United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Topic A: Incorporating indigenous knowledge in environmental policy

Since the industrial revolution, in the quest for expansion, indigenous communities in the New World and across the globe and their epistemologies have been destroyed. Many indigenous communities have co-existed with their environment, living fully sustainable practices for tens of thousands of years. Many operate under the conviction that all objects of the earth—both living and nonliving—had a spirit, an essence that fitted into the greater soul of the universe. 

This UNEP committee will introduce policies to both safeguard indigenous communities and bring their sustainable land use practices to the mainstream. Drawing on this traditional knowledge and deep connection to the land, indigenous communities can help lead the way in implementing sustainable practices that promote biodiversity, protect ecosystems, and foster resilience in the face of climate change. By integrating Indigenous knowledge into environmental policy, governments and organizations can create more inclusive, adaptive, and effective solutions to environmental challenges.

Topic B: Geoengineering

Geoengineering refers to large-scale, intentional manipulation of the Earth's environment, primarily to address climate change, by either removing planet-warming emissions or reflecting sunlight back into space. As global temperatures rise and the impacts of climate change become increasingly severe, geoengineering has emerged as a potential solution to mitigate some of these effects, particularly in areas where traditional methods of emission reduction and adaptation may fall short. 

While Geoengineering has the potential to transform the fight against climate change, it possesses many ethical, environmental, and governance concerns. It is inherently unpredictable and risks further destabilizing an already destabilized climate system. Models show that it would have an uneven effect regionally and could exacerbate climate change in countries on the front line of the crisis. 

This UNEP committee must take a stance on the debate as to whether we should pursue geoengineering as a plausible solution or abandon it entirely as global temperatures quickly rise.