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Students across the RET tackle climate change in first ever Climate Summit
Posted on: 12/11/2021On Thursday 4th November, I had the privilege to play the role of UN Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, during our first RET Climate Summit, attended by representatives from St Birinus School, Didcot Sixth Form and Didcot Girl’s School.
The day began with a role-play in which everyone was assigned to a group representing each of the groups that attended COP26. My role as Patricia Espinosa allowed me to observe what happened throughout the day and understand how each group played an important part in working to resolve the climate crisis.
We started on the basis that, at the current rate of climate change, the global temperature increase by the year 2100 will be 3.6 degrees. Across three rounds of negotiations, each group had to try to reduce this temperature increase to between 1.5oC and 2oC. In each round, the groups each proposed one policy change, which was represented on a Climate simulator, which displayed both the expected temperature increase and water level rise as a result of the policy’s implementation.
After the third round of negotiations, our final outcome was a +1.6oC increase in average global temperatures, which was just 0.1oC off our goal. The day was really helpful as it put into perspective the difficulties the world’s leaders and CEOs will have to tackle to achieve a temperature rise of only 1.5oC. It was really impressive to witness the passion and involvement from everyone who attended.
In the afternoon, we then had the amazing opportunity to talk to a panel of experts, including some from the local council, science research and the media, about what they are doing to solve climate change and what we as young people can do to help this.
Hannah Ackland-Snow, Climate Leader
a.k.a. Patricia Espinosa, UN Executive Secretary for the day.
During the morning session, we discussed the aim of the day, which was to try replicate, using a simulator, what might happen at COP 26 and to try to identify policies that would limit the current predicted global temperature rise to between 1.5-2.0 degrees C.
We had to role-play certain characters who would have an important role to play in climate change, for example, we had representatives from the Chinese Government, BP, Amazon (CEO Jeff Bezos )and 'Farmer Jo' representing different interest groups. We had to try to imagine how they would think and behave when negotiating on climate actions. This role-play led to some conflict in what people wanted to do, how they would make a profit whilst achieving good climate outcomes, which really added to the fun of the game, but also made us realise how difficult it is to get people to agree on actions.
My group was playing the role of 'Clean Energy', with me acting as entrepreneur Elon Musk. This meant we got to help the environment and try to earn lots of money in the process. Everyone was so friendly, and I loved seeing the passion, throughout the room, for saving the environment.
We started making changes to the simulator, making great progress in lowering the temperature change. At the last round, my group wanted to introduce actions to reduce the sea level, however even with teaming up with 3 groups, we found out how hard it will be to halt or even reduce the predicted rising sea levels. We realised that we need to make a difference now before it’s too late to prevent the desired target temperature maximum being exceeded.
The panel at the conclusion of the day was really interesting as we got to see how different types of people, from diverse areas of work, are trying to help the environment and their views on climate change.
Overall, I appreciate being given the opportunity to go to the Climate Summit and join together with so many others who also want to help the environment.
Eve Massie, Climate Leader
a.k.a. Elon Musk for the day
