VicMUN 2011
United Nations Environmental Programme
Honorable Delegates,
My name is Angela Lorenz, and it is my pleasure to welcome you this year to the
2011 University of Victoria Model United Nations Conference. I have been selected
to serve as the director of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP),
and it is my responsibility to ensure that this committee session is both organized
and productive. It will be your responsibility to accurately simulate the position and
actions of your Member State on one of the most important global environmental
organizations in the world while strategically addressing some of the environmental
threats facing our planet with innovative and creative solutions.
This year’s Vic MUN theme is Climate Change and the Environment, which is
especially important for this committee because the UNEP is the voice for the
environment in the United Nations and in the global community. The topics that will
be addressed in this committee are as follows:
Topic I: The UNEP response to environmental disasters
Topic II: Renewable energy and future energy demands
Topic III: Ocean pollution and its effects on marine life
Your first committee session will begin by setting the agenda for the conference and
challenging each delegate to discuss the order in which the topics will be addressed
in accordance to your countries’ preference and position in the international
community. You will then proceed to debate and negotiate the topics in order to find
a plausible and creative solution to each of these topics. To enhance the overall
experience of the conference it will be important for each delegate to come prepared
to argue all three topics, and to do so each delegate must do background research.
This background is meant as a resource and an introduction to the UNEP and the
topics at hand. Each delegation will also be required to write a position paper that
outlines your countries’ foreign policy on all three topics and are expected to come
prepared to discuss them all.
Model United Nations is a great way to further your research, debating and public
speaking skills while meeting new people with a similar interest in international
affairs. I look forward to meeting all of you and will attempt to make this experience
as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you
have any questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Best of Luck!
Angela Lorenz
Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme
vicmun2011unep@gmail.com
About the UN Environmental Programme
It is the mission of the United Nations Environmental Programme to provide
leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring,
informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without
compromising that of future generations.1 While combating the environmental
problems that plague our planet requires the help and cooperation of many
organizations, the UNEP is regarded as the United Nations designated entity for
addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. This section is
intended to provide you with a brief summary to help you understand some of the
important aspects of the UN Environmental Programme.
Composition:
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) was established after the
1972 United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment, held in
Stockholm, Sweden, which proposed the creation of a global body to act as the
environmental conscience of the United Nations system.2 As a result, the UN General
Assembly adopted Resolution 2997 on December 15, 1972 creating the UNEP
Governing Council, which is responsible for assessing the state of the global
environment. The UNEP Governing Council is comprised of 58 states, each elected
on four-year terms by the UN General Assembly, taking into account the principle of
equitable regional representation.3 In addition, the UNEP Secretariat holds its
headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and is responsible for providing a focal point for
environmental action and coordination within the UN system. Finally, a voluntary
Environment Fund is responsible for financing UNEP’s environmental initiatives,
including funds allocated by the UN and external trust funds.4
History:
The subsequent two decades saw a proliferation of environmental conventions and
conferences addressing various environmental issues, including the conservation of
endangered species, controlling the movement of hazardous wastes, and minimizing
“About”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=43
(Accessed August 15, 2011)
2 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p9,
http://www.nmun.org/ny11_downloads/ny11_committee_guides/specialized/NY1
1_UNEP.pdf (Accessed August 15, 2011)
3 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p9, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
4 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p9, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
1
2
the depletion of the ozone layer.
The Stockholm Conference marked the beginning of the universal acceptance by the
international community that the environment and development are interconnected
and should be treated as such. One of the most successful and well-known examples
of international environmental cooperation was accomplished in 1987, when the
Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
was signed.5 In the same year, the World Commission on Environment and
Development published a report that clearly defined the concept of sustainable
development as “development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”6 In 1992,
the UN Conference on Development and Environment – The Earth Summit convened in Rio de Janerio, Brazil for the purpose of re-examining the progress
made since Stockholm, which brought together an unprecedented number of
representatives from various governments, civil society and the private sector.7 The
Earth Summit proved to be quite productive in generating a renewed sense of global
change and the creation of two major conventions - the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity – and created the UN
Commission on Sustainable Development.8
In September 2000, the Millennium Summit was held at the UN Headquarters in
New York City, where the monumental Millennium Declaration was created, which
contained a set of internationally agreed upon time bound objectives and
measurable targets collectively known as the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).9 The World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation
was held in 2002 emphasized the centrality of the environment to mankind’s
development and to each of the MDGs, and highlighted the vital role that the UNEP
must play.10 Three years later, at the 2005 World Summit, government
representatives reaffirmed their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals,
Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, while stressing the
importance of enhancing coordination and cooperation between and with the
United Nations.11 In 2009, the UNEP focused on shifting policy towards
environmental sustainability and the green economy, an economy that not only
improves well-being and lessens inequality amongst humans, but also reduces
“United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.10, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
6 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.11, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
7 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.12, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
8 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.12, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
9 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.15, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
10 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.15, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
11 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.16, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
3
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environmental risks and ecological scarcities.12 The UNEP is currently implementing
its Medium Term Strategy (MTS) for 2010-2013 across six areas: Climate change;
Disasters and conflicts; Ecosystem management; Environmental governance;
Harmful substances and hazardous waste; Resource efficiency, Sustainable
consumption and production.13
Responsibility:
It is the prime responsibility of the United Nations Environmental Programme is to
coordinate the United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing
countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. These
responsibilities can take many forms and range from anywhere from promoting
international cooperation, monitoring the status of the global environment,
developing regional programs, and helping to develop international environmental
laws, to name a few.14
Topic 1: The United Nations Environmental Programme’s Response to
Environmental Disasters
“Disaster is looming. Punishment will not distinguish between the guilty and the
innocent. Let us try to save what can be saved while it still can be saved."
-Karolos Papoulias, Greece President
Introduction
The impact of environmental disasters has been felt in many countries and regions
around the world. Environmental disasters do not often respect national boundaries
and often affect many countries at the same time. In some cases, these events are
caused by multinational corporations with multiple international corporate
headquarters, financial accounts all over the world, multiple international partners
and international holding corporations. Sometimes, environmental disasters are
caused by accidents in facilities controlled by governments. This makes it difficult
for nations to find the true responsible parties, prosecute them in court, and make
them pay for the damage and clean-up efforts. In fact, this year the very large BP Oil
Spill in the Gulf of Mexico has affected the ecosystem of the Gulf and economy of the
United States, Cuba and the Virgin Islands. Currently, there are many environmental
“United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.16, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
13 Environment for Development, “United Nations Environmental Programme
Midterm Strategy 2010-2013”, United Nations Environmental Prorgramme, p 3
http://www.unep.org/PDF/FinalMTSGCSS-X-8.pdf (Accessed August 15, 2011)
14 “United Nations Environmental Programme Organization Profile”, United Nations,
p.19, (Accessed August 15, 2011)
4
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disasters occurring in every continent.
A disaster is defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a
society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses,
which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own
resources.15 The environment consists of all of the external factors, conditions, and
influences that affect an organism or a community, including everything that
surrounds an organism or organisms, including both natural and human-built
elements.16 Therefore, environmental disasters are large human-caused events that
harm the natural environment. They often kill plants, animals and people.
Environmental disasters also harm the economy, human health, and agricultural
products. Among other sources, they can be caused by: pollution from industry and
agriculture, mining waste, nuclear accidents, oil accidents, coal accidents, and
deforestation. The problems can last a short time or a very long time. These
disasters can also affect the environment through land, air, and water, and
sometimes all three.
There are a number of types of environmental disasters, such as oil spills, industrial
accidents, and over harvesting and logging, and unfortunately some regions are still
living with the consequences of these man-made disasters. The following is a short
breakdown of certain environmental disasters from the past century. Please note
that there are far more examples and that delegates should research their own
country and region beyond this list.
The Rio Tinto's Panguna copper mine is one of the worlds largest open pit mines
resides in Papua New Guinea on Bougainville Island. Since it opened in 1972,
approximately one billion tons of waste rock have been dumped into a nearby river.
This has had devastating environmental effects on at least a forty-mile portion of the
river biologically dead because the waste rock contained sulfur, arsenic, copper,
zinc, cadmium, and mercury.17 Another example of a mining contamination causing
environmental destruction was in Romania where in 2000, a goal mine spilled more
than 34 million gallons of cyanide into the Lupes, Somes, Tisza and Danube Rivers.
The spill decimated aquatic and plant life for dozens of miles downstream, affecting
the local fishing industry and impeding access to drinking water for residents of
Serbia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria for several months.18
The Union Carbide Chemical Plant in Bhopal, India had a huge leak of toxic
pesticides on December 3, 1984, which killed and wounded many local people and is
still causing birth defects and mutations in Bhopal. Approximately 2000 people died
“Environment and Disaster Risk”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 6,
http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/env_vulnerability.pdf (Accessed August
16, 2011)
16 “Environment and Disaster Risk”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 6,
(Accessed August 16, 2011)
17 Council on Foreign Relations, “Ecological Disasters”,
http://www.cfr.org/world/slideshow-ecological-disasters/p22744 (Accessed
August 17, 2011)
18 Council on Foreign Relations, “Ecological Disasters”, (Accessed August 17, 2011)
5
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because of initial contact and an additional 8000 died of chronic illnesses related to
the leak. The International Medical Commission on Bhopal estimates that upwards
of 50,000 people remained partially or totally disabled.19
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant cooling system failed in 1986, causing the core
to overheat and melt down. The plant was located in the USSR (currently in the
Ukraine) and poisoned the local area, killed approximately 50 people immediately,
and an estimated 4000 people over the short term and exposed over half a million
others to high levels of radiation. The fallout (poisonous radio-active gas) spread
out over the world and rained down all around the earth, causing dangerous levels
of radioactivity in milk, nuts, mushrooms, reindeer, farm animals, and other crops in
Russia and Europe. The worst nuclear disaster in history also had a destabilizing
effect on the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and is seen as one of many
causes of its breakup in 1991.
The most recent large-scale oil spill was last year after an explosion on an oil rig in
the Gulf of Mexico, which was drilling in underwater depths of more than a mile.
After killing eleven people, it took nearly three months to stop the leak, but not
before an estimated 5 million barrels of oil was spilt in to the Gulf of Mexico. This
specific spill has devastated beaches and wildlife, as well as significantly affecting
the fishing industry in the Gulf. There has been a regrettable number of oil spills that
have taken place since the discovery of oil, some of which have been dealt with in a
number of hours, while others have taken decades to address. It is also estimated
that 13 million barrels of oil has been spilled in the Niger Delta over the last fifty
years, making the delta one of the most polluted areas in the world.20 Another
example is the 430 million barrels of toxic oil waste have been released into
watersheds from oil operations in the Amazon over nearly thirty years, which the
indigenous community contends is causing widespread health problems.
Currently, rainforests in Brazil, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and
other nations are being rapidly cut down for logging, and farmland. The rainforest is
a critical biological area with a huge percentage of land based animals and plants,
which are being destroyed and their ecosystem reduced drastically. In addition to
immediate effects of over-harvesting, it also opens up the area to large scale
flooding which can cause the relocation of entire towns and a good example of how
environmental and natural disasters can affect one another.
Role of the United Nations Environmental Programme
The United Nations Environmental Programme mobilizes and coordinates the
international emergency response and identification of acute environmental risks
caused by conflicts, disasters and industrial accidents. Upon request from national
governments, UNEP is also available to conduct detailed post-crisis environmental
assessments, which can identify major environmental risks to health, livelihoods
“ Major Events in Environmental History”,
http://www.radford.edu/wkovarik/envhist/majorEvents.disasters.html (Accessed
August 18, 2011)
20 Council on Foreign Relations, “Ecological Disasters”, (Accessed August 17, 2011)
19
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and security and provide recommendations for national authorities. Post-crisis
environmental recovery programs, which can last for several years, aim to
strengthen the capacity of national and local environmental authorities (for example
through law and policy development), rehabilitate ecosystems, mitigate risks and
ensure that resources are used sustainably within recovery and development
processes.21
Through the Disasters and Conflicts program, the UNEP provides four core services
to nation states: post crisis environmental assessment, post crisis environmental
recovery, environmental cooperation for peace building, and disaster risk reduction.
This sub-program works to understand and reduce the impacts of environmental
degradation from disasters and conflicts on human health, livelihoods and security.
It also emphasizes the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed
resources in reducing the risk of disasters and conflicts.22
It is the vision of the UNEP for 2010-2013 that the UNEP becomes the clearing
house and umbrella organization for all types of environmental disasters with a
body of scientists, quick response teams to guide local actions, a fund to study and
clean up current spills and disaster areas, a team of legal advisors to help developed
and developing nations prosecute the parties responsible for these toxic messes.
What if States could use and manage their resources more sustainably to prevent a
crisis from occurring? What if the recovery process also focused on restoring vital
ecosystem services, to support affected people and build resilience against future
disaster risks? And what if, in the international community, environment and
natural resources were recognized as a fundamental and valuable part of peace
building and disaster risk reduction strategies? It is the role and goal of this
committee to address these questions with viable solutions.
Point of Discussion
The long-term and short-term consequences of these disasters cause irreparable
harm to the plants and animals affected, and to people, their health, and their
economies. Each new natural disaster shows that there is a need for a more robust
set of standards and coordination. Developing nations have a particularly difficult
time getting corporations to pay for the damages to their countries. However, many
questions remain on how to properly do this. What can the UN and the UNEP
specifically do to prevent these environmental disasters and help solve the
problems created when they do occur? What focus should be put on preventative
measures and what focus should be put on dealing with the potential aftermath?
How can more countries become involved with using the services of the UNEP? How
should we help facilitate coordination projects not only between states the UNEP,
Disasters and Conflicts, “Post Crisis Environmental Recovery”, United Nations
Environmental Programme,
http://www.unep.org/conflictsanddisasters/Introduction/PostCrisisEnvironmental
Recovery/tabid/415/Default.aspx (Accessed August 18, 2011)
22 Disasters and Conflicts, “Post Crisis Environmental Recovery”, United Nations
Environmental Programme, (Accessed August 18, 2011)
21
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but also between states themselves?
Starting Points for Research
1. What, if any, environmental disasters have devastated your country? Are you
still in the process of addressing these disasters?
2. How does your country think funding should be allocated between
preventative measures and reserves in order to address future potential
environmental disasters?
3. Does your country have the tools, resources, trained people and time to deal
with these disasters?
4. What actions, strategies and/or solutions have been attempted in the past?
How successful were they?
5. What actions can be taken to prevent or help clean up these events?
6. How prepared is your country to quickly respond to an environmental
disaster should one occur in your country?
Topic 2: Renewable Energy and Future Energy Demands
“It is a powerful market signal to the arrival of an alternative future for today’s fossilfuel dominated energy markets. This is full-scale industrial development, not just a
tweaking of the energy system. The challenge now for governments, energy planners
and policy makers is to build off of this positive market dynamic, turning near-term
advances into long-term frameworks and continued sector growth.”
-Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations
Environmental Programme
Introduction
The growing dependency of every nation on earth upon oil for their energy needs is
deeply troubling considering that it is not a renewable resource and our
consumption levels are dangerously high and ever increasing. Our current path of
relying on oil and other fossil fuels is unsustainable both in practice and with
regards to the environment degradation. Because most nations around the world
are unwilling or unable to cease relying on some form of energy, we need to find
alternative forms before the planet completely runs out. Therefore, renewable
forms of energy seem the only likely solution to curbing our current situation and
addressing our future energy demands. There are a number of different sustainable
and renewable energy sources, each with their own advantages and disadvantages,
which will need to be addressed.
The definition of sustainable development is development that meets the needs of
the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. This approach to development looks to balance different, and often
8
competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic
limitations that face the global society. Development has been driven by a particular
need, without fully considering the wider or future impacts. A good example of this
is climate change resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel- based energy
sources. The longer unsustainable development is pursued, the more frequent and
severe its consequences are likely to become, which is why action needs to be taken.
Renewable energy is energy derived from renewable resources such as solar energy,
wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy and hydro energy. 23 It is
important to remember that not every country has the natural resources or climate
to sustain and/or develop every form of renewable energy. That being said, these
forms of renewable energies are accounting for a growing proportion of our energy
use worldwide and it is estimated that in 2011, at least 119 countries will have some
type of policy at the national, state/provincial and local levels which is up from 55
countries in 2005.24 The expansion and diversification of technologies being used
and the policies to enforce them have aided in the optimistic increase of renewable
power sources. For example, commercial wind power only existed in a handful of
countries in the 1990’s but is now established in at least 83 countries, while in 2010,
solar PV capacity was added in over 100 countries that year alone.25 Developing
countries now account for more then half of all countries with renewable support
policies in place and are playing an increasingly significant role in the advancement
of renewable energy.26 In particular, China has really become a leader in the race for
renewable energy resource infrastructure. In 2010, China was the top installer of
wind turbines and solar thermal systems and was the top hydropower producer. 27
Brazil also produces nearly all of the world’s sugar-derived ethanol and has been
committed to reducing their carbon footprint by installing new hydropower,
biomass, wind power plants and solar heating systems.
The global economic recession has been one of the largest barriers to investing
further in renewable energy sources in the past decade. In the debate between the
environment and the economy, the latter tended to take precedent and our demands
are still ever growing. Global investment in “clean” energy in 2009 dropped 6% as a
result of the economic recession, however, in an interesting turn of events, China
increased its financial investments by 53% in 2009, which helped to offset the
decrease from North America and Europe.28 According to the UNEP Collaborating
Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, “Renewable Energy”, United
Nations Environmental Programme, http://www.unep.fr/energy/renewable/#
(Accessed August 20, 2011)
24 “Renewables 2011 Global Status Report”, p.11
http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/GSR2011_Master18.pdf
(Accessed August 20, 2011)
25 “Renewables 2011 Global Status Report”, p. 11 (Accessed August 20, 2011)
26 “Renewables 2011 Global Status Report”, p. 11 (Accessed August 20, 2011)
27 “Renewables 2011 Global Status Report”, p. 11 (Accessed August 20, 2011)
28 “Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2010”, United Nations
Environmental Programme, pg 15, http://www.unep.org/sefiren21/documents/pdf/GlobalTrendsInSustainableEnergyInvestment2010_en_full.p
df (Accessed August 20, 2011)
9
23
Center for Climate and Sustainable Energy Finance, global investment in green
energy went up nearly a third to $211 billion in 2010.29 This is a 540% increase
since 2004. Surprisingly, it has been investment from developing countries that has
largely contributed to this drastic increase in the use of renewable energy sources.
Brazil, India and China in particular, have ranked within the top investors world
wide at $48.9 billion invested in clean energy.30 This increase has largely been
accomplished by installing a number of wind farms and small-scale rooftop solar
panels.31 Even with all of this investment, renewable sources of energy today make
an insignificant contribution to total energy use, compared to that of non-renewable
sources. This dependence on non-renewable resources is still very prominent
because the financial returns for renewable energy technologies take longer and the
upfront costs are much higher.32
An investment in greener and more sustainable energy sources has the potential to
create millions of new jobs worldwide with vast investment possibilities that are not
only tempting to state-owned multinational companies, while reducing our carbon
footprint. In the past decade nations around the world have started to put
renewable energy resources as a higher priority because of rising fossil fuel costs,
both economically and environmentally, as well as the realization that we are
burning through them at an alarming rate as our energy demands keep growing.
Role of the United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environmental Programme has played an active role in trying to
produce standards for energy production that are more environmentally friendly
and sustainable in order to reduce the effects of climate change. In order to
accomplish this, the UNEP helps developing country governments break down the
barriers to deployment of renewable energy technologies. It also works with locals
and members of the international finance industry to set up loans and lower risks
for larger projects.33 The UNEP also provides advice and undertakes assessments of
developing country governments on broad policy approaches to bolster renewable
sources of energy. The UNEP supports the “creation of an enabling environment for
small- and micro-businesses in the area of renewable energy - with a view to
Frankfurt School UNEP Collaborating Center for Climate and Sustainable Energy
Finance, “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011”,
http://www.unep.org/Renewable_Energy_Investment/documents/pdf/press_relea
se_SEFI_v4_June_30_2011.pdf (Accessed August 22, 2011)
30 Frankfurt School UNEP Collaborating Center for Climate and Sustainable Energy
Finance, “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011”, (Accessed August
22, 2011)
31 Frankfurt School UNEP Collaborating Center for Climate and Sustainable Energy
Finance, “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011”, (Accessed August
22, 2011)
32 Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, “Renewable Energy”, United
Nations Environmental Programme, http://www.unep.fr/energy/renewable/#
(Accessed August 22, 2011)
33 Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, “Renewable Energy”, United
Nations Environmental Programme, (Accessed August 22, 2011)
10
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breaking policy and institutional barriers” without infringing on states’
sovereignty.34
In order to become an effective advocate for the environment and valuable resource
for developed and developing nations, the UNEP is involved in multiple campaigns
and programs to help lower our dependence on fossil fuels and encourage the
increase of renewable energy sources. Some of these projects include: the Solar and
Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA),35 UNEP Energy Branch, UNEP Riose
Center on Energy, Climate, and Sustainable Development (URC), and the Sustainable
Energy Finance Initiative (SEFI).36 Their activities involve various facets of
technology research, development, transfer and commercialization, as well as
promoting new industrial and innovative energy efficiency methodologies and
techniques. UNEP Energy works with a broad spectrum of partners in these efforts,
including industry associations, NGOs, financial institutions and the private sector.
One project that has had a significant effect on certain developing countries energy
policies is the Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA). The SWERA
program provides easy access to high quality renewable energy resource
information and data to users all around the world. Its goal is to help facilitate
renewable energy policy and investment by making high quality information freely
available to key user groups. This project had a positive effect in Nicaragua, where
the project results prompted the Nicaraguan National Assembly to pass the 2004
Decree on Promotion of Wind Energy.37 Another example of SWERA’s success was in
Bangladesh where the project transferred to local partners critical skills, which
allowed them to engage more substantively with foreign investors and project
developers in solar and wind energy development.38
The UNEP is also committed to helping bioenergy reach its sustainable potential by
working on a number of projects with governments, the private sector and NGO’s.
Bioenergy requires trade offs and coordination amongst energy, agriculture,
transport, environment, and trade policies. The Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels
(RSB) is an example of an initiative that brings together a large variety of
stakeholders to develop principles and criteria for the sustainable production of
biofuels.39 To enable informed decisions, UNEP is working to improve the analytical
Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, “Renewable Energy”, United
Nations Environmental Programme, (Accessed August 22, 2011)
35 Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics, “Renewable Energy”, United
Nations Environmental Programme, (Accessed August 22, 2011)
36 “Energy Programs and Activities”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
http://www.unep.org/themes/energy/?page=programmes (Accessed August 22,
2011)
37 “Renewable Energy Resource Assessment”, United Nations Environmental
Programme, http://www.unep.fr/energy/renewable/documents/pdf/englishfrench.pdf (Accessed August 22, 2011)
38 “Renewable Energy Resource Assessment”, United Nations Environmental
Programme (Accessed August 22, 2011)
39 Climate Change Mitigation, “The Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels”, United
Nations Environmental Programme,
34
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basis, develop tools and engage in building capacity, particularly through the Global
Bioenergy Partnership made up of the G8+5 nations.40 In addition, the UNEP also
supports small farmers and businesses by creating business models and creative
financing for small farmers and of small-scale production for local use.
Points of Discussion
Our world is facing growing energy demands, high oil prices and an urgent need to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore it is the responsibility of the UNEP
to take the lead in finding sustainable solutions to today and tomorrow’s energy
concerns. Regulations must be enacted and improvements must be made in real
terms. It is also important to keep in mind that all future resolutions must be
sustainable for the nations they are directed towards. What avenues then should be
followed? And how should the resources be allocated between the different forms of
renewable energy and between which nations?
Starting Points for Research
1. How does your country feel about international environmental law regarding
energy consumption?
2. What measures has your country made to lower fossil fuel levels? Have you
signed any agreements or treaties with other countries to combat energy
demands?
3. What forms of energy production and/or imports does your country use? Has
your country implemented any renewable energy programs?
4. How has climate change and current energy demands effected your country?
How will future energy demands affect your country?
5. How have you or will you help finance renewable energy programs? What do
you feel should be your contribution to this rising global issue?
6. Should this issue be addressed on the domestic, regional or global scale?
7. Has your country signed any past resolutions on this issue? If so, have you
abided by them? If not, why?
8. Does your country have the economic and development capabilities to
implement cleaner energy initiatives?
9. What is the best alternative energy resource for future generations?
Topic 3: Ocean Pollution and Its Effects on Marine Life
“We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be
abused by anyone without regard to the consequences. Instead, we should begin now
http://www.unep.org/climatechange/mitigation/Bioenergy/Activities/Roundtable
onSustainableBiofuels/tabid/29477/Default.aspx (Accessed August 22, 2011)
40 Climate Change Mitigation, “Global Bioenergy Partnership”, United Nations
Environmental Programme,
http://www.unep.org/climatechange/mitigation/Bioenergy/Activities/GlobalBioen
ergyPartnershipGBEP/tabid/29481/Default.aspx (Accessed August 22, 2011)
12
to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we
are free to throw garbage into our neighbor’s yard.”
-Richard Nixon, former President of the United States
Introduction
Oceans are crucial to life on Earth, support livelihoods and are vital to the World
economy in numerous ways, including fish as a source of food, income to coastal
communities from tourism, shipping and trade, and petroleum reserves, to mention
a few. They are also home to thousands of species of plants and animals, whose lives
are in danger because pollution threatens biodiversity, harms water quality, poisons
fish stocks and undermine coastal tourism. Marine pollution includes a range of
threats ranging from land-based sources: oil spills, untreated sewage, heavy
siltation, eutrophication (nutrient enrichment), invasive species, persistent organic
pollutants, heavy metals from mine tailings and other sources, acidification,
radioactive substances, marine litter, overfishing and destruction of coastal and
marine habitats.41
Attempts to address the problem of marine debris range from international
legislation to prevent ships from dumping plastic at sea and campaigns to prevent
losses due to poor industrial practice to beach and seabed clean-up operations and
public awareness campaigns.42 Plastic debris originates from a wide and diverse
range of sources and the primary kinds of direct damage to marine life is through
entanglement and ingestion. Proper waste management is increasingly being
recognized by the international community as an important issue to be addressed
worldwide as it does not affect just the nation participating in the polluting. It was
identified as one of the nine source categories of the Global Programme of Action for
the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, GPA, 1995,
and recognized as a priority issue in a decision of UNEP’s Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment meeting in Jeju, Republic of Korea, in March 2004. 43 The
issue of marine litter and the destructive effects of abandoned fishing gear were
further emphasized in resolution 59/25 of the UN General Assembly on 17
November 2004 on Oceans and the Law of the Sea – Sustainable Fisheries”.44
According to experts from the UNEP, coastal development is increasing rapidly and
is projected to impact 91% of all inhabited coasts by 2050 and will contribute to
“Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 42,
http://www.unep.org/pdf/InDeadWater_LR.pdf (Accessed August 24, 2011)
42 Greenpeace, “Plastic Debris in the Wolds Oceans”, p. 5,
http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/docs/plastic_ocean_
report.pdf (Accessed August 24, 2011)
43 “Marine Littler: An Analytical Overview”, United Nations Environmental
Programme, p. ii
http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/docs/anl_oview.pdf
(August 24, 2011)
44 “Marine Littler: An Analytical Overview”, United Nations Environmental
Programme, p. ii (Accessed August 24, 2011)
13
41
more than 80% of all marine pollution.45 Marine pollution, more than 80% of which
originates from land-based and man-made sources, is projected to increase,
particularly in Southeast and East Asia, due to increasing populations and coastal
developments due to rapidly increasing economies.46 These impacts will be further
compounded by sea level rise and the increased frequency and intensity of storms
that easily break down weakened or dead corals and are likely to severely damage
beaches and coastlines. In addition, coastal development is also a contributing factor
to the number of marine dead zones increasing from 149 in 2003 to over 200 in
2006, many of which around or in primary fishing grounds.47
A major threat beyond overexploitation of fisheries and physical destruction of
marine coastal habitats by dredging, is undoubtedly the strong increase in coastal
development and discharge of untreated sewage into the near-shore waters,
resulting in enormous amounts of nutrients spreading into the sea and coastal
zones.48 This, together with changes in salinity, melting sea ice, increased sea
temperatures and future changes in sea currents may severely affect marine life and
their ability to recover from extreme climatic events. Around 60% of the
wastewater discharged into the Caspian Sea is untreated, in Latin America and the
Caribbean the figure is close to 80%, and in large parts of Africa and the Indo-Pacific
the proportion is as high as 80-90% (UNEP, 2006).49 An estimated US$ 56 billion is
needed annually to address this enormous wastewater problem.50 However, the
costs to coral reefs, tourism and losses in fisheries and human health risks may be
far more expensive and unfortunately, waste -water treatment is also one of the
areas where least progress is being made globally.
Even with all of these looming issues, there has been some progress made in the
past decade to deal with some of these environmental concerns. For example, oil
inputs and spills into the Seas have been reduced by 63% compared to the mid1980’s and oil releases from tankers accidents have gone down 75%, partially as a
result from the shift to double-hulled tankers.51 Even with these advancements and
reductions, it is difficult to ignore the devastating effects that oil spills can have on
various ecosystems, especially with images and aftermath of the BP oil spill still in
recent memory. Together with the agricultural run-off to the sea or into major rivers
and eventually the ocean, nitrogen exports to the marine environment are projected
“Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 42, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
46 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 8, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
47 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 9, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
48 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 42, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
49 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 42, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
50 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 42, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
51 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 44, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
14
45
to increase at least 14% globally by 2030.52 In Southeast Asia alone, more then
600,000 tones of nitrogen are discharged annually from the major river systems.53
Role of the United Nations Environmental Programme
The United Nations Environmental Programme believes that to be successful,
policies and regulations need to be addressed at the local, national, regional and
global levels. It recognizes the need for improved, regular co-operation with
international organizations and major groups that contribute to the pollution and
degradation of the coastal and marine environment. The UNEP relies ultimately on
the political will and determination of governments to take concrete action in
addressing the underlying causes of marine degradation originating from landbased activities.
The Regional Seas Programme was launched in 1974 and 37 years later, remains
one the UNEP’s most significant achievements. The Regional Seas Programme aims
to address the accelerating degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas
through the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal
environment, by engaging neighboring countries in comprehensive and specific
actions to protect their shared marine environment.54 Today, more then 143
countries participate in 13 Regional Seas programs, six of which are directly
administered by the UNEP.55 Each program follows the same general guidelines,
such as legal frameworks and policy assessments, though is tailored to the sea’s and
countries involved.
In the interest of addressing the continual degradation of our oceans and coastlines,
the UNEP implemented the Global Programme of Action For the Protection of the
Marine Environment From Land Based Activities (GPA), which aims to mitigate and
prevent the degradation of the marine environment from land-based activities by
facilitating the realization of the duty of States to preserve and protect the marine
environment.56 The GPA is designed to be a source of conceptual and practical
guidance to be drawn upon by national and/or regional authorities for devising and
implementing sustained action to prevent, reduce, control and/or eliminate marine
degradation from land-based activities. It encourages countries to develop national
programs to address priority issues based on the particular needs and capacities of
“Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 44, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
53 “Dead In The Water”, United Nations Environmental Programme, p. 44, (Accessed
August 24, 2011)
54 Regional Seas Programme, “About”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/about/default.asp (Accessed August 24, 2011)
55 Regional Seas Programme, “About”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
(Accessed August 24, 2011)
56 The Global Programme of Action For the Protection of the Marine Environment
From Land Based Activities, “About”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
http://www.gpa.unep.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&It
emid=27 (Accessed August 24, 2011)
15
52
their economies and institutions. In addition, the GPA also focuses on hazardous
waste, nutrients, marine litter, pesticides and wastewater.57
Points of Discussion
There are a number of global, international and national initiatives in place that are
aimed at protecting the oceans from marine debris. But there are some serious
questions that need to be asked in order to effectively reverse the existing pollution
and prevent any further damage from being done. This committee needs to
cooperate with one another to initiate creative solutions to today and tomorrow’s
problems. Do we need tighter regulations on how industries dispose of their waste?
Do cities and states need to create alternatives for their current waste management
systems where it affects the coastlines and oceans? Are there other options for
treating sewage that are cost effective enough to pursue? Could stronger
international law surrounding the oil industry help to reduce oil spills? And finally,
how can accomplish these issues without infringing on states’ sovereignty?
Starting Points for Research
1. Does your country have a coastline to any of the world’s oceans or seas? Has it
been negatively affected by any type of pollution?
2. Does your country contribute to ocean pollution? If so, what type of pollution?
Garbage? Untreated sewage waste? Chemical?
3. Is your country in a position to assist with funding, research, experts or capital
to help the global situation?
4. What are your country’s garbage, sanitation, and industrial regulations for
dealing with waste?
5. Has your country signed any treaties in regards to ocean pollution? Have you
abided by the terms? If no, why not?
6. Have any regulations been put in place to protect your tourism sector or
economy?
7. Is there a potential for new jobs to be created? Investment opportunities?
The Global Programme of Action For the Protection of the Marine Environment
From Land Based Activities, “About”, United Nations Environmental Programme,
(Accessed August 24, 2011)
57
16
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