BY: CHAE YOUN CHO, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING
Arctic ice is rapidly melting and scientists predict that the region will experience the first ice-free summer by 2040 or even earlier. According to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the average global temperature has scaled up 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) since 1880, much of this increase in recent decades. Global warming is one of the most destructive disasters, and while some call it “impending,” current scientific consensus states that the world is already experiencing significant climate change.
Despite the existence of so much research and so many predictions, the rate of global warming is increasing, with 11 of the 12 recent years ranking as the warmest years since 1850, according to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). With solutions to this appalling damage are urgently required, it is important to consider how different countries manage their environmental issues and how their economic policies have affected their contribution to the global environment. The Economic and Social Council forum (ECOSOC) in 2008 THIMUN-Singapore conference discussed this issue, with many delegates raising their country’s voices in an effort to resolve the global problem.
According to the environment performance index, which rates a country’s carbon emissions, water purity, and conservation practices, Niger scores 6 out of 100, ranking the lowest of all nations. The Delegate of Niger Dhruv Medepalli from the American School of Bombay commented on this: “As an LEDC we do not have the appropriate funds to advance. Niger’s corrupt government also doesn’t make a substantial effort to change the local environment. Moreover, Niger lacks the use of relevant technologies and the funds to purchase them. The measures which are being taken are more external than internal; foreign companies have been setting up relief funds for local people as well as giving aid to companies that would be able to make a difference. All in all, Niger is making a steady climb up the ‘green’ ladder and in the near future, Niger will make a commendable impact on the industrial world.”
China, the second largest producer of CO2 in the world, has experienced a clear correlation between their economic boom and pollution. Regarding their country’s environmental issue, the Delegates of China Melysa Chong and Jibran Mirza both from the American School of Doha, commented, “China is now taking action through initiatives like the Kyoto protocol. Because China is a major industrializing nation, much research is being conducted to find the most beneficial non-renewable resources in a economically sustainable way, but it will take time to become an eco-friendly country.”
While the above countries have recently acknowledged the alarming rate of global pollution and their involvements in it, other countries have long been aware of this issue and made a substantial improvement in their regulations. For example, Japan, despite its rapid economic growth, currently enjoys a relatively clean environment, ranking 30th in the world in the Environmental Sustainability Index. The Delegate of Japan Mayank Srivastava from Anderson Junior College said, “Japan will be investing US$30 billion towards research and development in the fields of the environment and energy.”
Sweden, which ranks the second “greenest” country according to the environmental performance index (EPI), has reduced carbon emissions by 20% in 20 years whilst enjoying economic growth of 40%. The Delegate of Sweden Glerdon Goh from Hwa Chong Institution stated, “To achieve this, Sweden has implemented several measures including carbon taxation, and using compressed natural gas for rail transport.”
According to many delegates, government control, the type and size of industries, and basic education about the topic seem to be major factors in determining a country’s contribution to the global environment. As the Delegate of France Diya Malhotra from Overseas Family School stated, “There is never enough a country can do to control climate change.” Although we are citizens of separate countries, our actions are not confined to borders of countries. Hence, a global effort to mitigate global warning is urgently required.
Arctic ice is rapidly melting and scientists predict that the region will experience the first ice-free summer by 2040 or even earlier. According to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the average global temperature has scaled up 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) since 1880, much of this increase in recent decades. Global warming is one of the most destructive disasters, and while some call it “impending,” current scientific consensus states that the world is already experiencing significant climate change.
Despite the existence of so much research and so many predictions, the rate of global warming is increasing, with 11 of the 12 recent years ranking as the warmest years since 1850, according to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). With solutions to this appalling damage are urgently required, it is important to consider how different countries manage their environmental issues and how their economic policies have affected their contribution to the global environment. The Economic and Social Council forum (ECOSOC) in 2008 THIMUN-Singapore conference discussed this issue, with many delegates raising their country’s voices in an effort to resolve the global problem.
According to the environment performance index, which rates a country’s carbon emissions, water purity, and conservation practices, Niger scores 6 out of 100, ranking the lowest of all nations. The Delegate of Niger Dhruv Medepalli from the American School of Bombay commented on this: “As an LEDC we do not have the appropriate funds to advance. Niger’s corrupt government also doesn’t make a substantial effort to change the local environment. Moreover, Niger lacks the use of relevant technologies and the funds to purchase them. The measures which are being taken are more external than internal; foreign companies have been setting up relief funds for local people as well as giving aid to companies that would be able to make a difference. All in all, Niger is making a steady climb up the ‘green’ ladder and in the near future, Niger will make a commendable impact on the industrial world.”
China, the second largest producer of CO2 in the world, has experienced a clear correlation between their economic boom and pollution. Regarding their country’s environmental issue, the Delegates of China Melysa Chong and Jibran Mirza both from the American School of Doha, commented, “China is now taking action through initiatives like the Kyoto protocol. Because China is a major industrializing nation, much research is being conducted to find the most beneficial non-renewable resources in a economically sustainable way, but it will take time to become an eco-friendly country.”
While the above countries have recently acknowledged the alarming rate of global pollution and their involvements in it, other countries have long been aware of this issue and made a substantial improvement in their regulations. For example, Japan, despite its rapid economic growth, currently enjoys a relatively clean environment, ranking 30th in the world in the Environmental Sustainability Index. The Delegate of Japan Mayank Srivastava from Anderson Junior College said, “Japan will be investing US$30 billion towards research and development in the fields of the environment and energy.”
Sweden, which ranks the second “greenest” country according to the environmental performance index (EPI), has reduced carbon emissions by 20% in 20 years whilst enjoying economic growth of 40%. The Delegate of Sweden Glerdon Goh from Hwa Chong Institution stated, “To achieve this, Sweden has implemented several measures including carbon taxation, and using compressed natural gas for rail transport.”
According to many delegates, government control, the type and size of industries, and basic education about the topic seem to be major factors in determining a country’s contribution to the global environment. As the Delegate of France Diya Malhotra from Overseas Family School stated, “There is never enough a country can do to control climate change.” Although we are citizens of separate countries, our actions are not confined to borders of countries. Hence, a global effort to mitigate global warning is urgently required.
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