EU Climate Negotiations

- Understand democratic challenges of national and EU energy policies


- Practice negotiation and collaboration skills


- Experience how competing interests shape climate policy


- Develop understanding of energy transitions and policy tradeoffs

### Preparation


**Comprehensive Facilitator Preparation:**


- Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the facilitator guide


- Learn each country's energy profile, challenges, and interests


- Understand policy instruments and their effects


- Prepare country cards with clear information


- Set up Excel tools or print budget sheets


- Have presentations ready


- Test all technology (projector, spreadsheets, audio if needed)


**Material Organization:**


- Print country information cards with role descriptions


- Prepare policy instrument catalogs


- Set up Excel sheets with energy and carbon budgets (test formulas)


- Print guidelines for role-play


- Prepare presentation setup for "Summit"


- Have blank paper and markers for each group to draft plans


**Room Setup:**


- Create separate working areas for each country team


- Have projector/screen ready for presentations


- Arrange seating for mock EU summit (round table or similar)


- Post visual aids (energy data, policy options, targets)


**Country Selection:**


- Choose 4-6 countries representing diverse situations:


- Large industrial nation (Germany, France)


- Coal-dependent nation (Poland)


- Island or vulnerable nation (Cyprus, Malta)


- Nordic renewable leader (Denmark, Norway)


- Mediterranean nation (Spain, Italy)


- Optional: Include country from Global South to show global inequalities


---


## A. Introduction and Role Assignment (15-30 minutes)


### Part 1: Setting the Context (5 minutes)


**Facilitator Script:**


> "You are now the leaders of your country in EU climate negotiations. The European Union has set ambitious climate targets: to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and achieve significant emissions reductions by 2030. Each country must develop its own energy transition plan that balances three competing interests:"


**The Three Challenges:**


1. **Climate goals:** Meet EU targets for emissions reduction


2. **Economic concerns:** Keep energy costs reasonable, maintain competitiveness


3. **Social concerns:** Ensure jobs and energy security for citizens


> "Within your country, you have different ministers with different priorities. You'll need to negotiate internally, then as a country team in the EU summit."


### Part 2: Role Assignment (5 minutes)


**Group Formation:**


- Form groups of 3-5 (ideally 3 per group for three minister roles)


- Assign each group a country


**Role Assignment:**


> "Within your country team, you each play a different minister role. You represent your minister's interests, not your own personal preferences. These roles often conflict—that's the reality of policy."


**Possible Minister Roles:**


**Prime Minister / Chief Executive**


- Interests: National reputation, economic growth, re-election


- Concerns: Balanced policies that don't create too much opposition


- Tendency: Risk-averse, looks for consensus


**Climate/Environment Minister**


- Interests: Achieve aggressive climate targets, environmental protection


- Concerns: Global reputation, meeting Paris Agreement


- Tendency: Wants rapid transition, strong policies


**Economy/Energy Minister**


- Interests: Economic competitiveness, energy security, low costs


- Concerns: Industrial competitiveness, energy availability, jobs


- Tendency: Wants gradual transition, market-based solutions


**Optional 4th Role (for larger groups):**


**Social/Labour Minister** (if group size allows)


- Interests: Workers' welfare, energy affordability, just transition


- Concerns: Job losses in fossil fuel sectors, energy poverty


- Tendency: Wants transition with strong support for affected workers


### Part 3: Group Work - Country Profile Review (10 minutes)


**Task to Each Group:**


> "Read your country card. Decide what your country needs and wants. I'll come to each group to see if you have questions on the profiles."


**Country Card Elements Include:**


- Current energy sources (% coal, gas, nuclear, renewables)


- Economic dependence on specific sectors


- Geographic constraints (island? landlocked? sunny? windy? mountainous?)


- Current employment in energy sectors


- Existing renewable capacity


- Technical possibilities


- Economic constraints and assets


**During Card Reading:**


- Facilitate group understanding


- Answer questions about their country's situation


- Help groups understand minister roles


- Encourage role-taking seriously ("Speak for your minister, not yourself")


**Group Task - Develop Initial Position:**


> "Within your country team, decide who will play which role. Talk about your country's energy problems and goals. Represent your ministers' interests, not your own. Agree on a plan together and write it in the Excel sheet or on paper. I'll be available if you need help."


**Facilitation During Group Work:**


- Circulate to each group


- Answer questions and clarify country situations


- Encourage internal negotiation


- Help groups understand policy options


- Don't push them toward "right" answers—let them decide


**Key Points Groups Should Address:**


- Current energy mix and why it's that way


- Biggest challenges (emissions? costs? jobs? security?)


- What needs to change


- How fast can realistically change


- What support from EU would help


- What policies would they propose


---


## B. Summit with Presentations (15-30 minutes)


National plans are presented to the mock EU assembly.


### Setup for Summit


- Arrange groups in a circle or around a table (EU style)


- Set up projector for presentations (if desired)


- Have facilitator in center as "Council President"


- Prepare stopwatch/timer


### Presentation Instructions


**Prompt to Participants:**


> "Each country team now presents your plan to the other countries. You have 4 minutes to present. Say what your goals are and what actions you want to take. Listen to the other countries and respond if needed."


**What to Present:**


- Country's current energy situation


- Goals for energy transition


- Proposed policies and actions


- Resources or support needed


- Concerns about EU proposals


**Presentation Order:**


- Present in any order (groups can volunteer)


- Keep to 4 minutes strictly (use timer)


- Other countries listen and can ask clarifying questions after


**Facilitation During Presentations:**


- Keep time strictly


- Encourage questions from other countries


- Note interesting conflicts or debates for discussion


- Listen for different perspectives and priorities


- Highlight when countries' interests align or conflict


---


## C. Talking About Justice (15 minutes)


Reflect on the role-play experience and discuss equity and justice.


**Debrief Questions - Process Reflection:**


> "Let's take off our minister hats and think about what just happened."


**Question 1: Experience**


> "How was it to speak for your country? (Prime Ministers)"


> "How was it to be in your minister roles? (Other Ministers)"


**Question 2: Difficulty**


> "What was difficult about this process? What was frustrating?"


**Expected Challenges:**


- Different countries have very different situations


- Some countries can transition easily; others can't


- Economic interests conflict with climate goals


- Rich countries can afford transition; poor ones can't


- It's hard to agree on fair rules


**Question 3: Learning About EU Policy**


> "What did you learn about working together in the EU?"


**Expected Insights:**


- Negotiation is slow and complicated


- Everyone wants something different


- Need compromise


- Strong countries have more power


- Small countries can get left behind


- Fairness is hard to achieve


**Question 4: Justice and Equity**


> "Was this process fair? Did it create justice?"


**Analysis to Develop:**


- **Unequal starting positions:** Some countries started with advantages (already had renewables, developed technology, wealth)


- **Power inequalities:** Larger countries had more influence


- **Different capacity:** Some countries could afford transition; others couldn't


- **Competing interests:** Climate vs. economy vs. jobs vs. energy security


- **Real-world parallels:** This mirrors actual EU negotiations


- **Global inequalities:** If hard for European countries, how much harder for Global South?


**Optional Extension - Add Global South Country:**


If you included a Global South country in negotiations:


> "How was it different to negotiate as a developing country? What challenges did you face?"


**Justice Discussion:**


- Developed countries became wealthy through fossil fuels


- Now asking developing countries to stay poor to prevent emissions


- Is that fair?


- What would "just transition" look like?


- Who should pay for the transition?


---


## D. Modifications and Extensions (if time allows)


### Modification 1: Add Hidden Agendas (30-40 extra minutes)


Make negotiation more realistic and engaging:


**Before or during group work, give each minister a secret hidden agenda:**


Examples:


- **Climate Minister:** Must achieve 50% renewable energy (secret goal—don't tell others)


- **Economy Minister:** Must protect 10,000 jobs in coal industry (secret goal)


- **Prime Minister:** Must keep energy costs below 10€ per household (secret goal)


- **Labour Minister:** Must ensure just transition with retraining for workers (secret goal)


These hidden agendas:


- Create authentic conflict


- Make negotiation strategic and complex


- Make the experience more engaging


- Show real political dynamics


- Reveal how compromise is actually negotiated


---


### Modification 2: Add Policy Voting Round


After presentations, introduce new EU policies for vote:


**Policy Options Might Include:**


- Carbon tax (affects different countries differently)


- Renewable energy mandate (harder for some countries than others)


- Nuclear energy support (divisive)


- Coal phase-out date (threatens some countries)


- Just transition funding (helps some, costs others)


- Technology transfer agreements (Global South countries benefit)


**Voting Dynamic:**


- Shows how agreements are made


- Creates stakes for negotiation


- Reveals power dynamics


- Can result in unexpected coalitions


---


### Modification 3: Include Global South Representation


Add one or more Global South countries (or have one EU country represent developing nations):


**Changes Dynamic:**


- Questions fairness of expecting poor countries to act


- Highlights North-South inequalities


- Adds justice dimension


- Makes EU look privileged by comparison


- Creates powerful debrief about global climate justice


---


## E. Closing Discussion (5-10 minutes)


**Key Takeaways:**


> "What does this role-play teach us about climate policy and international cooperation?"


**Expected Learning:**


- Climate policy is complex, with competing interests


- International cooperation is difficult but necessary


- Fairness/justice is hard to achieve


- Power inequalities shape outcomes


- Different countries have genuinely different needs


- Compromise is necessary but often leaves people unsatisfied


- This is why climate action is slow and insufficient


**Bridge to Citizenship:**


> "Now that you understand how hard it is for governments to agree, how can citizens push for more ambitious action?"


---


## Key Learning Points to Highlight


- International climate negotiations involve competing interests and values


- Different countries have legitimately different needs and constraints


- Power inequalities shape outcomes (larger, wealthier countries have more influence)


- Just transition means considering workers and communities affected


- Negotiation and compromise are necessary but slow


- Citizens can pressure governments to be more ambitious


- The EU process is actually relatively collaborative—global negotiations are even harder


## Why This Method Works


- Role-play creates embodied learning—you experience the tensions


- Takes perspective-taking seriously (play your role, not your views)


- Fun and engaging while addressing serious policy topics


- Generates authentic conflicts (not scripted)


- Creates memorable learning through experience


- Builds empathy for policy-makers' challenges


- Shows both why change is slow AND possibility for change


## Modifications and Extensions


### Time Variations


- **60 min version:** A-C only (intro, presentations, basic debrief)


- **90 min version:** A-C with some extensions


- **120 min version:** Full A-E with hidden agendas or policy votes


### Difficulty Adaptations


- **Basic (60 min):** Simple country profiles, basic role descriptions, quick presentations


- **Intermediate (90 min):** As described with moderate complexity


- **Advanced (120+ min):** Complex country profiles, hidden agendas, policy votes, global perspective


### Group Size Variations


- **Small groups (3-4):** Each person a minister role


- **Medium groups (5-7):** Add advisors, negotiators, communicators


- **Large class:** Create international bodies (Council of Ministers, Parliament, Civil Society observers)


### Country/Region Variations


- **All EU:** As described


- **Mix of EU and Global:** Add developing countries


- **Global simulation:** Simulate UN climate negotiations instead


- **National focus:** Simulate national climate policy-making instead


---


## Notes for Facilitator


The strength of this exercise is understanding that decisions are made in the context of needs within each country. Keep participants in role to make sure they experience this. This method is fun but can be difficult, so circle around during group work and help groups when needed.


**Role-Playing Tips:**


- Encourage authentic character work—really represent your minister


- Don't break role unless absolutely necessary


- Celebrate good negotiation and creative solutions


- Reward both ambitious goals and realistic compromise


- Show that this is genuinely hard (don't make it easy)


**Timing Management:**


- Build in buffer time (things take longer than expected)


- Strict timer on presentations keeps things moving


- Don't rush debrief—the reflection is where deep learning happens


**Managing Conflict:**


- Some negotiations get heated—that's good (it's real)


- Prevent personal attacks but allow disagreement


- Use conflict as teaching moment ("This is what real negotiations look like")


- Debrief ensures reflection on emotions


**Facilitator Knowledge:**


- Know EU climate policies well


- Understand each country's real energy situation


- Be prepared to answer detailed questions


- Admit when you don't know something


---


## Extension Activities


### If You Have More Time:


**Option 1: Voting Round**


- Introduce new EU policies


- Countries vote (majority? consensus? weighted by size?)


- Shows how decisions actually get made


- Creates more stakes and engagement


**Option 2: Civil Society Pressure**


- Add NGO and business representatives


- They lobby country teams to change positions


- Shows how outside pressure works


- Participants see power of organized groups


**Option 3: Second Round**


- Add new information (e.g., "Arctic melting rate accelerated!")


- Countries reconsider their positions


- Shows how scientific evidence affects policy


- Allows for evolution and learning


**Option 4: Global Negotiation**


- Expand to include non-EU countries (US, China, India, etc.)


- Much more complex but shows real global challenges


- Highlights North-South tensions more starkly


- Requires longer time commitment


---


## Related Methods


- **Follows:** Methods 4.1 (Organization Bingo) for understanding landscape


- **Leads to:** Method 4.3 (Participation Café) on personal participation pathways


- **Bridges:** Between understanding systems (Modules 1-3) and personal action (Methods 4.3, future work)

**Comprehensive Facilitator Preparation:**


- Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the facilitator guide


- Learn each country's energy profile, challenges, and interests


- Understand policy instruments and their effects


- Prepare country cards with clear information


- Set up Excel tools or print budget sheets


- Have presentations ready


- Test all technology (projector, spreadsheets, audio if needed)


**Material Organization:**


- Print country information cards with role descriptions


- Prepare policy instrument catalogs


- Set up Excel sheets with energy and carbon budgets (test formulas)


- Print guidelines for role-play


- Prepare presentation setup for "Summit"


- Have blank paper and markers for each group to draft plans


**Room Setup:**


- Create separate working areas for each country team


- Have projector/screen ready for presentations


- Arrange seating for mock EU summit (round table or similar)


- Post visual aids (energy data, policy options, targets)


**Country Selection:**


- Choose 4-6 countries representing diverse situations:


- Large industrial nation (Germany, France)


- Coal-dependent nation (Poland)


- Island or vulnerable nation (Cyprus, Malta)


- Nordic renewable leader (Denmark, Norway)


- Mediterranean nation (Spain, Italy)


- Optional: Include country from Global South to show global inequalities


---