Understanding Paris 2015 – UN Climate Change Conference

Understanding Paris 2015 - UN Climate Change Conference

Date/Time
Date(s): 24/10/2015 - 15/12/2015
Time: 12:00 am


Language:

Admission:


The United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) in Paris, to be held from November 30 through December 11, 2015 is the most important international meeting dealing with global warming since the Copenhagen Conference in 2009. 196 countries will participate in the Paris Conference, with each country being asked to pledge its own “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)” to reduce carbon emissions.  The purpose of the Conference is to reach an agreement that would at a minimum at least slow the pace of global warming. Since the Hong Kong SAR includes many islands, Hong Kong will likely be among the areas in the world most affected by global warming.

In this program, the Hong Kong America Center will provide university students in Hong Kong and Macau the opportunity to learn by both listening and participating about this important meeting.  This is a three-part program:

  1. UNFCCC briefing session on October 24:
    A full-day briefing by distinguished Hong Kong diplomatic and international experts that will provide, for our student participants, key information about climate change and the UN process leading up to this year’s conference.
  2. Student policy simulation on November 14-15:
    A two day-long simulation which student teams will play roles of key countries, based on their actual positions. The objective of the simulation would be to take Conference’s draft text, as it then exists, as the point of departure for debate and discussion, in an attempt to reach an agreement consistent with the actual positions of the countries represented.
  3. Paris results & evaluation on December 15:
    Part three would be a speech by Consul General Eric Berti, Consul General of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau.  Followed by an interactive panel discussion with delegates in Paris just as the Conference closes.  This event will be a charged event at the Asia Society, but there will be no charge for students who enroll and participate in Parts 1 and 2 of our program.

The HKAC will enroll 54 students from universities in Hong Kong and Macau.  Postgraduate and undergraduate students from all disciplines are welcomed.

To apply, please click here (Application Deadline: Oct 5, 2015)

 


 

This program is organized by the Hong Kong-America Center, sponsored by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, supported by Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Asia Society,  the Law School of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

free of charge to students who enroll in our program


http://www.hk-ac.org.hk/hkac/hkac-programs/recent-events/


ENQUIRIES
Pauline Lau


paulinelau@cuhk.edu.hk