Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN)

Topic A: Unequal emissions burdens across countries

Despite the global South only attributing approximately 8% of global climate emissions with 88% of the global population, they are disproportionately affected by climate change and are made to develop sustainably. The world’s poor lack the infrastructure and have heavy reliance on the natural world compared to the global North. They are more susceptible to Water and food shortages and are more likely to lose their home and become climate refugees.

This ECOFIN committee must address this issue of unequal emissions burdens across countries. The international community must play a key role in supporting low-income countries’ efforts to cope with climate change. The global North has contributed the lion’s share to climate Change. Helping the South low-income countries cope with its consequences, therefore, is a sound global economic policy that helps offset countries’ failures to fully internalize the costs of greenhouse gas emissions and not to mention their moral duty.

Topic B: Navigating the complex dynamics of developing countries needing economic growth while mitigating emissions

The complex relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability remains one of the most pressing global challenges in the context of climate change. While economic expansion is crucial for improving living standards and reducing poverty, it often comes at the cost of environmental degradation. Studies central to economics, like the Kuznets curve, prove this, and sustainable development practices must render it incoherent.

This ECOFIN committee must bring together the most innovative action plans to explore innovative solutions for developing countries to grow sustainably, ensuring long-term development that protects their populations from climate change.