More than 150 students in the CEMS Master in International Management, representing nine top European business schools and 33 countries, gathered at ESADE’s Barcelona campus to participate in the Model UNFCCC, a simulated version of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In this unique educational initiative, students played the role of governments, civil society and representatives from all over the world.

This year’s event, with the participation of Suez (Agbar) and L’Oréal, included a panel discussion featuring the participation of executives from various multinationals (corporate partners of CEMS) as well as representatives of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), who discussed various actions that business schools could take to combat climate change. During the inaugural session, the students called on the entire educational community to take action to address this global challenge.

One week after the official UN conference in Bonn, the tenth edition of the Model UNFCCC – an initiative launched in 2009 by the University of St. Gallen and ESADE – took place during the annual meeting of the CEMS Global Alliance, an international institution comprising 31 of the world’s most prestigious business schools. The event formed part of a subject – taught in parallel at all participating universities, including ESADE – that involves various conferences and initiatives organised over the course of the semester. The subject also includes a business negotiation simulation, for which students meet at a different venue each year.

Climate change: a shared cause

This innovative simulation allows students in the CEMS Master to develop skills related to one of the most pressing social issues of our time and to gain a better understanding of the role of the business world in developing global solutions to climate change. Eugenia Bieto, Director General of ESADE Business & Law School and Chair of CEMS, commented: “The fight against climate change must be a shared cause. It is not only the responsibility of politicians, governments, international organisations, companies and citizens. Business schools, too, must promote environmental awareness in their respective communities. I am proud of the commitment shown by our students and the initiatives they are participating in. And I add my voice to their demands.”

Prof. Rolf Wüstenhagen, Academic Director of the Model UNFCCC, commented: “It is essential that young people receive training on the main elements related to climate change – the scientific aspects, the evolution of policy and the role of companies – so that they can become an essential part of the solution.” He also noted that executives must play a central role in the development of a new generation of leaders who, despite turmoil on the international stage, will be capable of guaranteeing rapid progress in addressing the global climate challenge. “Politics, by itself, cannot solve this problem,” commented Prof. Wüstenhagen. “The business world can play an important role in leading the transformation towards a low-carbon world, because it has more capacity and resources than anyone else in society to devote to innovation and the development of new solutions.”

Transformation of the business community

Roland Siegers, Executive Director of CEMS, commented: “The current global uncertainty regarding climate change policies makes it more essential than ever for the business leaders of the future to fully understand all aspects of the negotiations that lead to the regulation of CO2 emissions. Through the Model UNFCCC and the corresponding subject, we aim to ensure that these future leaders fully understand not only the current interdependence of business with politics and climate change, but also that environmental responsibility is a reference for all of us.” He added: “If companies are capable of interpreting and strengthening the values ​​of global leadership around sustainability, as demonstrated by our students, we will truly see a transformation of the business community and, consequently, of the entire world.”

The following CEMS partner schools took part in this event: University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), ESADE (Spain), University of Cologne (Germany), Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary), WU Vienna (Austria), Rotterdam School of Management (Netherlands), Bocconi University (Italy), Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden) and Warsaw School of Economics (Poland).