Instructions for Global Climate Change Policy Simulation

We will be conducting an in-class simulation of international climate change negotiations. The objective of the negotiation is to limit emissions of carbon dioxide from developing countries and ultimately reduce the negative effects of global climate change. In this round of negotiations developing countries have agreed to join industrialized nations and be included in the global regime regulating the global climate. The Reno International Climate Change Conference will determine to what extent developing countries will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This negotiation will develop targets for compliance by the year 2022. As with the Kyoto Protocol, the benchmark for calculating reductions will be 1990 emission levels. Kyoto specified that a country's carbon dioxide emissions should be cut on average 5% below the 1990 level by the year 2012. You need to decide what level of emissions reduction the country you represent is willing to agree to and the best way to achieve this. In your research be prepared to justify the reasoning used to reach your decision.

To prepare for the simulation you need to write a country position paper. This requires a few steps. First, you will need to complete a country background worksheet. This is where you will summarize data on the general political and economic situation of your country, national energy intensity, current and projected economic growth, fossil fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions. The data you will need has already been complied from the various links and is presented on the Global Climate Change Simulation Main Page (see Section 2). You should examine the information for your particular country and as well as compare it to that of both industrialized nations that are already required to reduce emissions and other developing countries. As you examine the data and fill out the country background worksheet, use the information to develop a specific numerical target for emissions reduction for your country. Each representative is required to write a 1/2 page country position paper addressing the following questions:

 1. What level of carbon dioxide emissions will your country agree to reduce by 2022? Make it a very explicit statement such as, "County X agrees to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by Y% by 2022". Explain what reasoning you used to reach this conclusion. Be very specific.

 2. What rule will be used to ensure that other countries also reduce their emissions? You have two choices: (a) that all countries are bound by the same percent reduction, or (b) that countries are bound by a system of differential obligations, i.e. where each country has a different obligation. If you choose a system of differential obligations, specify exactly what that system will be based on.

3. Are there any new ideas you want to propose as alternatives to the above remedies? Feel free to suggest other policies, or particular resolutions by your country, just be concise and explain the rationale.

On the first day of the simulation each country will state their position in class. You will only have 2 minutes to do this, so your presentation must be concise, but informative. State your country's proposal for reducing its CO2 emissions (including the percent reduction it will abide by), what general rule (universal standard or differential obligation) is your preferred option, and any new idea you wish to propose to the forum. After you have heard other country’s positions, your job as your country’s diplomatic representative will be to ensure that other countries vote in order to achieve your preferred position. You should take notes on other country’s positions and be actively thinking how you might be able to negotiate the best outcome for your country.

The second day of the in-class simulation will allow negotiations between countries. Most of the time will be allocated for delegations to meet with one another to form coalitions, discuss compromises and make side deals. At the end of the session, there will be a formal role call vote with a majority vote deciding what level of emissions reductions countries will be held and the rule to be used. The goal is to agree on either a universal “one size fits all” formula or a universal agreement on differential obligations, customized for each country according to a criterion that you will set. Afterwards, you will be asked to evaluate the assignment and discuss what you learned from the exercise.

Simulation Assignments:
   Country Background Worksheet
   Country Position Paper
   Negotiation Performance (grade will based on:)
        Ability to state a clear and concise country position  
        Ability to negotiate toward a preferred outcome  
        Willingness to explore creative solutions / alliances / bargaining strategies