MG20^® Student Interview with Jasveer Anand

After the Model G20^® summit, Knovva Academy’s Eryn Gordon sat down with Jasveer Anand, an alumni of the high school leadership program, to talk about his experiences there. Jasveer is a passionate student determined to make the world a better place to live. He and Eryn talk about how our EdTech company’s MG20® opened his eyes to new possibilities and perspectives and made a notable difference in his leadership skills.

During the interview, Jasveer also shares his thoughts behind his policy paper on climate change reform.

Read the full interview below, or learn more about Model G20 through our online learning center.

Eryn Gordon: Hi, I'm Eryn. I'm a representative with Knovva Academy and I am here with Javeer Anand. Today, we're going to discuss his position paper that he formed after the Model G20 summit. Can you tell me your name and where you are from?

Jasveer Anand: My name is Jasveer and I am from Indore, which is a city located in central India.

Eryn Gordon: Excellent. What if your friends could describe you in one word? What would that word be?

Jasveer Anand: I think my friends would describe me as passionate because I put my heart and soul into everything that I do. Like, I picked up the issue of climate change, in this paper, as I believed that the solutions that I had can make a difference in the world, and make it a better place to live.

Eryn Gordon: Perfect. And what's something you're known for?

Jasveer Anand: I'm known for being a realist, a cricketer and who's played at the state level, a public speaker, who's participated in 19 competitions and won 17 out of them, including being the first Indian earning the best Deciding Committee member award at the last three MG20 summits. And a person who likes to create an environment where people feel respected and comfortable to be themselves.

Eryn Gordon: That's wonderful. And it sounds like you've done that in a lot of different environments, too, from leadership organizations to participating in cricket. How did you first hear about Knovva Academy's Model G20 Summit?

Jasveer Anand: My school, the Daly College Indore presented me. The opportunity introduced me to this forum.

Eryn Gordon: And what inspired you to sign up?

Jasveer Anand: The thing that inspired me the most was that I would get the chance to meet people from all over the world. I understand their culture and perspective towards global issues like climate change, which gave me a broader understanding.

Eryn Gordon: Can you tell me about your impressions of the Model G20?

Jasveer Anand: My impression was that Model G20 is a platform where people from all across the world come together, have robust discussions and present innovative and unique solutions to some of the major global issues like smart cities, space explorations, climate change, etc.

Eryn Gordon: As you said, one of the key factors of the Model G20 is the ability to collaborate with other students from around the world. How did this experience alter your perception of climate change?

Jasveer Anand: Attending the summit actually made me realize how severe and real climate change is and how grave are its consequences. It gave me all together a new perspective about solving it and made me realize that only by working together on things like renewable sources can we make a major difference in solving the crisis.

Eryn Gordon: Did any of your peers' perspectives on climate change surprise you?

Jasveer Anand: Yes actually, I remember that one of my team related space exploration’s impact on making lives better on earth. Which actually surprised me because I've always thought of space exploration as having a negative impact on the environment. This changed my thought process, and actually persuaded the idea to one of the solutions that I have listed in my paper.

Eryn Gordon: That's excellent. Isn't it great when someone can help you see an idea in a different way? Now gathering the varied experiences between you and your peers, tell me something about the solutions you came up with during the event.

Jasveer Anand: There were actually many interesting and practical solutions that came up during the summit. The first was cleaning satellites using Magnetic Hook, which would solve a major issue which was space. Every smart home, which is actually further elaborated on and used in my paper. Then creation of a Sustainable Space Center. Keeping in mind that the current Space Center will expire shortly and the asteroid deflection program. So these were some of the very interesting solutions that we came up with.

Eryn Gordon: Now, moving on to your position paper, what inspired you to write your position paper after the summit?

Jasveer Anand: I've always wanted to contribute to making the world a better place to live in and with the G20 taking place in my country, This was kind of a wake-up call. This paper provided me the opportunity to share my thoughts and solutions that can help solve a major global issue which is climate change. As I was keenly following the agenda of climate change being discussed in the previously held G20 and COP 26 summits. It came to me that a few simple solutions can make a lasting difference, and these solutions are not being implemented. So I decided to envision my solutions and write this paper.

Eryn Gordon: That's fantastic! Your primary solutions focus on smart homes and electricity systems as well as cybersecurity too, which also I found interesting. Can you tell me more about the details of each of these solutions, and why they work?

Jasveer Anand: The first solution that I listed in my paper was Smart Homes, which was divided into three parts, The first part being construction using 3D printers, which would reduce the carbon footprint cost by the construction industry, as construction would be made more cost efficient, resulting in a better designed and sustainable home. It would also reduce the harmful waste produced by the construction industry, which accounted for 600 million tons in the USA alone in 2018, which would have approximately filled up 20, full size, American football stadiums. The second part being the use of recycled and processed plastic. Plastic which has been one of the biggest, where we produce about 400 million tons of plastic waste every year.

The thing that made me think of this policy was India's mission to Mars, in which the satellite was actually made out of processed plastic. With this policy we can ask “What is a liability and an asset for the earth?” The third and final part of this policy was smart houses which involved the use of sensors to avoid wasting electricity, as Americans spend about 130 billion dollars a year. A combination of all three parts will result in a smarter, cost efficient and environmentally friendly home. My second policy is Smart Electricity System, which comprises two parts producing electricity, and consuming it the smart way.

Production of Electricity The Smart Way includes extensive use of mapping satellites to identify potential for renewable resources and further explore sources like tidal and geothermal, which have a massive undiscovered potential. Only 13 gigawatts electricity. Electricity is currently being produced from geothermal which is only 15% of its discovered potential in geothermal reserves around the world. 3,000 gigawatts is the potential of title energy and only 400 is being utilized. Just try and imagine the endless possibilities that this policy would open up. Now, moving on to consuming in a smart way. Consuming the smart way includes enhancing the installation of smart grids which divert electricity. According to the demand, saving loads of wasted energy would make the vision of renowned scientist Nicola Tesla a reality, which is wireless electricity. And now, it is possible with emeralding, which have successfully installed it in New Zealand. Wireless transmission of electricity will reduce the deforestation that it would take to supply electricity to remote areas and make supply more accessible. The third policy of the paper was cyber security ensuring a secure future.

As we all know, everything in the future will be operated by AI, for example, Smart Grids, and the need for cyber security will increase. First of all, we don't need to implement more tech unless we're sure that it is safe to use and secondly, we need stronger firewalls. So the G20 nations can come together, set up a world class team of experts in the field and create a common firewall for ensuring zero mishaps. For instance, a cyber attack against the power grid in Ukraine switched off 30 substations, leaving 230,000 people with dark power for up to six hours.

My fourth and foremost policy will help fund all of the above policies and more. This policy will aid in funding of steps that will help combat climate change and add to the already existing climate change fund, the first part being CSR or the Corporate Sustainability Responsibility Fund in which all corporations will have to deposit one percent of their profit to this fund, as these funds will only be used to help the world. I believe that corporations should contribute, because ultimately, all of them depend on natural resources, directly or indirectly. The second part of this policy was creation of a worldwide green initiative. Developed countries have failed to meet the hundred billion dollar mark which is meant to be just a kickstarter to the trillions required to go zero emission. This will be like a normal bond, but the money borrowed will only be used for green projects, which would work towards making the world zero emission. And half of the interest rate would be subsidized by the government making these loans, making these bonds more attractive. My goal with this policy was not to protect the environment but to create a world where the environment would not need protecting.

Eryn Gordon: Wonderful, I love that statement that you finished with. An interesting theme came up, it seems as though the pledges are always falling short, that what countries, or even companies guarantee, never actually happens. What would it take for these entities to care more about these issues?

Jasveer Anand: The most important thing is that they need to realize our dangerous, catastrophic, and urgent issues of climate change, as we are already using trillions of dollars because of it, which signifies that nature will extract its price one way or another. Plus, there are still many people who believe that climate change is not a reality, which is astounding. Awareness will play a major role. Also, the world is currently working on self-help which implies commitments of corporations, as well as individuals. So that would come in the way of implementation of these policies.

Eryn Gordon: Awesome. That's fantastic. And I really like the self-help idea, too. What do you think would be the biggest opportunity if your position paper ideas are implemented?

Jasveer Anand: The biggest opportunity would be a smart, as well as sustainable future because unlike other solutions, these policies do not compromise on comfort of humans. Simultaneously, these policies ensure efficient utilization of the resources that we have, which will be a game changer for the long run and ensure a smart and sustainable future.

Eryn Gordon: Fantastic. And of course, with opportunities, there are always challenges. So, what do you think would be some of the biggest challenges faced in order to implement your ideas?

Jasveer Anand: I believe that the biggest challenge with the implementation would be to get different countries on the same page, and come to a consensus as countries have been giving more importance to their own influence and political issues, while not caring about the environment. For instance, as stated in one of my policies, developed countries actually failed to meet the hundred billion dollar mark, which was a four year target. But on the other hand, according to Al Jazeera, the USA alone supplied arms worth nearly 100 billion since February to Ukraine and only gave 1.1 billion dollars to count to climate change. The difference is huge: one hundred billion to 1.1 billion. The UK provided about seven billion to Ukraine, and on the other hand failed to provide just 300 million in the given deadline that it promised for the COP 26.

This needs to change because the world leaders need to realize that the actual war is out there not amongst ourselves.

Eryn Gordon: Yes, that's so impactful? This year's G20 is actually happening in your home country. What is this year's G20 theme and how does your position paper correlate?

Jasveer Anand: The theme of this year’s G20 is One Earth, One Family, One Future. I believe that the Indian government could not have chosen a more impactful theme because the summit is at a very crucial stage and we need to put aside political issues in order to solve global issues united. The theme is associated with my paper as it reminds us that we only have one earth and we need to look after it, or at the end of the day we will have to face the consequences. Plus, India has made climate change one of the main agendas for the summit.

Eryn Gordon: Fantastic, Jasveer. My final question, is there any international platform that you think can help these policies become a reality?

Jasveer Anand: So, these policies require international cooperations because borders and boundaries are for us, not for Mother Nature. And forums that can help with the implementation of these policies. For starters, there can be summits, like the G20 or the COP 26, which have countries that have the resources to implement these policies. Then in the future, reaching out to countries that have competitively less economic affordability through the United Nations.

Eryn Gordon: Thank you so much for your time today. I really appreciate speaking with you about your position paper and I believe that you have some really wonderful ideas. I hope you get a chance to present them to the real G20.

Jasveer Anand: Thank you.

About Model G20^®

The Model G20^® is an annual leadership program for high school students hosted by Knovva Academy that welcomes students from all around the globe. Through mirroring the real G20, students take an innovative and simulatory approach to developing their leadership skills. Students play active roles among key G20 participants, and gain firsthand experience on diplomacy and addressing global challenges. As the leader in online learning, Knovva Academy provides the tools necessary for future global ambassadors.