Mock COP gives students the opportunity to experience an intergovernmental climate negotiation

A level students during the mock COP28 session. Jon Rowley

Praxis talking about what you can do during mock cop28

Praxis Research talking to students at the mock COP28 session. Jon Rowley

31 March 2023

On Tuesday 28 March, pupils from eight Bristol state schools were transported to the centre of international politics on climate change policy, as part of a ‘Mock COP’ negotiation at the University of Bristol.

The event gave students the opportunity to experience what an intergovernmental climate negotiation involves, to gain insight into real-world political decision-making and to engage with research.

Throughout the day the 48 (15-18 year-old) students strategically navigated their way through climate negotiations, representing organisations and countries such as Shell and Brazil, with the support of a group of University of Bristol student facilitators. The participants engaged in negotiations like those expected to take place in UAE at COP28 later this year.

The groups deliberated their allocated organisation’s aims and used their persuasion skills to influence other delegations, with the objective to broker deals, vote on important issues and come up with innovative solutions to the climate crisis. The COP resulted in resolutions that would phase down coal, oil and diesel; that would include contributions from India and China into the global Loss and Damage Fund; that would achieve net zero emissions targets by 2050, with Annex I countries and other big economies achieving 50% reduction compared to 2005 by 2030; and most ambitiously of all, that small-scale and organic farming practices should be promoted.

Hannah Pitman, teacher at North Bristol Post 16 Centre, commented on the benefits and experience for her students: “It’s been amazing for the students to experience the wider role of the government, something they don’t see day to day and the complexity of those bilateral relationships having to mediate with countries with different needs and wants. Gaining interpersonal skills and working with others...even during lunchtime they were talking about the real-life implications of their negotiation and talking about their own personal views despite being different from the roles they have been given. Realising that university staff and PhD students get involved in things like this, rather than just sitting in a lab or at a computer, has given them a window into the environmental and community work done at the University”.

The Mock COP was developed in 2015 in the run-up to COP21 in Paris, by then-University of Bristol PhD students Jack Nicholls, Ed Atkins and Alice Venn. Since the first Mock COP, Praxis Research has become the custodian of the event, developing the format to keep pace with the changing policy landscape of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP). Over 140 secondary school students have now taken part in this rich learning opportunity.

Dr Jack Nicholls said: “This is the fourth time we have run the Mock COP in Bristol. Each time we host these events I am inspired by the enthusiasm and determination of A level students to find compromises and reach agreement on some of the most complex political challenges in United Nations climate change negotiations. We want to continue to support young people to utilise their voices to push for a future of hope.”

As part of the event, students shared their ideas for local climate action, such as proposing green days, increasing recycling provisions and more educational provisions on climate change. The organisers aim to share these key outcomes with local policy makers.

The event was hosted and co-organised by Cabot Institute for the Environment and FUTURES, and was designed and delivered by Praxis Research. Funding to support this activity was awarded by PolicyBristol from the Research England QR Policy Support Fund (QR PSF) 2022-24, FUTURES festival of discovery funded by EPSRC [Grant number EP/X023141/1] and the Cabot Institute for the Environment.

“It was fantastic to observe the students grow in confidence and develop their negotiation skills, resulting in a set of climate resolutions. We are very pleased to be able to support this event again and provide opportunities for students to learn more about our environmental research and political decision making” said Sophie Ross-Smith, Cabot Institute for the Environment Manager.

The organisers would like to thank the students, teachers, and the schools, as well as our generous funders for making the Mock COP 2023 a rewarding event for all involved. Students showed a really impressive dedication throughout the day, and thoroughly embodied their roles as countries and organisations from across the globe.

“Providing opportunities for students and researchers to share their research and University experience with different audiences in Bristol is a major part of what the FUTURES festival is all about. We were really happy to be involved in this fantastic event as part of this years schools engagement activities.” and Sarah Rogers, FUTURES Project Coordinator.

If you would like to do activities at home that have been designed by university researchers, please visit https://futuresnight.co.uk/do-try-this-at-home/.

Further information

Find out more about how Mock COPs work on the Cabot Institute for the Environment engagement pages.
The Cabot Institute for the Environment at University of Bristol is a diverse community of 600 experts, united by a common cause: protecting our environment and identifying ways of living better with our changing planet. It delivers the evidence base and solutions to tackle the challenges of food security, water, low carbon energy, city futures, environmental change, and natural hazards and disasters.
FUTURES is a free festival of discovery taking place in the South West across venues in Bath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Exeter and Plymouth and online in Autumn 2023. The festival is a unique opportunity to find out more about the innovative and world-class research taking place at universities across the South West. FUTURES brings science, culture and research to life in new and exciting ways.

Praxis Research is a research and facilitation startup based in Bristol, with a core focus on increasing community and public participation in the net zero transition. This is the third time that Praxis has supported the Cabot Institute for the Environment with running a Mock COP.