Spotlight: UCL Laws students' success at Youth COP 2025, winning Best Negotiation Skills Award

UCL Laws students Benjamin Gardner-McTaggart and Phoebe Frank participated in the Youth COP 2025, held from 11 to 13 April, a virtual mock negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Hosted by Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Université Paris Cité, and Universidade Federal do Ceará, the competition brought together 25 student teams from around the world to debate urgent climate issues and simulate international negotiations.

Representing Germany as part of the EU bloc, Ben and Phoebe showcased their excellent leadership, negotiation, public speaking, and diplomacy skills. Their hard work earned them the Best Negotiation Skills Award, with Ben also named 2nd Best Individual Speaker.

The event, now in its third edition, encouraged debate on key topics such as climate finance, equity, sustainable tourism, and marine protection. Each team represented their assigned country’s official stance, drafting proposals, forming alliances, and stepping into the world of high-stakes diplomacy seen at summits like COP, UN Climate Conferences, and other global forums.

For Ben and Phoebe, the experience was both demanding and inspiring, and a crash course in international cooperation under pressure.

“The competition was a hugely enriching experience and a real honour to represent UCL Laws in such an important international event,” Phoebe said. “It gave me a newfound appreciation for the complexities of international relations and how diverse national interests come together in global treaties.”

Balancing preparation and negotiations with revision

Despite Youth COP falling in the middle of exam season, Ben and Phoebe committed themselves to thorough preparation. They researched Germany’s climate policy and role within the EU, created briefing documents, refined arguments, and rehearsed their delivery - all while revising for assessments.

“We had to research Germany’s positions until they became second nature,” Benjamin said. “And we did this right in the middle of revision season!”

Collaboration was crucial to their success before and during the event. As team coordinator, Phoebe led communications with other delegations and helped draft proposals.

“Phoebe was amazing at keeping everything organised behind the scenes,” Benjamin said. “She helped others feel involved and supported. Without her, I think our delegation would have struggled. She is a real star.”

Phoebe likewise credited Ben with helping to break a deadlock in the negotiations:

“Ben was vital in getting the agenda passed. On Friday evening, things had reached a stalemate. Getting that through on Saturday morning was essential for making progress. Without his push, we wouldn’t have advanced.”

Challenges of achieving collective action

Both students left Youth COP with a clearer understanding of what diplomacy and negotiation among competing priorities involve, why they are important, and the challenges associated with achieving global consensus.

“Sometimes you’d sit there in awe of what someone had just contributed,” Ben recalled. “Other times, it was frustrating when proposals failed or progress stalled. It gave me a new appreciation for how complex and exhausting real climate negotiations are.”

Phoebe described how the experience helped her grasp the nuanced balance between national interests and collective climate action. One of their key interventions involved breaking down a broader proposal that lacked sufficient support into a more specific document focused solely on plastic pollution, which was then passed unanimously.

“We had to stay true to Germany’s climate stance while also managing the needs of other, sometimes conflicting, countries,” she said. “It’s not just about finding a solution - it’s about shaping one that works for all sides.”

“I came out of it with massive appreciation for what negotiators go through at actual climate conferences,” Ben added. “It was incredible to see how they manage these challenges to reach agreements. I’ve gained so much respect for their work.”

Students engaged directly with some of the most pressing questions in international law and environmental policy, particularly in the context of rising global tensions and policy rollbacks.

“It also highlighted the importance of international environmental law,” Phoebe added, “especially after events like the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. I look forward to more opportunities to help defend environmental interests in the future.”

Call for future participants

The competition was a great opportunity for young leaders to shape climate action and governance with an inclusive, forward-thinking, and ambitious vision, while praising the importance of bottom-up initiatives and a more equitable approach to development.

Ben and Phoebe encouraged others interested in climate policy, diplomacy, or international law to consider taking part in Youth COP.

“I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in environmental law, international relations, or global policy,” Phoebe said.

The pair originally applied on a whim, as Ben put it, after Professor of Environmental Law Maria Lee mentioned the competition. But the opportunity quickly became a significant academic and personal milestone for them.

Now, both students hope to keep applying their legal and negotiation skills to help shape a more just and sustainable world.

Find out more

• Follow Youth Cop on LinkedIn 
• UCL Laws Environment Research 
• UCL Laws – International Institutions and Law 

Image credit: Youth COP LinkedIn (April 2025); images provided by Phoebe Frank and Benjamin Gardner-McTaggart.