For 120 CEMS Students the Climate will be a Hot Topic at Bocconi

FROM MAY 15 TO 17 THEY WILL CONVENE AT BOCCONI FOR THE MODEL UNFCCC ROLE PLAY TO SIMULATE NEGOTIATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENTS

In these very days delegations from 196 nations are in Bonn for 10 days of intense discussions on climate change in the new round of negotiations of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). And 120 students from university members of the CEMS (Global Alliance in Management Education) network will have the chance to cast themselves in the role of these negotiators during the Model UNFCCC 2017 hosted by Bocconi from May 15 to 17.

Now in its ninth edition, the Model UNFCCC will see the students take on the roles of governments, civil society and industry representatives from around the world and negotiate agreements and strategies to put into place the objectives agreed upon, with non-binding commitments, at the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in 2015 – objectives such as keeping a global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius.  In addition to Bocconi, the other participating schools are University of St. Gallen, ESADE, University of Cologne, Corvinus University of Budapest, WU Vienna, Rotterdam School of Management and Warsaw School of Economics.

Participation in the event began back in January with the students participating in a course in the their respective universities with parallel modules. At Bocconi, the simulation is part of the 'Green Management and Corporate Sustainability' course held by Stefano Pogutz and in the past months students have addressed issues such as climate change and policy and business implications, UNFCCC activities, analysis of major agreements (such as Kyoto and COP21).

Whilst in approach to the event, groups of 2-3 students have prepared two papers: one background on the characteristics (economic, social, geographic, etc.) of the countries and parties (NGOs, associations) participating in the negotiations and a position paper defining their objectives and strategies – all visible online to allow the debate to begin and make contacts. Lastly, a secret position paper, with different goals, to be used as a basis for negotiation.

At the beginning of the simulation, the groups will begin to build coalitions and then they will kick off two intense days of meetings and debates, in plenary and parallel sessions, with professors who will cover the role of advisors for the scientific aspects and the organization of the workings. All in the hope of arriving on the last day with a convergence of everyone on a new agreement or at least on some points.

"Participation in the course and simulation is crucial to convey to students the importance today of the concepts of responsible leadership and sustainability," explains Pogutz. "They also learn the transversal and multidisciplinary aspects of the issue of climate change, how the institutional mechanisms that generate the agreements work and the dynamics of negotiations. All with hands-on learning and, given the time and effort they devote, with a strong emotional involvement."

"The CEMS Model UNFCCC gives future business decision-makers from around the world an intense learning opportunity of what it means to solve a truly global challenge. And this year's simulation is sure to be more heated due to turbulence around climate change on the international stage," says Rolf Wüstenhagen, Academic Director of the Model UNFCCC. "The negotiations will mirror the challenges faced by real climate policy-makers, but the creativity of CEMS students may also provide insights for new solutions."

The initiative at Bocconi has been organized with the support of Accenture and Fondazione Bracco.



 

by Tomaso Eridani