Young leaders prepare for international climate negotiations at COP30 with support from Coppe
Planeta COPPE / Program / Transport Engineering / News
Date: 14/10/2025
The COP30 Simulation Fellowship Programme, organized by the British University in Egypt and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Egypt, offers an immersive experience that simulates the real COP negotiations. The program brings together 150 students from various countries, who interact with chief negotiators, national delegations and international leaders, drafting youth climate declarations that are presented at the official UN event. Some participants will be selected to work directly at COP30 in Belém, bringing their proposals to the real negotiations environment.
Coppe/UFRJ plays a fundamental role in this process, contributing to the development of global leaders in climate diplomacy. Professor Andréa Santos, recognized for her work in international negotiations and presence at several COPs, is a member of the mentoring team and was responsible for coordinating UFRJ’s participation as a Brazilian partner, ensuring that students have the technical training and leadership skills to participate in global forums.
The program goes beyond simulation: it trains students in negotiation techniques, engages the youth and highlights the role of non-state actors, as well as the technical and scientific dimensions of climate action and policymaking. The first phase, between July and August, consisted of online training and research, providing a solid foundation in climate diplomacy, global governance and environmental challenges. In the next phase, during the COP Simulation Conference, students negotiate and draft the COP Simulation Youth Declaration, a document that expresses youth priorities and proposals in the face of the climate crisis
In the final phase, those selected join the official COP30 delegation, gaining access to the Blue Zone—the restricted area where UN negotiations take place—and present their proposals directly to leaders and negotiators.
This experience prepares young people to take on leadership roles in international negotiations, reinforcing the presence of the new generation in formulating global solutions and demonstrating Coppe’s contribution to the development of international leaders and the projection of Brazilian science on the global stage, especially in initiatives that expand the relevance of countries in the Global South, such as Egypt, a partner of the program and a member of BRICS since 2024.
- Climate Change
