Description

World leaders convene at the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) every year to develop international policies and strategies to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We will learn more about international climate change negotiations through a climate change debate.

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Task

Working in a team with other classmates, review the stakeholder group (described in the handouts) assigned to your group by your teacher. Using the handout as a reference and starting point, format an opening statement and list of talking points that can be used during the debate. Be sure you are prepared to answer the following questions:

• What do you want to get out of the negotiations?
• Which countries are your allies?
• What is at stake if you do not achieve your goals?
• Which stakeholders stand in the way of getting what you want?
• What do you think the other groups would like to get out of the negotiations?

Your teacher will moderate a mock global climate change debate, either in class or through the video class functionality of this classroom. Following the debate, reflect on the experience through "Climate Change Debate" discussion thread.

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Learning Objectives

• To learn about the process of the international climate change policy negotiations.
• To understand the issues and challenges that decision makers face when negotiating multilateral agreements on climate change.
• To explore how different countries are impacted by climate change, and climate change policies.
• To understand the importance of youth representation and participation in the UNFCCC process.

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