United Nations Environment Program
Harry Lau
Intermediate
Topic A: Development of an International Framework Addressing
Environmental Safeguarding & Crime
Introduction
Welcome to the United Nations Environment Programme committee! Established as the result
of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972, this programme is an
organization of the United Nations that directs environmental activities and helps developing
countries make environmentally sound and sustainable wide-ranging environmental practices.
Some of the main activities that UNEP does is associated with climate change, ecosystem
management, resource efficiency, harmful substances and environmental governance. UNEP
has sponsored the development of solar loan programs to buffer initial deployment costs and
persuade consumers to acknowledge and purchase PV systems.
Apart from that, UNEP is one of the agencies for the Global Environment Facility and the
Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. The International Cyanide Management Code was developed
with UNEP’s support and is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Furthermore, UNEP and WMO (World
Meteorological Organization) have established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Background
Topic A, the Development of an International Framework Addressing Environmental Safeguarding and Crime, deals with the
issue of environmental crimes, which is a global issue with no borders. This is obviously dangerous, not only to international
peace and relations among countries, but is also detrimental to the process of creating a sustainable environment for all. Examples
of environmental crimes include illegal logging and timber trade, the smuggling and black market sale of ozone-depleting
substances and protected/endangered species, illicit trade of hazardous waste materials, and illegal fishing. Developing an
international framework to resolve these issues is particularly important now since this is a situation that will only continue to
grow in severity if not addressed, and it is currently not a very high priority for most countries.
Issues
1.
Why is this an important issue?
One of the most important reasons as to the relevance of this issue is the vital safeguarding of Earth’s
a)
environmental health. Presently, the development of environmental law faces many obstacles which impede progress,
including:
b) Substantial time lag between scientific research and understanding, and the actual creation of a law which takes those
findings into account, particularly at different levels (regional, national, international – which this committee deals with).
c) Outdated or ineffective international agreements and protocols which do not address environmental issues and sensitive
situations as smoothly as possible, these need to be updated in order to rectify growing problems which will only grow in
severity.
d) The lack of comprehensive environmental laws which safeguard natural resources and delicate ecosystems, and
insufficient capacity to fully implement these laws, particularly in developing countries.
e) Illegal black market trading of resources and endangered animal materials, which if left unchecked will continue to
lead species to extinction and encourage more traders.
f) The illicit disposal and dumping of toxic waste and harmful substances produced as by-products in development and
industrialization is also quite an essential issue, if left unchecked and unregulated such practices could lead to increased
levels of air pollutants, radiation, and un-inhabitable land.
2.
a)
Important historical events which relate to the topic
In 1992, the UNFCCC, or United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was established as a treaty for
countries to discuss and consider solutions to limiting climate change, global warming, temperature increases, and the
resultant consequences.
b)
In 1995, building upon the basis set by the UNFCCC, member nations believed that previously set agreements were
inadequate and so came up with the Kyoto Protocol, which legally binds developed countries to a specific emission
amount which they must not go over, lest they incur penalties. This was part of the implementation of a goal by many
countries to reduce their emissions of damaging substances, and currently extends until 2020, after which further
discussion will take place.
Past UN Actions
As stated in the above section, past UN actions with regards to this issue include the development of the UNFCCC, and the Kyoto
Protocol derived from that. Other actions include the consideration of Nuclear Energy projects by the UNFCCC in 2008, and
other UN-supported developments such as the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), Cancun Agreement, and Conference of
Parties under the UNFCCC. Delegates, please research these for further information – they could potentially be very helpful!
Keys of the Resolution
1. Economic Guidelines – Rules establishing natural resources and trading to ensure sustainability, possible amendments to existing
laws or claims that could be made to improve the situation
2. Regulations – Concrete rules and guidelines regarding the disposal of harmful waste, and correct handling of these substances
3. Treaties between States – Agreements held between two or more nations stating environmental emissions and trading
claims/restrictions that are to be honored – extensions to existing protocols?
4. Suggestions for the Future – Advisory opinions stating what should be done in the event of further geographical, political, and
climate shifts based on environmental factors
5. Logistics – General logistics and estimated plans needed to put proposed resolutions into place