Negotiating Climate Change

Energy, Environment and Resources Program
Mock Climate Negotiation
November 13, 2015

The delegates crowded around the table, negotiating commitments towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, halting deforestation, and financing a global fund for low-emission and climate-resilient development. China, India, the United States, the European Union, other developed countries, and other developing countries—each came with their own set of priorities and bargaining points. Climate activists and fossil fuel lobbyists were present, too. Now, led by the conference Chairwoman, they each sought to balance individual needs with global demands.

“The developed world had its turn industrializing without limitation on emissions; now it’s our turn,” said the representative from India. “We have already done so much to combat climate change,” said the delegate from the European Union. “If we’re going to increase our pledge, we need a commitment that the United States will do the same.”

This scenario is not unlike that expected to be seen at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris starting later this month. However, in reality, the actual scene portrayed above took place much closer to home—right here on the Washington, DC campus on Friday, November 13.