IBTD: Government Day Secondary School Defeats Grace High In Climate Change Debate

Government Day Secondary School Defeats Grace High School In I Beg To Differ Round Of 12.

Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, defeated Grace High School, Lagos, in the final Round of 12 contest at the I Beg To Differ Season 9 National Finals.

The two schools faced off on the motion: “Climate Change Is The Biggest Threat To Human Existence.”

Arguing for the motion, Grace High School highlighted the impact of climate change on food production, water supply, health, rising sea levels and displacement. 

The Lagos school argued that unlike threats such as war and terrorism, climate change cuts across several areas of human survival and has no borders.

Government Day Secondary School, however, argued that human behaviour is the greater existential threat. 

The Abuja debaters said humanity not only drives climate change but also creates other dangers, including nuclear conflict, biological risks and environmental destruction.

The opposition team also argued that human beings have the ability to create, intensify, prevent or adapt to different threats, making human agency a broader danger than climate change itself.

After three rounds of debate, Government Day Secondary School secured a narrow lead on the judges’ scorecards, winning 71.5 points to Grace High School’s 69 points.

The Abuja school also won the audience vote with 52 per cent, against Grace High School’s 48 per cent, sealing the victory by a split decision.

The result means Government Day Secondary School advances from the Round of 12, while Grace High School remains in contention for a quarterfinal place through the competition’s wild-card vote.

The contest was the third and final Round of 12 debate of the day, following victories by Honeyland College over Great Solid Rock College and Vetland Senior Grammar School over Venucress School.

With the Round of 12 now complete, Honeyland College, Vetland Senior Grammar School and Government Day Secondary School have secured victories, while the losing schools will depend on the wild-card vote for a possible route into the quarterfinals.