unep chair letter - unar

UNAR 2017 United Nations Environmental Programme


Committee Overview Ocean Acidification

The Effects of Hydrofracking Soil Contamination due to Water pollution in China

The Lack of Sustainable Agriculture

Committee Description UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) is run Harvard Style, meaning no pre-written resolutions. In order to receive an award, delegates only have to enter with one position paper completed, but it is advised that position papers be completed on all the topics to demonstrate adequate understanding of each topic. We will accept digital copies or hard copies, which will be collected at the beginning of the first committee session. Delegates are expected to come with full understanding of their country’s policies and the chosen topics. UNEP is expected to create resolutions to aid the environment in a peaceful manner, keeping in mind the powers of the UN and respecting national sovereignty. Remember Model UN is not a competition, but rather a learning experience and a chance to have lots of fun!

Chairs

Alison Ke [email protected]

Lila Campbell [email protected]

Hello! My name is Lila Campbell, I am a junior at the Allendale Columbia School and this will be my third year of Model UN and my first time chairing! In my free time I am an avid skier and one of the co-captains of my school’s varsity swim team.

Hi! My name is Alison Ke, and I am a senior at Ithaca High School. This is my fourth year in Model UN and my second time chairing! Outside of Model UN, I enjoy programming, dancing, and touring internationally with the Ithaca Heifetz Violin.


Topic One: Ocean Acidification Oceans absorb roughly one-fourth of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere each year. This absorption causes the natural acidity of the oceans to change. The overwhelming amount of carbon dioxide absorbed raises the pH levels (acidity), which can cause detrimental damage to organisms that call these oceans their home. Many of the organisms at risk are either forms of coral, or organism with a calcium carbonate shell or skeleton. The higher pH does not mix well with the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of many organisms

living in our oceans. It causes gradual breakdown of the shells and skeletons within corals. An increased pH level has not only done significant damage to the organism's ability to thrive, but to their ability to reef as well. The change in pH is affecting more than coral reefs. Oysters and other types of shellfish are also facing reproductive issues because of the changing pH. The larvae of fish species are also being affected. This consistent change in pH is affecting the entire ocean and many of the ecosystems within it, the pH levels of ocean water are tied to the features of the ecosystem itself. What steps can the United Nations Environmental Programme Committee take to prevent further acidification? What can be done to protect current organisms from the harm of a changing pH? How can the United Nations help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses being absorbed into our oceans?

Sources:

PMEL Carbon Program: What is Ocean Acidification. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F National Geographic: Ocean Acidification http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/explore/pristine-seas/crit ical-


Topic Two: Effects of Hydrofracking Hydraulic fracking is a process in which holes are drilled into rock formations and pressurized liquids, including harsh chemicals, are borne into these fractures to release the natural gas within. Although there are many economic incentives for pursuing this natural oil drilling technique, the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing are very great. They include air emissions and climate change, water consumption and contamination, increased risk of seismic activity, noise pollution, and more. Oftentimes, methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere by hydrofracking wells, especially older ones. Surface water can also be contaminated by spillage and poorly made and cared for waste pits, and ground water can be contaminated if drilling fluid escapes their fracture. Usually, less than half of the liquid used to fracture the formation is found after. The drill pad for surface installations requires about 3.6 hectares, which leads to the fragmentation of wildlife habitats and adverse effects on wildlife. The entire hydrofracking project takes about 800 to 2,500 days of noisy activity, which is harmful for both residents and wildlife. And previously, hydraulic fracturing has been directly linked to induced seismic activities. As the demand for energy grows globally, the push to use unconventional energy sources such as hydrofracking steadily increases. How can the UN mitigate the effects of past hydrofracking? What steps can the UN take to make hydrofracking a more environmentally friendly method of oil extraction? What policies can be implemented to prevent the harmful effect of Hydraulic fracking on the environment?

Sources:

UN News Centre: Natural Gas Fracking http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48389#.WGyGoTmANBc United Nations Academic Impact: A Conversation on Fracking https://academicimpact.un.org/content/conversation-fracking United States Environmental Protection Agency: The Process of Hydraulic Fracking https://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing/process-hydraulic-fracturing


Topic Three: Soil Contamination due to Water Pollution in China According to a survey published in 2014, around 20% of China’s farmland soil is polluted with hazardous chemicals such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic. China is one of the world’s top producers of metals and manufacturing as well as one of the most polluted countries. The wastewater containing toxic chemicals from these factories, are rarely taken care of and leak into soil and irrigation systems in surrounding farmlands. Every year, a minimum of 12 million tons of grains are contaminated by heavy metals. Recently, China has acknowledged the existence of “cancer

village”, groups of people living near factories dying of various cancers. China has made plans to complete a more detailed survey to determine the most significantly polluted areas by 2018. Though, soil experts in China are still conflicted over the most proper method to remediate the soil. China has made aims to halt the progression of soil pollution by 2020 and better soil quality by 2030. What steps should the UN take to help with the soil contamination in China? Who should be responsible for the pollution? Who should be responsible for the cleanup of the contamination? What policies should be implemented to eradicate water pollution?

Sources:

Reveal: China’s Other Pollution Problem -It ’s Soil https://www.revealnews.org/article-legacy/chinas-other-pollution-problem-its-soil/ Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/673eaafc-27cb-11e6-8ba3-cdd781d02d89 Environment 360: The Soil Pollution Cris is in China http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_soil_pollution_crisis_in_china_a_cleanup_presents_dau


Topic Four: Lack of Sustainable Agriculture Since World War II, the agriculture industry has been constantly changing and developing. Many of these changes have been done in order to increase the production of food to feed an ever growing population. The increased demand for food has caused a stable drop in the quality of our agriculture. This has led to a variety of environmental issues including groundwater contamination, topsoil depletion, as well as an increased use of chemical fertilizers. The unsustainable use pesticides, such as DDT, has cause significant environmental issues throughout farming communities. The unsafe chemicals within these pesticides are running off the crops and contaminating local water supply both above and below the ground (lakes, streams, ect.) This contamination of the water supply has a dangerous effect on the plants and animals that rely on these water sources to survive. The extreme use of improper farming techniques has led to a decline in the quality of topsoil. Places in high demand, the crop turnover is rather quick, not giving the soil enough time to replenish all the necessary nutrients. This leads to soil erosion, a problem commonly associated with unsustainable farming. What can the UN do in response to the lack of sustainable agriculture and its harmful effect on the environment? What steps can be taken to provide more sustainable agriculture to the struggling parts of the world? How can the UN fix the damage already caused by unsustainable agriculture? What can be done in order to prevent improper farming techniques as well as regulate the usage of harmful chemicals?

Sources:

UC Davis: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program http://asi.ucdavis.edu/programs/sarep/about/what-is-sustainable-agriculture Union of Concerned Scient ists: Agroecology Practices Critical to Sustainable Agriculture, but Lack Funding http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/scientist-call-for-increase-to-agro-research-funding-0508#.WG1RS3eZP-Y WWF: Soil Erosion and Degradation http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation

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