WHO MOVED OUR ICE?

[NTU Model United Nations 2010 

Press Corp : Associated Press (Assistant Editor) 

 Council : General Assembly 

 Issue : Protection of the Arctic
Edition : First]

Melting of the Polar Ice Caps

The General Assembly will be in session from today with the protection of the Arctic being the main issue on the agenda. Two primary aspects are expected to dominate deliberations- Global Climate Change, and the Militarisation of the Arctic.

 With a multitude of countries around the globe experiencing the highest temperatures in recorded history, the stage is set for deliberations on measures to curb global climate change. The results of various scientific studies suggest that the Arctic climate is now warming rapidly and much larger changes are projected. If allowed to proceed unchecked, global climate change is projected to result in a 5C rise in temperatures.     

Carbon emission reduction is perceived as key to any effort to curb global climate change. The failure to set a concrete target for carbon emission levels was seen as a major shortcoming of the recently concluded Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. Thus, the challenge before this Assembly is to persuade nations to set a carbon emissions target which is substantial enough to slow global climate change. This is anticipated to be no easy task.

Developing nations such as India and China have been unwilling to reduce carbon emissions drastically fearing slower economic growth. Countries such as Russia have previously refused to acknowledge the alleged severity of the situation. Other major polluters have also refused to abide by emissions targets. Historically the EU has pushed for higher targets and its ability to persuade other nations is viewed by some as being crucial to the success of this session of the General Assembly.

Global CO₂ emissions have grown every year since the first climate treaty was signed at the 1992 Earth Summit. In light of the historical effectiveness of such measures, many experts remain sceptical on the effectiveness of any targets set.

Russian findings corroborated by the US Geological Survey estimate that up to 25% of the world's oil and gas reserves remain untapped in the Arctic. With exponentially increasing global energy needs and the threat of a global energy crisis, it is expected that the distribution of Arctic resources will stem a multitude of controversies and heated debates. The eagerness of Russia and other nations to lay claim to Arctic resources is perceived as being the catalyst in spurring militarisation of the Arctic. Therefore, any attempts to solve the problem of militarisation will have to address the fate of the Arctic resources.

Half of the world’s land area, including Antarctica is governed by Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (NWFZ) treaties ratified by 113 nations. While this may appear to be strong precedent for the establishment of such an accord for the Arctic, all Arctic states are NATO members and so subscribe to NATO's doctrine that nuclear weapons play an essential role in the security of its members. Hence, it remains unclear what conclusions, if any, can be arrived at regarding the militarisation of the Arctic.

Many hope that deliberation in the General Assembly will result in legally mandated co-ordinated international action to curb global climate change and protect the Arctic. The question remains- can and will nations prioritise global well-being over self-interest?