Syllabus

This course is part of an internationally coordinated CEMs programme onhuman induced climate change policy and the negotiation skills training. The course will inform students of the basic science, impacts, uncertainties and economic issues surrounding human induced climate change. These issues will be covered before moving on to the role of different actors in climate policy. The focus is on three groups of actors namely: business, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Invited speakers from each grouping will present their positions on climate change. The aim for student is to understand their concerns and the issues they are facing in light of the challenges posed by climate change and the control of the greenhouse gases that create the problem.

A key aspect of the course is to have students take on the role of different actors and participate in a 2 day role play exercise. In line with the innovative three-sector approach of this course, each student will either represent a government delegate, a NGO or a lobbyist from industry. This approach aims to provide experience not only in intergovernmental debate of climate change issues, but also in the way different actors influence these discussions. Students will prepare a background briefing and position paper on an allocated actor e.g. a country, an environmental NGO. They will represent this actor in the international negotiation exercise. Each student has an individual role, and isalso part of a small team or delegation. Most delegations consist of multiple representatives of one country or group of countries. This role play exercise will bring together students from partner institutions across Europe for are creation of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process.

• Institutional mechanisms:understanding of the negotiation process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• Interests of actors and their discourses: recognising the diverging interests of different key actors involved in national and international climate policy negotiations. These actors are broadly classified as government bodies and their various delegated authorities, corporations, business and industry, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) both civil/humanitarian and environmental (ENGOs).

• Connections: learn how corporate strategies and public policies are interlinked, both in terms of challenges and resolutions.

• International cooperation: through interaction with students from other countries, all participants will practice negotiating and the challenges of consensus seeking solutions, but will also experience first hand the international dimension of the climate change challenge
• Negotiation skills: All students should learn the basic principles of the mutual gains approach to negotiation, gain a better understanding of bilateral and multilateral negotiation dynamics, and be able to see the climate negotiations through this lens.

• • Lectures
• • Guest Lectures ofspeakers from government and industries
• • Team Exercises
• • Role Play

1) Active participation (20%)

2) Individual Exam (20%)

3) Group background paper & presentation (20%)

4) Group position paper (20%)

5) Individual reflection paper (20%)

Attendance at all classes is a course requirement, including the two day role play (arrival night before, start of informal negotiations at reception/dinner). This year it will be held at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. There will be no funding for travel and logding  costs. Meals will be provided.