U2NESCO 2015
UNITED NATIONS ENVIORNMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
CHAIR REPORT
Committee: Environmental and Sustainable Development
Agenda: Establishing a new global measure of economic growth, which emphasizes sustainable
development, well-being, and innovation over the current model of GDP which measures mostly
consumption.
Officer: Marco Nie
Introduction
Sustainable development is a process for meeting human development goals while maintaining the ability of natural
systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society
depend. This topic can be traced back to the history of this idea when Europe was developing sustainable forest
management during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
There are seventeen sustainable development goals that countries are trying to reach. These includes; no poverty,
zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, decent
work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and
communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice
and strong institutions, partnerships for the goals.
As there are 5 components of GDP by expenditure, consumption is normally the largest GDP component in the
economy. The GDP of a country depends on their consumption, investments, government and net exports. GDP per
capita is determined by the GDP of a country over the country’s population. However this measurement of
economic well-being only takes into account production or consumption of goods and services. It does not count the
environmental cost (negative externalities) of either producing or consuming them.
Sustainable development is divided into three main sections that are the main sources to almost every concept of
establishing an economic growth: environmental, economical, and social. Sustainable development requires the
sustainable growth of every nation worldwide however companies and industries are common factors to how this
situation is still going on as an issue.
Definition of Key Terms
Sustainable Development (SD): Economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.
Well-being: The state of being confortable, healthy, or happy.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one
year.
GDP per capita: Measure of a country’s GDP divided by the total population of the country.
Green (Clean) Coal Technology: A collection of technologies being developed to mitigate the environment impact
of coal energy generation.
Consumption: The using up of a resource.
Green GDP: calculating GDP and subtracting out the cost of environmental degradation for goods and services
produced.
Circular Flow Economy: An economic model which is based on reduce, reuse, recycle with the main goal of
ending massive waste, pollution which is the product of a linear economic model which ends with discarding
valuable resources.
Human Development Index (HDI): A model of well-being which measure life expectancy, levels of primary
education, and per capita GDP.
Renewable Energy: Energy that comes from resources, which are naturally filled up again on a human timescale.
Negative Externalities of consumption and production: when a good is produced or consumed to the benefit of
one party without taking into account the effect this might have on a third party or the environment.
History
Dates
1970
1971
1972
1980
1992
1993
2001
2005
2010
2011
2012
2012
Events (issues)
First Earth Day held as a national teach-in on the environment. An estimated 20 million people
participate in peaceful demonstrations across the United States.
International Institute for Environment and development (IIED) established in the United
Kingdom to seek ways for countries to make economic progress without destroying the
environmental resource base.
UN conference on the Human Environment in UNEP The Stockholm conference is rooted in
the pollution and acid rain problems of northern Europe. It leads to the establishment of many
national environmental protection agencies and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP).
Global 2000 report is released. It recognizes biodiversity for the first time as critical to the
proper functioning of the planetary ecosystem. It asserts that the robust nature of ecosystems is
weakened by species extinction.
Earth Summit UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) is held in Rio de
Janeiro. Agreements are reached on the action plan Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration, and the nonbinding Forest Principles. Two “Rio Conventions” are opened for signature: the Convention on
Biological Diversity and the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Negotiations on a
third, the Convention to Combat Desertification, are called for.
First UN meeting on sustainable development ensure follow up to UNCED; enhance
international cooperation.
9/11 Terrorists representing anti-Western, non-state interests and ideologies attack the World
Trade Center and Pentagon, marking the end of an era of unhindered economic expansion.
Kyoto Protocol legally binding developed country parties to goals for greenhouse gas emission
reductions, and establishing the Clean Development Mechanism for developing countries.
Emissions reductions obligations expire at the end of 2012.
Wind Power China becomes the world’s largest domestic market for wind power, exceeding its
target for installed capacity by 320 per cent. While wind power continues to expand at the fastest
rate of renewable energy sources, it is still well below targeted levels for installed capacity by
2020 in OECD and emerging economies.
Arab Spring Arab regions rise to a democracy starting from Tunisia
Trade disputes on solar and wind energy products China’s expanded manufacturing capacity
and low prices make it a leader in global trade on wind turbines. The U.S. contests both solar and
wind subsidies in China as unfair trade practices. The outcomes of these disputes may influence
the future of clean tech energy sourcing and adoption.
Rio +20 Fifty years after Silent Spring, 40 years after Stockholm and 20 years after the Earth
Summit, the global community reconvenes in an effort to secure agreement on “greening” world
economies through a range of smart measures for clean energy, decent jobs and more sustainable
and fair use of resources.
Major Parties Involved
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): This multi-national organization has the
mission to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): This NGO has played a major role in sustainable
development at an international level. Their mission is “to promote human development and environmental
sustainability through innovative research, communication and partnerships.” They have created strategic
sustainable development goals in order to ensure an equity and healthy planet. This institute has offices in Canada,
Switzerland, and the United States and is operating in 70 different countries around the world. This institution is also
registered as a charitable organization in various countries. Core operating support is from the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), which is provided from the Government of Canada and from the province of
Manitoba. This organization also receives support from a number of countries outside of Canada, as well as agencies,
foundations, private sector and individuals.
The International Organization for Sustainable Development (IOSD): Starting the 2004 as a non-profit
organization, this organization secured the mandate to administer “Euclid University Extension program”. This
institution’s educational programs train people for government staff, IGO staff, technological support to public
universities, etc. Other programs include government public relations, sustainable development projects, and
millennium challenge technical assistance and others.
Global Energy Network Institute (GENI): This institution focuses on linking renewable (clean) energy around the
world using international electricity transmission. A non-profit organization in the United States, this organization
conducts research and activities of international and interregional transmissions of electricity.
International Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD): A non-profit organization in the United States, this
organization applies sustainable principles to development projects around the world. Their mission is “to apply
sustainable principles to development projects around the world in order to impact world development through
practical projects that meet local needs and that are: community focused, environmentally friendly, financially
healthy, and replicable.” This organization is also a charity organization. The ICSD does not promote individual
technology however looks at the needs of a given project and finds a best solution based on a system.
Past Action
The Rio +20 conference was an action-based conference in which focused on the implantation of sustainable
development. During the conference, key points were stated as to what topics were initiatives for implementations of
sustainable development which include; Voluntary Commitments, Partnerships for Sustainable Development, and
Green economy policies and initiatives.
1969 Cuyahoga River, Ohio brought political attention according to pollution control policy and action which leads
to the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the creation of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency—one of the first national departments of the environment in the world.
IISD in corporation with EcoRessources, completed a multiphase project designed to enhance the government
representatives in 10 Congo Basin Countries.
With the help of the European Commission, they invested 160.6 million euros in 96 new environmental projects.
The Commission has also approved an investment of 264.8 million euros on Europe’s environment to nature and
green growth. These projects are funded under the LIFE programme for the environment in which consists of three
sections: Environment and Resource Proficiency, Nature and Biodiversity, and Governance and Information.
Possible Solutions
Recognizing the issue of sustainable development, we must incorporate the section of GDP as well as the well-being
of countries. This issue should be resolved on the situation of the GDP’s of MEDC’s and LEDC’s. A move to
include more comprehensive measures of national wealth and well-being like ‘green GDP’ and ‘HDI’ are needed to
create a clearer picture of standards of living and environmental conditions. When economies must take into
account the negative externalities of production and consumption, as well as count the overall standard of living of
their people, this will push governments to promote sustainability. We must enhance monetary aid from MEDC’s to
create further process in the development of green coal technology in LEDC’s. Encouraging countries to cut down
carbon emissions and increase the use of green coal technology should be necessary. Research on sustainable
development and clean energy should be supported by NGO’s or other agencies. The need of clean technology
should be strongly recognized by countries, these renewable energy sources should be used widely world wide in
order to again encourage efficient green coal technologies. Donations from top MEDC countries should donate a
certain amount to LEDC’s in order to maintain operation of sustainable development. Solutions must go beyond the
mere use of green technology to include a massive investment in human capital in the form of education and health
care, creation of sustainable urbanization.
Resources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/douglas-beal/why-well-being-not-just-g_b_7671172.html
http://www.oecd.org/statistics/oecd-guidelines-on-measuring-subjective-well-being9789264191655-en.htm
Bibliography
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Resources
European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
Governmental organization that focuses on global situations, also explains how the commission helps these issues.
International Center of Sustainable Development: http://www.solarcities.org/strategy.html
A non-profit organization; website explains how this organization helps sustainable development as well as current
projects they are performing in.
Sustainable Development-United Nations: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org
Recent news about sustainable development on an international level as well as explanations of sustainable
development and its goals.