Committee:
GA 4 – Environment
Issue:
Protection of the global climate for the present and future of the planet
Student Officer:
Göksenin Akdeniz (Deputy Chair of GA 4)
I- Introduction
Global climate change is one of the most significant environmental issues the world is facing. Global
climate change is the change in patterns of weather and climate phenomena through different periods of time.
Natural alterations in climate change occur due to the geological phases and cycles of the earth. Oceanic cycles and
radiation form the sun are two major natural determinants of climate change. These natural changes occur gradually
in millions of years. However, in this committee, we will focus on the human aspect of the issue. Humankind acts
as a catalyst of global climate change that is usually referred as global warming.
II- Involved Countries and Organizations
USA: Although USA is a signatory of the Koyoto Protocol, it has not still ratified the protocol. USA is the second
largest carbon dioxide emitter after People’s Republic of China
People’s Republic of China: People’s Republic of China is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. According to NY
Times, only 1% of the Chinese population breathes air that is considered to be healthy by the European Union. Due
to rapid industrialization, pollution and climate shifts are undeniable national issues for PRC.
Greenpeace: Greenpeace defines itself as an “independent global campaigning organization that acts to change
attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace”.
III- Focused Overview of the Issue
This graph by National Science Foundation (NSF) shows three different indicators of the global warming trend that
the earth currently faces. The wetness of the Asian Monsoons, the temperature at the northern hemisphere and the
dimensions of Alpine glaciers all indicate that the overall temperature in the globe is rising at a severe pace. One of
the most significant aftermaths of global climate change is the melting of glaciers. This aftermath causes an
unnatural increase in Mean Sea Level (MSL), generating a risk of a variety of other problems. Data collected and
analyzed on average glacier thickness is also an indicator of global climate change.
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This graph shows the accelerating cumulative mean thickness change in glaciers throughout the second half of the
twentieth century. The rapid increase in change indicates the impact of global warming and global climate change
on glaciers. All these indicators are affected by the change in global land and ocean temperature. The Global LandOcean Temperature Index is used to graph the severity of the change in global temperature.
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The graph shows that rapid industrialization in the first half of the twentieth century initiates an anomalous change
in temperature. Recent figures calculate the anomaly as 6 Celsius degrees, which is an extremely high value
regarding the overall temperature of the globe. The two major reasons for this rapid overall increase in temperature
are the greenhouse effect and global dimming.
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The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in which gases in the atmosphere absorb and emit radiation, increasing the
temperature of the earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. The term “greenhouse gas” is used for gases that
participate in this phenomenon. Major greenhouse gases are water vapor, ozone, methane and carbon dioxide. The
previously mentioned industrialization boom during the first half of the twentieth century triggered a rapid increase
in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Major greenhouse gases emitted by humankind that fuel the greenhouse
effect and cause air pollution are methane, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide. When compared
to the 16th century, carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased by 148%. The two major factors
that generate human-induced carbon dioxide are burning fuel and deforestation. These alterations in the climate of
the globe severely affect natural and ecological systems. By September 2037, the arctic is expected to be mostly ice
free. The climate change also exacerbates food problems such as famines, droughts and floods. Mangrove forests
and coral reefs are negatively affected by the climate change and this change puts coral reef species’ existence at
stake.
IV- Key Vocabulary
Climate change: the change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards,
attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.
Greenhouse effect: the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency
of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.
Greenhouse gases: a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon
dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons.
Deforestation: the clearance of an area from trees and forests.
Fossil Fuel: a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
Global Warming: a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to
the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.
Global dimming: the gradual reduction in the amount of global direct irradiation at the Earth's surface that was
observed for several decades after the start of systematic measurements in the 1950s.
Annex I Countries/Parties: Group of countries included in Annex I (as amended in 1998) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, including all the developed countries in the Organization of Economic
Co-operation and Development, and economies in transition. By default, the other countries are referred to as NonAnnex I countries. Under Article 4.2 of the Convention, Annex I countries commit themselves specifically to the
aim of returning individually or jointly to their 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000.
(http://epa.gov/climatechange/glossary.html)
Chlorofluorocarbons: Gases covered under the 1987 Montreal Protocol and used for refrigeration, air
conditioning, packaging, insulation, solvents, or aerosol propellants. Since they are not destroyed in the lower
atmosphere, CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) s drift into the upper atmosphere where, given suitable conditions, they
break down ozone. These gases are being replaced by other compounds: hydro chlorofluorocarbons, an interim
replacement for CFCs that are also covered under the Montreal Protocol, and hydro fluorocarbons, which are
covered under the Kyoto Protocol. All these substances are also greenhouse gases.
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V- Important Events & Chronology
Date (Day/Month/Year)
22/04/1970
22/03/1985
1990
11/12/1997
2009
Event
First “Earth Day” to spread awareness about the degrading
environment and climate change
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, along with
the Montreal Protocol, restricts the amount of ozone degrading gas
emitted by Member States.
First IPCC (Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change) report on
climate change is published.
Kyoto Protocol is signed by major industrial countries.
Five year mean global temperature is the warmest in thousands of years
(14.5 degrees Celsius)
VI- Past Resolutions and Treaties
A/RES/43/53 - Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/43/a43r053.htm
A/RES/66/200 - Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind
http://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/418542.474508286.html
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/MP_Handbook/Section_1.1_The_Montreal_Protocol/
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
http://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII2&chapter=27&lang=en#1
The Kyoto Protocol
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html
VII- Failed Solution Attempts
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is one of the most popular failed solution attempts on the climate
change problem. The conference was organized by United Nations, yet even the delegates themselves reported the
fruitlessness of the convention. Other diplomatic conferences proved to be similar in effectiveness mainly due to
Member States’ hesitant approach towards ratifying action against the global trends in climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol was also criticized by many policymakers due to its focus on costly short term
restrictions. A plethora of policymakers questioned the effectiveness of the protocol since long term solutions are
economically less restricting.
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VIII- Possible Solutions
Monitoring systems which are targeting industries that are emitting climate change facilitating residue
could be intensified in order to further limit the effect of industrialization over global warming and the subsequent
climate change. Member States, especially industrialized ones, that have not yet ratified protocols and conventions
regarding climate change may be pressured to take action regarding their non-signatory and/or non-ratifying state.
Along with diplomatic solutions, R&D regarding, environmentally improving industrial processes of
production may be urged by governments of Member States. That way, firms would also be directed to switch to
less costly “green” substitutes of obsolete technologies.
IX- Useful Links
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html
http://climate.nasa.gov
http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/series/climate/
http://www.nature.com/climate/index.html
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/timeline.html/
X- Works Cited
Abate, Frank R., and Elizabeth Jewell. The New Oxford American Dictionary. New York: Oxford UP, 2001. Print.
"What
Is
Global
Warming?"
National
Geographic.
N.p.,
n.d.
Web.
<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html>.
"Climate - Reports: Academies' Findings - Division on Earth and Life Studies." Climate - Reports: Academies'
Findings - Division on Earth and Life Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://dels.nas.edu/Climate/ClimateChange/Reports-Academies-Findings>.
Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, n.d. Web. <http://www.nature.com/climate/index.html>.
"OurWorld 2.0." Series: Climate «. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/series/climate/>.
"Home." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/>.
"Global
Warming
&
Climate
Change."
Global
Warming-
Science.
N.p.,
n.d.
Web.
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html>.
"Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://climate.nasa.gov/>.
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