about the Committee
Hello everyone! As you likely know, this year H-MUN V will have an overarching focus on the Amazon Rainforest. Therefore, it should not be surprising that our United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) committee will have a heavy focus on the Amazon, but particularly environmental issues that pertain to the Amazon. Delegates will be tasked with formulating solutions that solve current issues and prevent those same issues from occurring in the future.
A little bit more about the UNEP: the UNEP was founded in 1972 for the purposes of setting the global environmental agenda, promoting sustainable development, and advocating for the global climate. It is important to note that the UNEP cannot make requirements regarding the resolutions that are passed, it can only make suggestions (it can, however, call on other bodies that might have more power to carry out solutions). The UNEP is perfectly suited to tackle the environmental issues of the Amazon (1).
A little bit more about the Amazon: the Amazon Rainforest is located in the basin of the Amazon River in northern South America. It covers about 2.3 million square miles, and about 60% of this area is in Brazil (2). The Amazon is known for its high humidity and high rainfall, but more importantly the fact that it is the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world (3).
As is further explained below, we will have two main topics: the pertinent environmental issues surrounding the Amazon Rainforest (Topic A), and the environmental issues in Brazil in general that could potentially impact the Amazon (Topic B). More specifically, delegates will have the opportunity to debate drought, deforestation, resource conservation, replanting, fire prevention, combating forest fires, and aiding the indigenous peoples who depend on the Amazon in Topic A, and water pollution, poaching, wildlife trade, acid rain, endangered species and invasive species in Topic B. If future UNEP delegates want to get a head start on research, there are some helpful links below.
Guiding Questions
1. What are the most pressing environmental issues facing the Amazon?
2. What can the UNEP specifically do to reverse the harm already done to the Amazon?
3. What regulations should be put in place to avoid future harm to the Amazon?
A little bit more about the UNEP: the UNEP was founded in 1972 for the purposes of setting the global environmental agenda, promoting sustainable development, and advocating for the global climate. It is important to note that the UNEP cannot make requirements regarding the resolutions that are passed, it can only make suggestions (it can, however, call on other bodies that might have more power to carry out solutions). The UNEP is perfectly suited to tackle the environmental issues of the Amazon (1).
A little bit more about the Amazon: the Amazon Rainforest is located in the basin of the Amazon River in northern South America. It covers about 2.3 million square miles, and about 60% of this area is in Brazil (2). The Amazon is known for its high humidity and high rainfall, but more importantly the fact that it is the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world (3).
As is further explained below, we will have two main topics: the pertinent environmental issues surrounding the Amazon Rainforest (Topic A), and the environmental issues in Brazil in general that could potentially impact the Amazon (Topic B). More specifically, delegates will have the opportunity to debate drought, deforestation, resource conservation, replanting, fire prevention, combating forest fires, and aiding the indigenous peoples who depend on the Amazon in Topic A, and water pollution, poaching, wildlife trade, acid rain, endangered species and invasive species in Topic B. If future UNEP delegates want to get a head start on research, there are some helpful links below.
Guiding Questions
1. What are the most pressing environmental issues facing the Amazon?
2. What can the UNEP specifically do to reverse the harm already done to the Amazon?
3. What regulations should be put in place to avoid future harm to the Amazon?