Call for expressions of interest – undergraduate climate negotiation simulation 2023/4
We are pleased to confirm that we will once again be holding our annual climate negotiation simulation event for undergraduate students. The event will take place on Friday 1 December 2023 in the Great Hall at Goodenough College in Bloomsbury, London.
This is the third year we have run the simulation following successful events in Birmingham and London.
We are looking for universities from across the UK to take part. Each participating university will be able to send two or four students. Students work in pairs with each pair constituting a party to the negotiations. Participating universities can also send an academic lead if they wish. There is a small charge for the event of £35 per student to help cover the running costs. The fee will include refreshments throughout the day as well as lunch. We will also have a keynote speaker.
The climate simulation itself reproduces the negotiations held under the auspices of the United Nations (in the ‘COP’ meetings). 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.
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. Students will get a taste of what it is like to participate in international bargaining and negotiation while also raising their awareness of the politics of climate change.
If your institution would like to take part, please complete the expression of interest form by the deadline of 20 October 2023 at 11.59pm (UK time). You must be from an institution based in the UK.
Following collection of expressions of interest, a Zoom meeting of academic leads from each participating university will be held week commencing 23 October to provide further details.
Watch the video below for the highlights of last year’s climate negotiation simulation.