Climate change simulation

Everyone is talking about climate change – and not just since Fridays for Future, a protest movement mainly involving students around the world walking out of school on Fridays. LANXESS regards climate protection as a long-term challenge and pledges its support to numerous initiatives and projects for an environmentally friendly and sustainable future. One such example is its sponsorship of the UN climate change conference simulation, where students sit around the negotiating table to discuss the Paris climate change agreement.

The benches of the lecture hall in the University of Cologne’s Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences are packed. 180 students from 30 nations search for their seats, talk to one another and position their tiny country flags at their tables. After all, at this simulation of UN climate change negotiations – officially called the CEMS Model UNFCCC – they are taking on the role of genuine negotiators. Then echoes the sound of hammer blows from the rostrum signaling that the plenary session of the discussions on the current status of climate change negotiations is open.

Far-reaching aims

The students from leading international business schools have a far-reaching aim. They are simulating the UN climate change negotiations with a view to jointly implementing the Paris climate change agreement to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. This is a major feat given that it involves reconciling 150 different positions and opinions within a single agreement.

“At the start, all the students have the idea that they can make the world a better place. Many believe that the Paris climate change agreement is not ambitious enough. But when they carry out the negotiations themselves, they see just how difficult it is to combine 150 different positions within the one document.”

Johanna BockletResearch associate at the Chair for Economics, University of Cologne

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The students play all roles during the simulated UN climate change negotiations – including representatives of government, multinational companies and NGOs. This enables them to become familiar with diverse political positions and gain an appreciation for the significance of climate change negotiations, while developing their rhetorical and intercultural skills as well. “What we are gaining here is an understanding of different cultures, different points of view on climate change and diplomacy itself. I think that these skills will serve us well, including in the course of our working lives later on,” says Pascal Vuichard, PhD student at the Chair for Management of Renewable Energies, University of St. Gallen. He is taking on the role of UN chairperson.

„Was wir hier lernen ist ein Verständnis für verschiedene Kulturen, für verschiedene Sichtweisen hinsichtlich der Thematik des Klimawandels, für Diplomatie. Ich denke diese Kompetenzen können wir sehr gut nutzen, auch im späteren Verlauf unseres Arbeitslebens.“

Pascal VuichardDoktorand am Lehrstuhl für Management erneuerbarer Energien an der Universität St. Gallen

Thinking about the future

Thinking and acting with sustainability in mind has to be a pivotal requirement if we are to make the Paris climate change agreement a reality and keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. Climate protection and energy efficiency are more important than ever. Which is why LANXESS is working continuously toward its sustainability goals, and is committed to the climate and the environment.

Environmental responsibility
Preserving natural resources, cutting emissions and using energy efficiently are core sustainability goals that LANXESS strives to achieve on a daily basis at all its locations worldwide. Long-term targets for energy consumption were set back in 2016 to instill a long-term approach to environmental responsibility. By 2025 the company is aiming to reduce specific CO2 and VOC emissions (VOC = volatile organic compounds) by 25% and improve energy efficiency by 25% (base year: 2015).

LANXESS in Germany is participating in the IN4climate.NRW initiative to develop the sustainable industry of the future. This initiative brings together industrial players, scientists and politicians to formulate innovative strategies for a climate-neutral industry. Sustainable development projects are also being promoted across. LANXESS locations within the scope of corporate citizenship .

The students participating in the simulation have also made a commitment to climate protection, agreeing in their Cologne Agreement – the Cologne equivalent of the Paris climate change agreement – to tighten the climate target to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

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