What is a MOCK COP?
As COP26 approaches, it’s important that young people are able to engage and to have some insight as to what is happening in the negotiations. A Mock COP is an excellent way to do just that. Via the medium semi-structured role-play, this event shall provide up to 60 students from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire schools the opportunity to transport themselves to the centre of international politics of climate change.
Based on an adapted form of the popular Model United Nations format, groups of students must strategically navigate their way through their group’s aims in the negotiations (provided via tailored handouts), the interests
of other delegations (explored in bilateral breakout sessions) and ultimately voting on the important issues discussed. We hope to take the participants on an important journey through climate change negotiations, the actors involved and the problems faced.
Round 1: PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS
Delegations will discuss their negotiation strategies, voting priorities and which groups they want to meet with in future rounds.
Round 2: OPENING STATEMENTS
Opening statements are made where each nation and organisation shares their vision to the Mock COP and their climate priorities.
Round 3: NEGOTIATIONS
Delegates discuss their agendas and flex their negotiating skills in persuading others to vote on the same resolution as them.
Round 4: VOTING
In the voting round delegates decide on their resolutions, in the best interest of their representative organisations, business or government.
Aim of the game
Each group will be representing a COP actor - e.g. a country, or a special interest group, or a corporation. Each actor has their own objectives such as ‘pay minimum money’, ‘be a world leader in technology’, ‘protect citizens’. At the end, the groups will vote on resolutions. The aim is to get voting outcomes at the end of the event which meet the objectives.
Logistics
The MOCK COP will be run online; we plan to use the MyAberdeen (Collaborate) platform. You will be provided with the access link and necessary prep materials two weeks in advance of the event. We expect
each school to provide:
- A group of 4-6 students to participate in the event.
- A teacher from each school is invited to
- Liaise with Mock COP organization.
- Select students to participate.
- Provide students materials to prepare for Mock COP.
- Attend the virtual event.
How much time will it take?
- Preparatory session with students
- Mock COP event – Thursday 28th October 17:00-20:00.
IT requirements
Each student should have access to a device with stable internet connection, microphone and speakers.
Preliminary Agenda on the day of the Mock COP
17:00 pm Arrival and welcome
17.05 pm Introduction to event
17.15 pm Division into groups
17.20 pm Map out negotiation strategy - Preliminary intra-group discussions - groups spend time developing a negotiation strategy. Each group must consider the assigned brief and take account of the factsheet that gives them details on what they aim to achieve from the negotiation.
17.40 pm Opening Statements - The groups introduce themselves
18.10 pm ------------ Break ------------
18.20 pm First round meetings - The groups are allocated into meetings (12 groups = 6 meetings running at once). Groups must negotiate with one another and try to come to compromises and decisions on particular issues.
18.30 pm Second round meetings - Groups are allocated to the next meeting.
18.40 pm Third round meetings - Group will be allocated as closely as possible to their preference for the final round of meetings.
18.50 pm ------------ Break ------------
19.00 pm Fourth round negotiations
19.10 pm Final intra-group discussions - Each group spends time discussing the voting decisions that they have in front of them, considering them from the perspective of the country or group they represent.
19.25 pm Final round - Voting on decisions takes place. We summarise the decisions and consider the implications.
19:50 pm Debrief and feedback
20:00 pm --------------- End -----------------