Call for expressions of interest – climate negotiation simulation 2024/5

We are pleased to announce the return of our annual climate negotiation simulation event for students – now in partnership with Chatham House. Chatham House is a world-leading policy institute with a mission to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. The event will take place on Monday 9 December 2024 at Chatham House, 10 St James Square London.

We are inviting universities from across the UK to take part in this year’s simulation, alongside participants from Chatham House’s Common Futures Conversations, part of The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation.

The climate simulation reproduces the negotiations held under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Students will represent one of the ‘parties’ (i.e. states) that have signed up to current international agreements on climate change (for instance, the Paris Agreement of 2015 and the Glasgow Climate Pact of 2021). The aim will be to agree upon refinements to these agreements – looking at reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the raising of climate transition finance, and agreement on a statement of principles.

This year’s simulation takes place just after Azerbaijan hosts the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC. This represents an exciting time for students to raise their awareness of the politics of climate change. Student delegates will work in pairs, with each pair constituting a party to the negotiations.

The simulation is overseen by Mark Webber, Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and former BISA President. It provides an opportunity for hands on, experiential learning, and delegates will get a taste of what it is like to participate in international bargaining and negotiation.

Participating universities will be able to send 2 or 4 students each (please indicate your preference in the expression of interest form). The students should be undergraduate or taught postgraduate (not doctoral). Each university can also send an academic lead if they wish. Chatham House will host the simulation, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day as well as lunch. A keynote speaker will be announced once the participants have been confirmed.

If your institution would like to take part, please complete the expression of interest form by the deadline of 27 October 2024 at 11.59pm (UK time). You must be from an institution based in the UK. If you are part of the Chatham House Common Futures Conversations programme, you will hear directly from the Academy should you be eligible to take part.

Following collection of expressions of interest, a Zoom meeting for academic leads from each participating university and Chatham House will be held on 30 October at 3pm to provide further details. A Zoom meeting for participating students will be held on 27 November at 3pm. We strongly encourage academic leads to consider their student recruitment process for the simulation prior to closure of the call, so that you are ready to complete this process in time for your students to attend the second meeting.

Watch the video below for the highlights of a previous climate negotiation simulation.