JUMP (Jugend Umwelt Platform), an environmental organization for young people, co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW), organized in cooperation with the University of Vienna a university course titled: “UN Climate Reporter, Simulation game of an UN Conference on Climate Change 2014, Lima/Peru - Negotiating climate change.”

Together with Austria and GRID-Arendal, UNEP Vienna supported the students in preparing and conductin the model negotiations, which took place in the Vienna International Centre on 17-18 November. Mr Harald Egerer, Head of the UNEP Vienna –Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention office, made a welcoming speech during the opening event of the course on 9 October, presenting the Climate Change activities of UNEP.

Presenting the different climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in the Carpathians, in the Alps and in other mountain regions, Mr Egerer underlined the importance of cooperation between countries to insure the sustainable development of mountain regions, especially due to their role as early indicators to climate change. Mr Egerer also highlighted the importance of climate negotiations. The climate mediators of tomorrow must be aware of all the challenges the changing climate is bringing. Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya, USG and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, introduced the upcoming LLDC Conference to the students.

At the conference, participants from governments of LLDCs, transit developing countries and donor countries, UN and other international organizations and the private sector came together to decide upon the new development agenda for the next decade

Out of 30 students, 2 will have the opportunity to be part of the Austrian Delegation as Climate reporters at the next UNFCCC COP in Lima, Peru.

More information: harald.egerer@unep.org