Download ENV2_1_2

FORUM: Environment Commission (2nd Committee)
QUESTION OF: Measures to prevent the loss of marine biodiversity as a result of human
exploitation
SUBMITTED BY: France
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION 2,
Alarmed by human exploitation acts such as overfishing, and climate change, and the
introduction of alien species, causing a significant decrease in marine biodiversity and
firmly convinced poisonous pollutants like agrochemicals, metals, acids and phenol cause
mortality (if present in a high concentration) and affect the reproductive functionality of
fish,
Reaffirming the presence and contributions of the 7th UN Millennium Development
Goal, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) agreement under the supervision of
the World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EUETS) and Cartagena protocol on biosafety (CPB),
Acknowledging the resolutions passed by the UN regarding the issue of marine
biodiversity, such as Oceans and the Law of the Sea (A/RES/69/245), conservation and
sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction
(A/RES/69/292) and the development of an international legally-binding instrument
under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and
sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction
(Document A/69/922),
1. Suggests policymakers in relevant nations to invest money to:
a) record relevant information about areas in risk of biodiversity loss and
using this information in ways such as:
i. mapping areas requiring the most attention
ii. developing more Marine Bioregional Plans to help ensure that
marine environments remain healthy by designating biodiversity
objectives and identifying priorities and strategies to address these
priorities and supporting informed decision making that will affect
marine areas and promote the sustainable use of the marine
environment and its resources
b) prioritize investments on research in order to develop areas to restore the
health of marine ecosystems in areas jeopardized by habitat and species
loss such as:
i. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), such as sanctuaries, fisheries
management areas, state conservation areas, and wildlife refuges
which will help protect habitats and endangered species, and help
support the restoration of marine ecosystems
ii. Marine Reserves, or sites that provide ecosystem protection by
forbidding habitat-altering activities such as fishing
iii. sanctuaries, fisheries management areas, state conservation areas,
wildlife refuges, and any other areas designed to restore health of
marine species
c) conduct and fund research projects leading to events such as but not
limited to:
i. releasing information from research to the public to increase
awareness of the populations wrongful methods of living which
affect the marine life
ii. educating the public of methods to help preserve the environment
such as but not limited to recycling, reusing and composting and
using green supplies
iii. providing the public with enterprise to carry out green actions in
ways such as supporting green technology and goods by
decreasing taxes on production and sale as well as advertising the
products as government approved;
2. Recommends More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) to take actions
towards a greener society in relevant NGOs and frameworks mentioned in the
resolution in ways such as but not limited to:
a) legislating and enforcing stricter limits directed towards industries by
ensuring that chemical/industrial waste goes to Waste Management
facilities that will dispose of the waste to create clean and renewable
energy
b) applying fines on land use and development actions that cause disturbance
to or destruction towards the marine life such as overfishing
c) ensuring that chemical/industrial waste goes to Waste Management
facilities that will dispose of the waste to create clean and renewable
energy
d) releasing all the results of court approved research on the impact of coastal
development to the public so that the information is accessible and
genuine;
3. Encourages member states to facilitate the implementation of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) on the conservation of biological diversity in
equitable sharing of benefits from shared information of practices as the practical
tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 and the Rio Earth Summit in order
to:
a) promote enhancement of the conservation efforts to the economic goal of
using biological resources sustainably for the protection of:
i. ecosystems
ii. species
iii. genetic resources
b) nationally adopt the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in order to enhance the
domestic policy development for biodiversity protection
c) prevent excessive exploitation of oceanic sources in accordance with the
United Nations Conventions on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS);
4. Urges the enforcement of compensation plans and subsidies implementing the
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) agreement under the supervision
of the World Trade Organization (WTO) towards the fishing and seafood
industries in order to protect the loss of marine biodiversity and decrease the rate
of over fishing to promote the conservation and sustainability of fishery by:
a) encouraging financial contributions by a government or any public body
b) transferring funds directly to private sectors
c) utilizing Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) for subsidy negotiations
d) setting General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to decrease over
fishery through the market transaction;
5. Recommends the establishments of campaigns to enhance awareness between
public and private sectors regarding the economic financial and social benefits of
coral reef preservation and protection to civil societies, government policy
makers, and individuals through educating the relevant social acquisitions such as,
but not limited to:
a) fishery industries by increasing the population dynamics of fish through
the protection and preservation of coral reefs which positively impacts
oceanic fish by:
i. the formation and increase of nurseries
ii. enhancing feeding ground dependence
iii. bedding locations
b) tourism industries through commercialization of coral reef based tourism
c) coastal Protection under Disaster Risk Management (DRM) for prevention
of and decreased effects of natural disasters;
6. Further recommends member nations and local officials to take responsibility of
providing marine information to the locals as a source to aide them in making
decisions in ways such as but not limited to,
a) establishing a research institute with funds provided by government or
NGOs to conserve marine biodiversity and collect information on marine
life through regularly monitoring water quality in their coastal
communities in ways such as, but not limited to:
i. testing waters for pollution
ii. testing effects of chemicals produced by each locality
iii. photographing fouled areas
b) utilizing as much recycled materials to build the research institute in an
environmentally friendly way monitored by local officials
c) alerting the general population about marine biodiversity loss in ways such
as utilising social media, campaigns and recommended education course
in secondary schools to outline the causes and effects of actions taken that
affect marine biodiversity, instill a sense of responsibility towards the
environment in citizens, and educate people on how to prevent marine
biodiversity loss by making major or minor changes.