COP30 Simulation Conference
COP30 Simulation Programme
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt and with the support of the Danish Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI), organised the fourth edition of the COP30 Simulation Programme in collaboration with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ/COPPE) and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) in Brazil under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the British Embassy in Cairo, and with the continued support of H.E. Professor Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Chair of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Debt, and Honorary Chair of the COP Simulation Programme.
The COP Simulation is an annual, youth-led climate programme that empowers young people to act as effective change agents and climate leaders. It mirrors the procedures, protocols, and political dynamics of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including bloc meetings, informal consultations, and declaration drafting sessions. Through this immersive experience, participants strengthen both their technical and scientific understanding while bridging theoretical knowledge with practical negotiation and policymaking skills.
This year, the programme hosted in Cairo 150 students from 47 countries and 91 universities worldwide, featuring strong participation from Small Island Developing States (including Trinidad and Tobago and Seychelles), as well as from Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Latin America. The delegates developed and voted on a joint declaration reflecting their collective policy proposals. A group of selected students will present these outcomes to international policymakers and climate stakeholders during COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The 2025 Simulation was carefully designed to enhance its scientific depth and knowledge impact. It drew inspiration from research outcomes produced by participants following a two-week online Capacity Building Programme, held from 19 July to 2 August 2025, which provided foundational training in climate diplomacy, negotiation, and sustainability science.
During the COP30 Simulation Conference, participants engaged in simulations of negotiations, plenary sessions, and thematic discussions, as well as informal consultations and action rooms. These activities deepened their understanding of conflicts, global climate governance, and geopolitics, while fostering collaboration across diverse perspectives.
Recognising the central role of science and research, this year’s programme introduced two pioneering research labs:
- The Just Transition Lab, which frames climate change as a human security challenge while linking equity and justice to trade, resource governance, biodiversity, and geopolitical tensions.
- The Debt Alliance and Climate Finance Lab, which addresses global inequalities at the intersection of finance, debt, and climate justice, generating innovative solutions for a fairer and more resilient world.
These labs provided participants with an opportunity to engage in advanced policy analysis and collaborative problem-solving that reflect the real dynamics of international negotiations, encouraging dialogue that can lead to shared solutions and tangible policy innovation, both within the simulation and beyond.
