Law students' proposal for a climate protocol will inspire the climate conference.

11 March 2009

How will the young generation solve the planet's climate challenges? This was negotiated by law students from all over the world in an international climate competition arranged by the Faculty of Law at University of Copenhagen.

A jubilant and exhausted team from Singapore was victorious in the negotiation competition, Copenhagen Competition. For several days, the team from Singapore has negotiated with law students from the USA, Australia, India, South Africa, Chile and Denmark on how to limit the planet's CO2 emissions.

Proposals from the competition There were many different proposals, but it was agreed that - on a long-term basis - a greenhouse gas emission limit for all the countries should gradually be introduced with regard to the individual countries' economical development.

It was agreed that greenhouse gas trade is one of several instruments to obtain an efficient reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and an increase in the use of emission quota trade was predominantly backed. The agreement must be designed to encourage the more developed countries to submit to a greenhouse gas emission limit. It was agreed that the present institutional arrangement should be simplified.

As regards the developing countries the need for an international fund to support new projects, transmit technology and eliminate the impact of the climate changes on the most vulnerable developing countries was agreed upon. The funds can be established in terms of duties on emission quota trade and/or on the sectors, which will not be included by a future emission limit such as aviation and shipping. However, con-sensus on this matter was not reached

Inspiration to researchers and state leaders The Faculty of Law held the competition during the days leading up to the University of Copenhagen's sci-entific climate congress from 10 to 12 March, which the law students will also be attending. The winning team will present the proposal of a climate protocol made by the students after several days of inspiring dialogues and negotiations with the other teams.

The vision is that the students' proposal will act as inspiration to researchers and decision-makers in the future work towards a Copenhagen protocol. The results from the negotiation competition will be handed over to the Danish government, which hosts the UN conference on climate change (COP15). All the teams' written contributions are compiled in a book, which is handed over to Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the University of Copenhagen's scientific climate congress on 12 March at the Bella Center.

The best negotiators

According to the jury, one of the reasons why the Singapore team members won was their ability to make their own ideas attractive and meet the other countries’ proposals. The New Zealand chief negotiator in the upcoming climate conference, Climate ambassador Adrian Macey, acted as judge in the finals of the competition. In general, he is impressed with the high level of the teams and the appreciation of the in-ternational context. "There is definitely something to gather from the upcoming negotiations during the climate conference in December", he says.

• The winners will hold a presentation of their proposals for a climate protocol Time: 12 March from 15:00 to 15:20 Place: Press Briefing, Bella Center
• The winners meet Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen Time: 12 March at 15:30 Place: Press Briefing, Bella Center