POLIS students represent the University at 2024 climate negotiation simulation
The event took place on 9 December 2024 in London in partnership between the British International Studies Association (BISA) and Chatham House.
Twenty nine universities from across the UK took part in the 2024 BISA climate negotiation simulation, an event which reproduces the negotiations held under the auspices of the United Nations (in the COP meetings).
Students represented one of the states that have signed up to current international agreements on climate change, and the aim of the simulation was for them to then agree upon refinements of these international agreements – considering the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, climate transition finance, and an agreement on a statement of principles.
Students Sanaa Elcock and Ines Achtell, from the School of Politics and International Studies, served as the Philippines delegation at the simulation.
They supported negotiations to increase climate finance for the Global South and to reduce greenhouse gas trade units from big emitters through moderated and unmoderated caucuses.
Ines (left), Sanaa (middle), and POLIS' Professor Simon Lightfoot at the event.
About the experience, Sanaa said that,
It was an incredible opportunity to understand the inner workings of diplomatic conferences and also learn from experts in the field who presented keynote addresses.
The keynote addresses were made by Ruth Townend and David Gunn, who are Senior Research Fellows at Chatham House’s Environment and Society Centre.
Ines reflected on what she learned from the event:
It gave me a deeper appreciation for the immense challenges involved in reaching consensus, reflecting the dynamics of actual COP meetings, where the vastly different socioeconomic and political contexts of participating countries often clash.
Overall, this experience was both eye-opening and inspiring, bridging our academic studies and real-world climate action.
Both Sanaa and Ines are studying BA International Relations at the University of Leeds. Sanaa is in the first year of her degree and Ines in the final year of hers.
