Confidence and good responses to the opposition)

• Hamsini Senthil (Seychelles)
• Celeste Donis  (Azerbaijan)
• An Hong Minh Vu (Vietnam)

Best Groups: Primary 1 Business and Primary 3 Conservationists (Proactive, good listening and response to opposition arguments)

Judges’ Group Commendations:

Primary 2 – Government: Good preparation

Primary 4 – The Public: Confidence and clarity of arguments

The secondary students debated the motion ‘Nature-based Solutions will be more effective than Technology-based solutions to achieve the UN SDG’s by 2030’. All teams did an excellent job presenting the pro’s and con’s of both solutions, considering issues such as affordability and funding, accessibility, training, and speed of implementation.

Secondary Student Awards

Group A

Best Individual: Insightful, focused and well researched arguments and good response to opposition questions

• Yeojin Kong (Thailand)

Judges’ Commendations

• Sonia Kamsiyochukwu Okafor (Nigeria): Good insight and research
• Louixyuen Tan (Malaysia): Passionate leadership
• Mahim Aggarwal (India): Well researched arguments
• Kate Bona (Philippines) Good insight and responses to the opposition

Best Team

Con 1: Teamwork, well researched and strong presentation

Judges’ Group Commendations

Pro 1: Good exploration of organic growth benefits of NBS in LDC’s

Pro 2: Passionate and energetic debates

Con 2: Good examples, insights and team arguments

Group B

Best Individuals: Insightful, focused and well researched arguments and good response to opposition questions

• Nikita Surjoo (South Africa)

Judges’ Commendations: Good insight and research

• Malak Anougou (Morocco): Good insight and research
• Rabbi Setshedi (South Africa): Good insight and research
• June Mirzakhanov (Uzbekistan): Good insight and responses to the opposition
• Namiria Bambara (Spain): Promising debates and overcoming challenges

Best Team

Con 4: Teamwork, confidence and strong presentation

Judges’ Group Commendations

Pro 3: Good presentation and teamwork

Con 3: Good supporting data and research

Pro 4: Promising debates and overcoming challenges

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the debates! The judges were impressed by the depth of research, critical thinking, quality arguments, and confident and courteous debating demonstrated by all of the students.