Global Climate Change Simulation Offers USC Students New Perspectives on Worldwide Fight
May 2, 2023
01

Original post on USC Global.

While climate change remains a pressing issue across countries and generations, research shows the topic is of particular concern to millennials and Gen Z, according to Pew.

That is part of the reason why the Student Global Climate Change Simulation has drawn such immense interest from the USC student body. It’s also a challenging, thought-provoking way to learn more about the worldwide effects of climate change.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), saw almost 200 students from 22 universities around the globe participating in an online mock United Nations climate change conference. Students formed delegations that worked together to negotiate policies, sign pledges related to carbon emission caps and other climate change solutions, and more. 

Top experts from the UN, World Business Council for Sustainable Development and other esteemed organizations also spoke at the simulation on issues such as climate refugees, reforestation and ocean health.

This year, the simulation was led in part by Mellissa Withers, director of the APRU Global Health Program at USC and associate professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Shannon Gibson, associate professor of environmental studies, political science and international relations at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Gibson first became interested in working on the APRU Student Global Climate Change Simulation years ago, when she experienced an earlier iteration at a summit. She incorporated it into her own classroom, and later, with the help of Withers, “took the model and really expanded it.”

“I think as an educator, one of the things that you become aware of is that students learn by doing. They learn by putting themselves in the shoes of a decision-maker. By taking a student who may only have a perspective of the United States when it comes to climate change, having them function as China, or the Philippines, or South Africa really helps them to learn how the thinking varies,” she told USC Global

Preparing for Careers in Global Health

The mock exercise ran for three days total — April 11, April 18 and April 25 — and drew students from multiple schools and disciplines within USC, including public health, computer science, business, international relations, environmental studies, global studies, occupational therapy and engineering.

Giancarlo Ceja, an international relations and environmental studies undergraduate student, hopes the simulation will impact his future career in environmental policy, using his education to help those living in countries most affected by climate change.

“In terms of environmental justice, I grew up in a very low-income, marginalized community in Southern California. My parents immigrated from a rural community in Mexico, and both are being affected in different ways by climate change. Marginalized, low-income communities around the world are most vulnerable to the brunt of the effects of climate change, and I want to help fix that,” he explained.

Ceja is also optimistic his fellow participants will end the mock conference more aware of how much work is yet to be done, especially by the world’s most powerful countries. While everyone has a role in combating climate change, some nations — specifically developed countries that have produced the most carbon emissions — have a higher responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change, he said.

“Coming together in the international community and holding up to the commitments that you make is really important. Solving this problem is impossible without international cooperation,” explained Ceja, citing the UN’s common but differentiated responsibilities principle.

Like Ceja, environmental science and public health undergraduate student Abeerah Siddiqui was inspired to participate in the simulation to gain a new, universal outlook on today’s critical climate change challenges.

“We all have this collective interest in combating climate change, so this way, we can get a more global perspective on the issue. I think oftentimes, as students here, we’re a lot more familiar with how the U.S. handles [climate change]. We’re learning how our local communities are addressing the issues, but not so much how other countries and other parts of the world are tackling it,” she explained.

With an aspiring career in public health, Siddiqui believes the mock negotiations will allow her to further grasp international health care systems and policies, as well as come up with public health solutions that prioritize regional perspectives.

“The skills and knowledge I take away from this will help me [prepare] when it comes time for me to potentially visit other countries,” Siddiqui said.

Multi-Discipline Simulation

Promoting a cross-industry response to climate change, the simulation also included Master of Business Administration (MBA) student Kayla Friedman-Barb, who is looking to enhance her education in clean and renewable solutions to pivot to the sustainability sector following graduation.

“Understanding other people’s perspectives is a huge part of business and [how we operate],” she said. “We need to understand how other countries think about climate change and what they see as the best ways to combat it, working together in order to have a truly collaborative solution.”

Friedman-Barb was particularly eager to learn from students who are based outside of the U.S., as the international negotiations would highlight what the U.S. and other countries are “willing to give up” or refuse to mediate in their respective commitments to tackling climate change.

“What’s important for each community and each person will become apparent, especially in younger generations who are participating in this program,” Friedman-Barb explained.

For Gibson, these students have perfectly articulated what she hopes they will take away from the process: an effective, international approach to protecting our shared planet.

Even if climate change is not a topic brimming with optimism, it’s a crucial one that will directly impact each and every participant — and Gibson is hopeful some students will go on to directly influence the fight against climate change.

“Sometimes, I wish it were a bit more hopeful, but it does show them climate mitigation is a political process,” Gibson said. “It’s not just a scientific problem. It is very much a political, social and economic issue, as well as a cultural problem. You need that interdisciplinary approach to understand how to solve this massive problem.” 

Learn more about APRU and USC’s Department of Population and Public Health Sciences today.

Find out more about the Climate Change Simulation here

Related Articles
IESGA's 6th Global Conference Forges Pathways to Empowering Sustainability
more
APRU SWM Forum 2023: Advancing UN SDGs and ESG for a Sustainable Future
more
Indigenous Knowledge Has the Power to Help Address the Climate Crisis
more
APWiL Mentoring Program keeps growing, 4th Cohort takes off
more
APRU Indigenous Knowledges Network meets in Melbourne
more
SDG4GC - How a growth mindset can open a world of opportunity
more
APRU Open Dialogues tackles Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Learning Environments
more
Winners Announced: APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition and Student Poster Contest 2023
more
16th APRU Global Health Conference in Mexico Addresses Health Equity
more
APWiL Mentoring Program 3rd Cohort concludes, having promoted teaching and learning in both directions
more
APRU Director Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS, Marks 10th Year of Organizing Global Health Programs at USC
more
Urban Challenges in Protected Areas: 6th Annual Conference on Sustainable Cities and Landscapes APRU 2023
more
Routes Towards a Sustainable Society: Forum with Springer Nature Editor-in-Chief
more
Towards a Sustainable Biochar Market in Korea
more
APRU Members Shine at Healthy Women Healthy Economies Prize
more
APRU Multi-Hazards Summer School Resumed In-person Trainings in 2023 at Tohoku University
more
APRU Esports Fellowship Program 3rd Cohort provides ample food for thought on well-being, networking, and universities’ future role
more
AI for Social Good Summit Gathered Academics and Gov’t Representatives to Showcase Joint Research Outcomes Enhancing Wellbeing in Southeast Asia
more
APRU Steering Committee 2023-2024
more
Public Agencies from Thailand Participated in AI for Social Good Summit
more
2023 Global ESG Forum in Singapore Underscores Biodiversity and ESG Reporting as Key Drivers to Sustainable Development
more
CUHK Hosts APRU Undergraduate Leaders’ Program on Sustainable Cities Development
more
The University of Hong Kong hosts APRU Presidents’ Meeting on Sustainable Future Solutions
more
Keio University News: Launches 2023 Mentoring Program to Promote Female Faculty Member Empowerment and Leadership
more
APWiL Third Cohort & Professor Freshwater as new APWiL Presidential Champion
more
Unique innovations blossomed at the APRU SDG Education for Global Citizenship Program
more
Country Workshop Aims to Turn AI Research Results into Actionable Public Policy
more
UO Students Co-host APRU Global Climate Change Simulation
more
World BOSAI Forum 2023 facilitates forward-looking visits to Japanese APRU members
more
APAIE 2023: APRU universities showcase successful student programs for social impact
more
UP News: UP participates in APWiL Mentoring Program 2022
more
17th Annual APRU Multi-Hazards Symposium Presents New Approaches and Tools to Tackle Future Risks
more
APRU Presents Solutions for New Core Competency- Building at 18th APEC Future Education Forum
more
APRU on Bloomberg: The next stage: APRU-Google-UN ESCAP AI for Social Good Project now working directly with government agencies
more
12th APRU Population Ageing Virtual Conference 2022 Takes on Massive Challenges in Achieving Optimal Outcomes for Older Persons
more
APRU SDG4GC orientations kick-start exploration of health & well-being
more
UMelbourne News: An international focus on Indigenous knowledge
more
Tec News: APRU universities meet in San Cristóbal de las Casas to hold dialog on indigenous knowledge in the Pacific Rim
more
APRU Sustainable Cities & Landscapes Conference Helps Shifting Toward Well-prepared and Resilient Urban Societies
more
The APRU Climate Change Simulation- Preparing Students to Lobby Leaders for Vital Actions
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Digital Art Contest, “Level-Up Our World”
more
APRU Students Showcase Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills in APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition
more
APRU MetaGame Conference 2022 Successfully Concludes in Hong Kong With Academics Pushing New Ideas on the Application of Esports in Education
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Rampage Invitational Tournament
more
Students from Tongji School of Medicine Enrolled in the Top 10 Entries of the APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition 2022
more
APRU Brings Universities into the World of Esports with MetaGame Conference 2022
more
CUHK Biologists Unveil the Genetic Histories of Centipedes and Millipedes to Contribute to Studies of Biodiversity and Ecology
more
APRU Steering Committee 2022-2023
more
APRU ends pandemic hiatus with first physical meeting at NTU Singapore and highlights urgency to collaborate through international university networks
more
APRU Readies for Looming Book Launch with Springer on Safety and Resilience of Higher Educational Institutions
more
Graduation Ceremony and Final Presentations of Esports Fellowship Program 2nd Cohort leaves participants in awe
more
APRU on Bloomberg: APRU Readies for Looming Book Launch with Springer on Safety and Resilience of Higher Educational Institutions
more
Congratulations to the Winners of the APRU VSE Earth Day Challenge!
more
APRU on The Fiji Times: FNU Students Join Global Climate Change Simulation
more
APRU Carbon Neutral Society Action Month Opens New Doors for Early Career Researchers
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Student Esports Paper Competition
more
APRU Global Sustainability: Waste & The City Seminar Course Helps Graduate Students Shape Green Leadership Concepts
more
Tec News: Tec Professors, in a Global Mentoring Project for Women
more
APRU Supports Collaborations with UNFCCC University Partnership Programme, Actively Develops Member Information Sessions
more
APRU on SJTU News: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Successfully Held the "Resilient Urban Landscape – APRU SCL Webinar & Landscape Architects’Forum"
more
APRU on Bloomberg: APRU Launches The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Pacific Rim
more
UBC News: 2 UBC Esports undergrads win industry research scholarships
more
APEC Healthy Women Healthy Economy Prize Accepting Applications 2022
more
APRU on UNESCO News: New report “Moving minds: Opportunities and challenges for virtual student mobility in a post-pandemic world”
more
APRU on AP, AFP, Yahoo! Finance, Morningstar, BusinessWire, NBC & FOX channels, NHA & 200+ pieces of coverage: APRU launches The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Pacific Rim
more
APRU on SCMP: Covid-19 wrecks exchange programme plans, as record low number of Hong Kong university students went overseas in last academic year
more
UC Davis News: APRU, UC Davis and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Launch Second Cohort of Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership Mentoring Program
more
UCLA News: Building the foundation — and networks — needed to diversify university leadership
more
APRU on HKMB: Digital games exercise minds
more
APRU Esports Fellowship Program Welcomes the 2nd Cohort of Student Leaders
more
APRU on Nikkei: COVID has made a bad situation worse for women academics
more
UP hosts the first virtual APRU Undergraduate Leaders’ Program
more
Global MOOC and Online Education Conference 2021 highlights APRU Virtual Student Exchange (VSE) Program
more
APRU on SCMP: Virtual foreign exchange allowing students to ‘study abroad’ without leaving home will outlast Covid-19
more
UH News: Esports fellowship creates global opportunities for UH students
more
APRU Metagame Conference 2021 Returns at Cyberport’s Annual Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum
more
Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2021: winners announced
more
APRU Global Health Conference Focuses on Urban Health and Infodemics
more
APRU Steering Committee 2021-22
more
The 16TH APRU Multi-Hazards Symposium 2021: Transdisciplinary Collaboration for Disaster Resilience
more
APRU Celebrates Successful Completion of Its APWiL Mentoring Program’s First Cohort
more
Congratulations to the 1st Cohort of the APRU Esports Fellowship Program Participants
more
APRU on The Jakarta Post: A Mounting Battle that Starts at Home
more
New APRU Member – Tongji University
more
APRU Student Global Climate Change Simulation Tackling Climate Change Head-On
more
APRU on SCMP: Banning Plastic Cutlery Is Only One Part of Hong Kong’s Sustainability Challenge
more
Esports Webinar Series by YESPORTS and APRU helps exploring career opportunities
more
New APRU member - Simon Fraser University
more
APRU on UWN: Long way to go for parity for women in HE leadership
more
APRU on World Economic Forum: Universities can be 'living labs' for sustainability
more
APRU on Associated Press: APRU partners with United Nations ESCAP on The Asia Pacific Mayors Academy to Empower Mayors as Regional Leaders for Sustainability with Training Tailored to Unique Urban Challenges for a More Resilient Future
more
Asia Summit: ‘penalty systems’ and ‘male allies’ address gender gap
more
APRU Joins Solve Climate by 2030 Project
more
Cyberport Brings Together Hong Kong and Pacific Rim Youth for Esports Exchange
more
YESPORTS ESPORTS APPRENTICESHIP Recipient Announced
more
APRU Virtual Webinar Series Helps Mastering Remote Teaching Challenges
more
Winners of the 2021 APEC Healthy Women Research Prize
more
APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Policy Dialogue
more
4th SCL Conference mastered shift from face-to-face to virtual, new survey shows
more
APRU on JUMPSTART: How Esports Fellowships Can Pave the Way for A Stable, Ethical, Diverse Industry
more
Good-bye 2020, Welcome 2021!
more
APRU Launches the First Global Inter-University Esports Conference and Fellowship Program
more
14th APRU Global Health Conference 2020 records massive virtual reach
more
APRU Quarantunes Competition Connects and Uplifts Student Communities through Music, Boosting Spirits during Ongoing Pandemic
more
Civic Resilience and the COVID-19 Crisis (Part 1 of 2)
more
Civic Resilience and the COVID-19 Crisis (Part 2 of 2)
more
APRU Global Health experts co-publish insights on global health ethics in the time of COVID-19
more
APRU E-Sports Apprenticeship
more
Winners of the Global Health Student Activities 2020 Announced
more
TEC News: Song of Tec students wins 1st place among universities worldwide
more
Quarantunes Student Music Competition
more
APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Virtual Summer School 2020
more
USC-based Global Health Program highlights interdisciplinary collaboration in the time of coronavirus
more
Collaboration, technology and global health policy
more
2020 Healthy Women/Healthy Economies Research Prize Application Open Through May 2020
more
Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy concludes first cohort
more
New Member Spotlight: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
more
New Member Spotlight: Universidad San Francisco de Quito
more
APRU Sustainable Cities & Landscapes Experts Develop Curricula for Asia Pacific Mayors’ Academy
more
APRU Global Health Program advisory group leader launches new journal
more
Upgrade needed for universities’ workplace wellness programs, new APRU survey shows
more
UNU-IAS and Partners Launch Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy
more
Cities and Refugees – 2019 Global Student Design Ideas Competition
more
Sustainable Urban Development Mayors Fellowship
more
APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize 2019
more
APRU Inaugural Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Design Field School
more
APEC Health Meetings in PNG enriched by APRU insights
more
Winners of 2018 Global Health Student Poster Contest
more
Finalists entries for the 2016 Global Health Case Competition
more
APRU at the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
more
APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Summer School 2014 Report is out now
more
2nd Multi-Hazards Summer School 2014
more
9th Multi-Hazards Symposium 2013
more
Partnering for a less hazardous planet: Interview with Professor John Rundle
more
1
134