Download Addressing the issue of climate change

Middle School Model United Nations 2016 | 6th of May 2016
Forum:
Environment Commission (EC)
Issue:
Addressing the issue of climate change
Student Officer: Georgia Skeels
Position:
Deputy Chair
Introduction
Climate change is one of the most pressing and current issues of the EC, with countries and islands
sinking into the sea and the polar caps melting at alarming rates. Climate change is a change in the
statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e.,
decades to millions of years). Climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in
the time variation of weather around longer-term average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme
weather events). Climate change is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar
radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human activities have also
been identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred to as "global warming".
Definition of Key Terms
Climate change
A long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average
atmospheric temperature.
Polar caps
The icecap situated at either end of the earth's poles.
Statistical
Based on statistics. These are often given in number forms or
Distribution
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Arrangement or classification of something.
Biotic
Relating to life.
Solar radiation
Energy radiated from the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves, including visible and ultraviolet light
and infrared radiation.
Plate tectonics
A theory of global tectonics in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of crustal plates, each of
which moves on the plastic asthenosphere more or less independently to collide with, slide under, or
move past adjacent plates.
Global warming
An increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in
climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.
Background Information
Evidence and causes for climate change
Evidence
Earth’s surface air temperature has increased by about 0.8 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees
Fahrenheit) since 1900, much of this taking place within the mid-1970’s. A wide range of other
observations such as(reduced arctic sea ice extent, increased ocean heat content and widespread
thermometer records that date back to the late 19th century) and indications from the natural world( such
as pole ward shifts of temperature sensitive species of fish, mammals, insects, e.t.c.) that together
provide incontrovertible evidence of planetary scale warming.
Causes
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Scientists know that climate change is largely cause by human activities from an understanding
of basic physics, comparing observations with models and fingerprinting the detailed patterns of climate
change caused by different human and natural influences.
Human activities have significantly disturbed the natural carbon cycle by extracting long-buried
fossil fuels and burning them for energy, thus releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Major Countries and Organizations Involved
ADEGA
ADEGA, the acronym for Asociación para a Defensa Ecolóxica de Galiza (English:
Association for the Ecological Defense of Galiza), is a Galician ecologist group born in 1974 and
legalized in 1976. ADEGA works in the defense of the Galician and global environment. ADEGA
has always been linked with the Galician nationalist movement. The organization has chapters
in the comarcas of A Mariña, Santiago, Coruña, Costa da Morte, Lugo, O Carballiño, Ourense,
A Paradanta, Barbanza, Ordes, A Ulloa, Pontevedra, Trasancos and Vigo.
IRADe
Integrated Research for Action and Development, commonly known as IRADe, is a research
institute based in New Delhi that focuses on energy, climate change, and the environment, with a goal of
developing effective policies.IRADe was established under the Society’s Act, in 2002 at New Delhi, India.
It is certified as a Research & Development Organization by the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). It has also been selected as a Centre of
Excellence (CoE) by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) for urban development and climate
change. In addition, it provides expertise to other ministries, national and international institutions and
partners with other reputed organizations.
FERN
Fern (also Stitching Fern is a Dutch foundation created in 1995. It is an international nongovernmental organization to keep track of the EU's involvement in forests and to coordinate NGO
activities at the European level. Through its work, Fern aims to increase the political and economic
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opportunities for people to create a more balanced society in which human rights are fully respected and
environmental and social values are fully integrated.
Although Fern is known for its work on forests, since 2000 Fern has widened its scope beyond
forests to also include work on general aid, trade and climate issues, as many of the decisions made in
these areas have a direct or indirect impact on forests and forest peoples’ rights. Fern campaigns fall
within the following areas: forests and climate, forest governance, biodiversity offsetting, bio energy, and
finance and trade. In all these areas, Fern works very closely with a large number of environmental
groups and social movements across the world.
Fern works as a non-hierarchical structure. Currently, the organisation has two offices (Brussels,
Belgium; and Moreton-in-Marsh, UK) and sixteen staff positions.
Fern's official mission statement describes the organisation and its aims thus: Fern works to
achieve greater environmental and social justice, focusing on forests and forest peoples’ rights in the
policies and practices of the European Union.
Timeline of Events
Date
Description of event
1865: John Tyndall postulated that gases such as water vapour and CO2 in the “atmospheric envelope”
retain the heat.
1896: Svante Arrhenius predicted that increases of atmospheric CO2 from burning fossil fuels would lead
to global warming; a doubling of atmospheric CO2 could cause global average temperature to rise by
5ºC. The predictions of this Nobel Prize laureate (1903) went unnoticed for more than half a century.
1958: First continuous monitoring reveals rapidly rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere.
1970s: Beginning of period of atmospheric warming known as “global warming”.
1988: UN establishes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to assess the science of
climate change.
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1990: IPCC’s First Assessment is published. The year is subsequently established as the baseline year
for future emissions targets.
1992: Earth Summit meets in Rio de Janeiro. Governments agree on the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits them to preventing “dangerous climate change”.
1995: After a fierce debate, in particular with OPEC nations, the IPCC Second Assessment establishes
the strong link between human-induced greenhouse gases and climate change, saying that “the balance
of evidence suggests….” that global warming is caused by mankind.
1997: Kyoto Protocol is agreed under UNFCCC. It includes the first emissions reduction targets for
industrialized countries, covering 2008-2012; all major nations sign up.
1998: Warmest year in warmest decade in warmest century for at least a thousand years.
2001: Nations agree on methodological and other details of the Kyoto Protocol in Marrakech. The USA
and Australia refuse to ratify the protocol.
2003: European heat wave, which kills more than 30,000 people. Scientists later conclude it is the first
extreme weather event definitely attributable to human-induced climate change. Scientists report a third
of the world afflicted by droughts, double the figure for the 1970s.
2005: Drought temporarily turns Amazon rainforest from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
2007: Massive summer ice loss in the Arctic brings fears of an ice-free north; IPCC Fourth Assessment
warns of faster and irreversible climate change; Bali Climate Conference lays out timetable for agreeing
successor to Kyoto Protocol.
2008: Poznan Climate Conference in Poland; slow progress on negotiations as many wait for the new
Obama administration in the USA to declare its hand.
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2009: Make or break year for the climate, with negotiations continuing for a Copenhagen Protocol set to
conclude in December.
2010: After a rather disappointing result of the Copenhagen talks, international climate policy picks up
momentum at the well-organized 16th Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico.
Relevant UN Treaties and Events
●
The Majuro Declaration is an initiative of the Pacific Islands Forum, which was signed on 5
September 2013 at Majuro in the Marshall Islands during the 44th Pacific Islands Forum summit.
At the summit the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum nations recognised the need for
strengthened national systems to plan for, access, deliver, absorb and monitor climate change
and for donor countries to continue to simplify and harmonise their assessment, implementation
and reporting processes for financing projects directed to climate change adaptation, mitigation
and risk reduction. The intention of the Majuro Declaration is to highlight the commitment of the
leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum nations to the reduction and phasing down of greenhouse
gas pollution worldwide, with the leaders wanting to spark a “new wave of climate leadership”.[
●
The emission reduction unit (ERU) is an emissions unit issued under a Joint Implementation
project in terms of the Kyoto Protocol. An ERU represents a reduction of greenhouse gases
under the Joint Implementation mechanism, where it represents one tonne of CO2 equivalent
reduced. To allow comparison between the different effects of gases on the environment,
scientists have defined multipliers for gases that compare their greenhouse potency (global
warming potential) relative to that of carbon dioxide. One example of a Joint Implementation
project resulting in an emission reduction unit, is the production of biogases by landfill sites.
These gases consist of mainly methane which escapes to the atmosphere if it is not collected.
The main reason for dealing with methane is that it has a 100-year global warming potential
multiplier of 22 compared to carbon dioxide (i.e. has 25 times the greenhouse potency).
Collection of methane is usually accompanied by its combustion. Burning one tonne of methane
produces nearly 3 tonnes of CO2, thus reducing its greenhouse effect by (25-3=22) ERU. In
December 2012, ERU prices crashed to a low of 15 euro cents before recovering to 23c after
news that EU’s Climate Change Committee was to vote on a ban of ERUs from countries that
have not signed up to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. In January 2013,
Bloomberg reported that emission reduction unit prices declined 89 percent in 2012
Possible Solutions
Forego Fossil Fuels—the first challenge is eliminating the burning of coal, oil and, eventually,
natural gas. This is perhaps the most daunting challenge as denizens of richer nations literally eat, wear,
work, play and even sleep on the products made from such fossilized sunshine. And citizens of
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developing nations want and arguably deserve the same comforts, which are largely thanks to the
energy stored in such fuels.
Oil is the lubricant of the global economy, hidden inside such ubiquitous items as plastic and corn, and
fundamental to the transportation of both consumers and goods. Coal is the substrate, supplying roughly
half of the electricity used in the U.S. and nearly that much worldwide—a percentage that is likely to
grow, according to the International Energy Agency. There are no perfect solutions for reducing
dependence on fossil fuels (for example, carbon neutral biofuels can drive up the price of food and lead
to forest destruction, and while nuclear power does not emit greenhouse gases, it does produce
radioactive waste), but every bit counts.
So try to employ alternatives when possible—plant-derived plastics, biodiesel, wind power—and to
invest in the change, be it by divesting from oil stocks or investing in companies practicing carbon
capture and storage.
Infrastructure Upgrade—Buildings worldwide contribute around one third of all greenhouse gas
emissions (43 percent in the U.S. alone), even though investing in thicker insulation and other costeffective, temperature-regulating steps can save money in the long run. Electric grids are at capacity or
overloaded, but power demands continue to rise. And bad roads can lower the fuel economy of even the
most efficient vehicle. Investing in new infrastructure, or radically upgrading existing highways and
transmission lines, would help cut greenhouse gas emissions and drive economic growth in developing
countries.
Of course, it takes a lot of cement, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, to construct new
buildings and roads. The U.S. alone contributed 50.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere in 2005 from cement production, which requires heating limestone and other ingredients to
1,450 degrees Celsius (2,642 degrees Fahrenheit). Mining copper and other elements needed for
electrical wiring and transmission also causes global-warming pollution.
But energy-efficient buildings and improved cement-making processes (such as using alternative fuels to
fire up the kiln) could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the developed world and prevent them in the
developing world.
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Stop Cutting down Trees—every year, 33 million acres of forests are cut down. Timber harvesting in
the tropics alone contributes 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. That represents 20
percent of human-made greenhouse gas emissions and a source that could be avoided relatively easily.
Improved agricultural practices along with paper recycling and forest management—balancing the
amount of wood taken out with the amount of new trees growing—could quickly eliminate this significant
chunk of emissions.
And when purchasing wood products, such as furniture or flooring, buy used goods or, failing that, wood
certified to have been sustainably harvested. The Amazon and other forests are not just the lungs of the
earth; they may also be humanity's best short-term hope for limiting climate change.
Unplug—Believe it or not, U.S. citizens spend more money on electricity to power devices when off than
when on. Televisions, stereo equipment, computers, battery chargers and a host of other gadgets and
appliances consume more energy when seemingly switched off, so unplug them instead.
Purchasing energy-efficient gadgets can also save both energy and money—and thus prevent more
greenhouse gas emissions. To take but one example, efficient battery chargers could save more than
one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity—$100 million at today's electricity prices—and thus prevent the
release of more than one million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Swapping old incandescent lightbulbs for more efficient replacements, such as compact fluorescents
(warning: these light bulbs contain mercury and must be properly disposed of at the end of their long
life), would save billions of kilowatt-hours. In fact, according to the EPA, replacing just one incandescent
light bulb in every American home would save enough energy to provide electricity to three million
American homes.
Bibliography
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"Appendix B - Treasury Climate Change Mitigation Modelling - Assumptions." Strong Growth, Low
Pollution. Australian Government, n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
<http://carbonpricemodelling.treasury.gov.au/content/report/11appendixb.asp>.
Cicerone, Ralph J. "Climate Change Evidence and Causes." The Royal Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar.
2016. <http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/exec-office-other/climate-change-full.pdf>.
"Climate Change." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Feb. 2016. <http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/>.
"Global Climate Change." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.
<http://climate.nasa.gov/>.
"IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
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Program Environmental Impact Report. "Climate Change Projections, Impacts and Adaptations." N.p.,
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Appendix
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I)
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_appendix.pdf
(This gives a detailed level of understanding of the issue at hand.)
II)
http://carbonpricemodelling.treasury.gov.au/content/report/11appendixb.asp
(This will give sufficient amounts of evidence and theories e.t.c.)
III)
http://www.sdforward.com/pdfs/EIR_final/Appendix%20F%20Climate%20Change%20Proj
ections,%20Impacts,%20and%20Adaptation.pdf
(This gives ideas of projections, impacts and adaptations.)
IV)
http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/exec-office-other/climate-change-full.pdf
V)
http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/
VI)
http://climate.nasa.gov/
VII)
http://ipcc.ch/
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