United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
Topic A: Reducing the Socioeconomic Impacts of the EU Heatwave
In 2018, Europe faced a detrimental and unrivaled heat wave caused by high-pressure weather systems trapping warm air in place. The heat wave shattered temperature records and many cities struggled to cope with the unprecedented weather. As homes and buildings are built with the aim of trapping heat, people could not avoid the heat in indoor areas, hence the call for design and structural changes to combat climate change. Climate change has increased global temperatures by a degree compared to pre-industrial levels, and temperatures have continued on their warming trend at an alarming rate. Moreover, the current and future impacts of climate change observed and predicted are and will continue to be overwhelmingly negative, as various sectors and industries are failing to ignore the effects. These effects include: stress on citizens health, loss of biodiversity, pressure on food-producing systems (prolonged high temperatures inhibit the growth of plants and decrease the breeding rate of livestock), and a decrease in tourist choices. Tourism, more specifically, plays an important role in the European Union as it contributes to about 5.6% of the EU’s GDP and provides an ample employment potential. Thus, changes in climate conditions may disrupt some countries’ major source of income, though increase others, disrupting a known economic and financial balance within the ECE’s countries. Therefore, delegates must propose solutions regarding the short-term economic and environmental effects caused by the heatwave, while considering its long-term economic, social and environmental effects.
Topic B: Reducing the Melting Rate of Permafrost in Europe and Combating its Significant Effects on Global Warming
Permafrost, found in the Arctic regions and in the elevated alpine regions, is ground that has maintained a temperature at or below the freezing point of water for a period of two or more years. Permafrost is made up of a combination of soil, rocks and sand held together by ice, where the layer of frost consists of and covers layers of dead plants and animals. For this reason, it is estimated that permafrost holds/stores 300 billion tons of carbon. Currently, and as a result of climate change, permafrost is at risk of melting and releasing the stored carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, both greenhouse gases responsible for amplifying global climate change. Plus, permafrost is structurally important and its melting has been known to be the cause of erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, flooding, and ground subsidence (geological alterations that may alter organisms’ biological life cycles). Additionally, possible fatal ancient viruses may break free with no proficient knowledge regarding how to combat such risks. Moreover, economic impacts cannot be dismissed as melting permafrost may directly affect a country’s GDP through the loss of agricultural output or even the additional costs of air conditioning for instance (this includes extra and any costs regarding climate change externalities). Furthermore, rising water levels from thawing permafrost (and ice caps) may lead to the flooding of man made islands, also affecting the tourism sector. Thus, delegates must propose required measures in reducing the detrimental effects and rates of permafrost melting.