The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan, held a panel discussion entitled “Leveraging Technology for Advancing Greening Education from Glaciers and Water Security to Climate-Resilient Schools” on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the Kyrgyz Pavilion, during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

The session saw high-level attendance and included Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, government officials and experts from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as representatives from leading educational technology organizations, universities, and institutions. Discussions focused on the contributions of emerging technologies, scientific innovation, and digital solutions to advancing green education and strengthening climate resilience.

The session opened with remarks by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector and Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO. He emphasized the importance of harnessing technology to translate climate knowledge into meaningful educational action, highlighting ICESCO’s commitment to supporting its Member States in developing education systems that promote environmental protection and innovation.

Ms. Nadira Syntashevna Dzhusupbekova, Deputy Minister of Education in Kyrgyzstan, delivered a presentation entitled “From Ice to the Classroom: How Kyrgyzstan Translates Mountain and Water Science into School Education,” highlighting the links between scientific research, environmental challenges, and hands-on learning experiences. Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert at ICESCO’s Education Sector, presented the Global Dashboard to Monitor Progress in Greening Education during the third annual meeting of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP).

This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Quinn Runkle, Director of Climate Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The panel featured Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination; Dr. Mohammed Falah Al Rashidi, Head of the Human and Environmental Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat; Mr. Uran Akhmetov, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Mountains (IIM) in Kyrgyzstan; Mr. Mohammad Suhail Almadani, Founder and CEO of Classera; and Ms. Olga Bryzgalova, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan.

Participants discussed the potential of artificial intelligence, digital learning platforms, and innovative educational technologies to promote climate-responsive curricula. The session concluded with remarks by Ms. Lira Samykbaeva, Deputy Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, who highlighted the Organization’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation to build sustainable education systems across the Islamic world.