Feb 03, 2026
Ernest Thiessen
From Deadlock to Agreement: A Simulated Global Climate Negotiation

From Deadlock to Agreement: A Simulated Global Climate Negotiation

At this week’s meeting, Rotarian Ernest Thiessen will present a short video exploring a hopeful and practical approach to one of the world’s toughest challenges: global climate cooperation. Using Smartsettle collaboration technology, the simulation demonstrates how diverse stakeholders can move beyond deadlock to reach fair, workable agreements through structured, multi-issue decision-making and mutual understanding.

The presentation reflects Rotary’s commitment to peacebuilding, Service Above Self, and evidence-based solutions, highlighting how improved decision processes can support cooperation on climate change, conflict prevention, and other global challenges that affect future generations.

If you are unable to attend, the video may also be viewed on the Smartsettle eNegotiation YouTube channel:

For those who wish to explore the ideas in more depth, a companion article is available:

Together, these materials complete a proof-of-concept phase. The next step is to scale up the work by engaging climate scientists and policy experts to participate directly in future simulations, helping test and refine this approach under increasingly realistic conditions.