Rotaract MUN 2013 Council Tackles Climate Change Impact

Rotaract Global Model United Nations | August 21-25, 2013 | Baia Mare, Romania
www.RotaractMUN.org | secretariat@rotaractmun.org | Tel: +40 758.922.543
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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
STUDY – GUIDE
Topic: The impact of climate change on indigenous communities
Prepared by:
Aanuoluwapo Afolabi
Anindya Nastiti Restuviani
On the date of:
June, 2013

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Word of Welcome
Secretary General of Rotaract Global Model United Nations 2013
I am pleased to greet all prospective participants,
chairpersons and professionals who support this unique initiative
led by Rotaract TEAM Baia Mare in 2013. For centuries, youth
around the world have shown incredible skills and willingness to
bring about change in their respective contexts. Due to the
interconnectedness that globalization and social media revealed
in the last century, nowadays, young people share a global
responsibility which is reflected through complex international
projects such as Baia Mare TEAM 2013 Rotaract Global Model
United Nations.
Baia Mare TEAM 2013 Rotaract Global Model United Nations is a youth - led
conference which aims to provide young leaders, youth workers and junior professionals a
tool for influencing the decision-making at a global level. I encourage participants to express
their visions of the world in regards to the challenging political, economic and social contexts
in which they develop as citizens, social actors and/or leaders. The theme of this conference
is Youth: Global Actors for a New World. With the increasing number of demonstrations
and manifests throughout the world, the young generation has to face the challenges of the
past and act for change. In an instable political and economic environment, youth must be
included in the decision-making process in order to ensure representativeness and
transparency.
I want to remind everyone that this conference’s aim is not to create leaders, because
you already are leaders, but to engage you in a two - way learning process. On the one hand,
the conference and its team help youth to develop excellent public speaking, communication
and negotiation skills as well as trains them in using the UN language. On the other hand,
participants bring vision, ground-breaking solutions and a holistic yet creative approach on
the issues discussed during the conference. Only through cooperation will we be able to
achieve our goal: to influence the decision-making and give voice to the younger generation. I
trust that you can help us in our endeavours!
By participating in the Baia Mare TEAM 2013 Rotaract Global Model United Nations,
you represent the change you wish to see in the world. Young people will lead by example
and will be part of the global family by promoting the UN values and principles. We are
looking forward to meeting you this summer in the beautiful city of Baia Mare!
Yours sincerely,
Ms. Alexandra Matei
Secretary General of Rotaract Global Model United Nations 2013

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Human Rights Council
- Chairpersons –
Delegates,
My name is Anindya Nastiti Restuviani or you can call me Vivi. Brief introduction
about myself: I am an Indonesian young person, and also a senior student of the Faculty of
Law majoring in International Law at the Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang, Indonesia.
Besides my enrolment in university I am also currently working for United Nations
Population Fund as one of Youth Advisory Panel.
It is my distinct pleasure to be selected and serve you all as one of the chairperson of
Human Rights Council for this year Rotaract Global Model United Nations 2013. The topics
for this year’s HRC have considerate to be able to cater the outmost importance in exercising
the idea of human rights itself. As climate change has been included in every regional and
global assessment, the fairly distributed efforts are also needed by indigenous people as a
society whose life depends on the environment. I believe that this year’s HRC will create such
vibrant debate during the session and will come out with the most fruitful final resolution.
Best,
Ms. Anindya Nastiti Restuviani
Chairperson of the Human Rights Council

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Human Rights Council
- Chairpersons –
Dear Delegates,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Rotaract Global Model United Nations.
My name is Aanuoluwapo Afolabi, a Nigerian student currently studying Political Science
and Diplomacy at Ajou University, South Korea. First of all, I want to sincerely thank you for
your interest in participating in this global decision-making process. We, the youth are the
future and that’s why we have to take a major role in deciding the future we want. It is the
mission of this conference to serve this purpose.
I promise you that participating as a delegate on the Human Rights Council will be a
highly rewarding experience. We will be discussing about the use of technology for
mitigating the impact of climate change on traditional people. Climate change is a reality we
all daily face and see with our own eyes. The sad part of this is that no spell had done this to
us, we did this to ourselves! Therefore, we must find effective ways in solving the problem in
our own interest. The sooner the better!
As the Chairperson of the Human Rights Council, I’m looking forward to critical,
analytical debates and sessions which will bring viable solutions. I am looking forward to
meeting you all in Baia Mare this summer!
See you soon!
Best,
Mr. Aanuoluwapo Afolabi
Chairperson of the Human Rights Council

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Introduction to the Human Rights Council
Human Rights Council has functions and responsibilities to strengthen the promotion,
protection of human rights and to address the issue of human rights violations. The Human
Right Council was first established back in 15 March 2006 through the United Nations
General Assembly resolution 60/251. The Council was created to replace the former United
Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The special procedure which was
established by the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights was also assumed by
the Council and consists of the special rapporteurs, special representatives, independent
experts, and working group all of which work closely to monitor, examine, advise, and make
public reports on the issue of human rights situation in specific country or around the globe.
The Council itself consists of 47 United Nations Member States elected by the General
Assembly, and it meets at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Council also has its
privilege to create a recommendation to support their responsibility and functions to promote,
protect, and address the human rights situations around the globe. It also has the ability to
discuss thematic issues and situations on human rights that require attention. As the subsidiary
organ of the General Assembly, the Assembly has its mandate to review the initial status of
the Council within 5 years. This review is established in order for the Assembly to work on its
mandate to supervise the performance of the Council.
Its first outcome after one year since its establishment, the Human Rights Council
adopted a guide for its works by procedure and mechanism trough the ‘institution building
package’ in 2007. Together with the Institution-building package, the Council also came up
with an adoption to assist mechanism that serves to assess the human right situations in all
United Nations Member States called Universal Periodic Review.
There are two committees under Human Rights Council that provide assessment to
help the work of the Council to achieve their goal: The Advisory Committee will help as the
Council’s think tank by providing expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues, and
the Complaint Procedure that allows individuals and organizations to bring human rights
violations to the attention of the Council.
The former United Nations Commission on Human Rights has adopted various
outcomes which turned into basic regulation and instruments to address human rights issues
and situations around the globe - among them are the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and many other instruments on human rights.
The Rotaract Model United Nations 2013 Human Rights Council will examine the
humanitarian aspect of the impact of climate change on the indigenous people within the
context of inclusive participation and technology sharing.
In this year Rotaract MUN, the Human Rights Council will work closely with the
several resolution, convention, covenant or declaration that connected to the rights of
traditional and indigenous people such as United Nations Declaration on The Rights of
Indigenous People, and also to the United Nations Forum of Convention on Climate Change
as in Kyoto Protocol, Cancun Declaration, REDD, REDD+, and any other instruments on
climate change.

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Introduction to the Topic
The Impact of Climate Change to the Indigenous People
Subtopic A - The Mechanism of Inclusive Participation in the Decision Making Process
Among the most important tools to be discussed, traditional and indigenous people are
often to be considered as a society which lives closely to the nature and environment.
However, during the process of decision making that involves the issue of climate change that
affects the surrounding environment, indigenous people are seen as ‘under-representative’,
thus, their importance was not acknowledged to the international society. This council feels
that this importance needs to be catered in order so that the international society understands
the vulnerability of the indigenous people or individuals on the impact of climate change.
The rapid development of technology nowadays can somehow help the society to
mitigate and reduce the effect of climate change; better yet, to prevent the continuity of
climate change. Although most of the urban society has acknowledged and is familiar with the
existence of such technology, traditional people that live in remote area are somehow unaware
of the existence of the technology that can mitigate the impact of climate change and safe
their life. Thus, it is also our importance and concerns to gain the awareness of the traditional
people to exhaust their rights on technological facility to save their life from the impact of
climate change.
A. Statement of the problem
It is estimated that there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across
the globe (UNFCCC, 2009). They practice unique traditions, cultures, economic and political
characteristic. Those characteristics bared by indigenous people have retained a very distinct
method from those found in other segments on the urban populations. They hold their own
concept and views which are based on their traditional values, visions, needs, and priorities.
Traditional and indigenous people have a very big dependency on the environment and
the natural resources to maintain their livelihoods. The issue of climate change to them is
defined as something more than an environmental problem. Even though in reality,
indigenous people have successfully adapted to the on going impact of climate change
through thousands of years, they believe the situation of climate change from the past several
years has proven to be problematic and the flow of the damage has been very challenging; this
puts their ability to adapt to a test.
The background on the inclusive participation to the climate change discourse has
basically been raised since the issue of the recognition of the fact that indigenous people have
so many things in common with other neglected segments of the society; this such as:
marginalization, lack of access to social services and etc. However, given the Universal
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), the rights of indigenous people
started to be recognized.
Since the impact of climate change directly jeopardizes not only their livelihoods, but
also matters of their existence, economy, political and cultural preservation, climate change is

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a reality for them; it is a severe human rights crisis that needs to be addressed immediately
and accordingly.
When the international society has tried to cope and mitigate the impact of climate
change in their own way, indigenous people felt that their importance was being neglected
and excluded from the adopted solutions or resolutions, namely by the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They believe if international society
gives them such an opportunity, they will able to substantially give their outmost contribution.
B. Analysis of the problem
In the Brundlant Report of 1987 or commonly known as the United Nations Report of
the World Commission on Environment and Development or the book of Our Common
Future, shares the idea of climate change and many other global catastrophes caused by the
characteristics of urban societies in pursuing their demand in increasing their standards of life.
Indigenous people have suffered the worst
impacts of climate change without having
contributed much to its creation (Indigenous
Peoples Forum on Climate Change, Bali 2007). It
is widely accepted that poor, natural-resource
dependent communities in the developing world
are especially vulnerable to climate change,
especially those living in high risk areas such as
small islands or low lying coastal areas (Adger,
2006, IPCC 2007).
Indigenous people have created several traditional ways to adapt with the current
condition, such as supplementary irrigation, traditional farming techniques to protect
watersheds, use of new material, rainwater harvesting, and many more. However, the adaption
methods mentioned above are still incapable to address the vulnerability to the further impact
of climate change since the efficiency aspect in information sharing and distribution to the
community are still questioned.
The international society believes that it is time to put the importance and necessity of
indigenous people into main consideration. Besides the indigenous people’s dependency on
the natural resources, their rights, culture, livelihoods, traditional knowledge and their identity
are based on the profound and deep relationship that forged over years within their lands,
waters, and resources.
1. Mitigation Mechanism
There are some mitigation measures created by the climate change mitigation
instrument namely the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change
(UNFCCC). The UNFCCC has adopted many ways to mitigate climate change, including the
adoption of Kyoto Protocol, REDD and many other schemes.
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The aim of the UNFCCC is to set an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts
to tackle the challenge posed by climate change and to stabilize the green house gas
concentration in the atmosphere to the level that will prevent the dangerous level to the human
interference.
The main decision of the UNFCCC called as the Conference of the Parties (COP) that
composed by 180 states that have ratified or acceded to the agreement. Since the
establishment of the UNFCCC itself has created so many solutions and resolutions to mitigate
the impact of climate change.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol (KP), as it is named, was adopted during the COP3 at the Kyoto,
Japan in 1997. It shares the main goal of the UNFCCC - to stabilize the Green House Gas
(GHG) emission; the difference is that the KP is urging the parties to commit to do so. The
protocol itself categorized the member states as developed countries (Annex I/AI) and the
developing countries (Annex II) .
In order for the Protocol to achieve its main objective, it has a mechanism called the
Innovative Mechanism that included the emission credits system that allows the developed or
developing parties to show their commitment to the Protocol. The Innovative Mechanism
itself consists of 3 mechanisms.
Emission Trading will allow
countries to exchange their emission
allowance, the flow of the Emission
Trading itself is similar to the trading
commodities in the market place.
The Joint Implementation will allow
developed countries to finance
projects that reduce the emissions in
another developed country, so they
will earn the emissions reduction unit. Clean Development Mechanism allows the Protocol’s
developed parties to implement the project that reduces GHG emission, or subject to
constraints in the developing parties.
The problem within the Protocol as it is seen above is that it is not concerning much
about the existence of the indigenous people. The main objective of the Nationally
Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) that was established in the Bali Action Plan took into
consideration the action or measures taken in order to cut down the GHG emission; on the
other hand, the protocol or NAMA itself never considers the existence of indigenous people.
The climate change mitigation is not only an issue about cutting down the GHG but also an
issue of equity, social justice and human rights and also the sustainability. The second
problem is that indigenous people are not part of the protocol, however, they still contribute
significantly in cutting down the GHG emission by simply preserving their natural
environment and habitat and putting the natural environment as their first concern (IUCN,
March 2008).
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The implementation of some activities based on the CDM and other mechanism are
undermined and bring potential threats to the right of indigenous people to their land,
territories and resources. Taking example a condition during the carbon offset project in the
western highland, in Guatemala. The USA back in 1989 decided to build a 83 megawatt coal
fired power station that involved planting millions of trees in the impoverished western
highland in Guatemala. The non-native trees that were planted were inappropriate for the
local ecosystem and caused land degradation. The indigenous people on those areas, which
are the Maya, had their habitual activities such as gathering fuel wood, etc. Until now, the
evaluators concluded that the offset target was far from being reached.
REDD/REDD+
REDD or Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation is a scheme
with the aim to encourage developing countries to protect their forests while developed
countries would pay them. Its aim is to compensate the developing countries so that they do
not cut their carbon rich forests or reduce their deforestation and forest degradation rates,
thus, avoiding the GHG emissions.
The indigenous people who live in and depend on the forests developed such
relationship with the forest and they do not understand how one can look at forests only in
terms of emissions reduction.
The major problem in realizing REDD/REDD+ is that there are still plenty of on going
issues on claims over ownership, governance, control, use and access to the forests especially
in the tropical country. The indigenous people claim that they have never been approached
and are not yet satisfied to the arrangement of the forest claims, both on regional or global
levels.
Even though there is no common status among indigenous people within their
engagement to REDD/REDD+, however, they believe that all their rights should be respected
and protected.
2. The Vulnerability of Indigenous People
It is important to be aware that indigenous people are the ones who contributed least in
the creation of the climate change crisis. However, indigenous people themselves suffer the
most from its impact.
Each indigenous people and tribes live in different ecosystems that spread around the
globe. They live in a dry and sub-humid ecosystem, polar ecosystem, forest ecosystem, high
altitude and high mountain ecosystem, agricultural ecosystem, and any other ecosystems.
Taking example the tropical and sub tropical ecosystem, the climate change has
brought a huge impact on certain conditions such as: changes in the behaviour of migration
patterns among birds which are usually used as a guidance for hunters and mark the
agricultural season, the unavailability of drinking waters and forest fires causing loss in forest
covers, causing more drought or floods that caused the cultural disruptions since the sacred
areas have to be abandoned and at the end the cultural and traditional practices cannot be
continued, and the existences of more floods and many natural disasters brought more

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diseases such as dengue, malaria; for example, in Ghana, meningitis that previously was not
an endemic disease, started to emerge.
Distinct from the condition in tropical area, the semi – arid and arid lands suffer from
less rainfall which resulted due to the occurrences of dust storms that degrade grasslands that
in the end, decreases the livestock and creates hunger and food insecurity. The heat also dried
up many water resources. The indigenous people have to dig deeper and deeper in order for
them to reach the water resources, and sometimes it is hard to accomplish this because the
poverty level is very high.
The solutions brought by the international society, namely by the Kyoto Protocol,
REDD or REDD+, are still not suitable to be implemented in this environment; especially
regarding the indirect effect to the solution in mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, it
brings damages to the rights of indigenous people instead.
The mechanism implementation has brought violations to the rights of indigenous
people to their lands, territories and resources, criminalization of practice of traditional
livelihood, and increase in food prices resulting in more food insecurity for indigenous
people. The massive changes in the environment due to the efforts in implementation, has
resulted in the lack of fields and lands to be work on; thus, indigenous people will have few,
difficult and dangerous jobs. The implementation also creates health problems and inequitable
benefit sharing, such as the unjustified provision of jobs and employment to the indigenous
people, and the claims of the land and territories.
REDD undermined the forest sustainability and somehow threatens further the right of
the indigenous people to their forest. This is causing the disappearance of the traditional
territories which have become the basic of their economic, social, cultural and spiritual
system, since many areas covered by the mitigation measures are cultural and sacred places
for the indigenous people.
However, with such a
complicated problem that they are
thrived with, they are very rarely
considered in public discourses on
climate change; they find it very
difficult to contribute and their
concerns to be taken into consideration.
They believe that they need to create
another body for them to share their
thoughts and contribute to the solution,
a body like the International Indigenous
Forum on Biodiversity (IIFBD) that was created by the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD).
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C. Past Actions Taken
1. The Universal Declaration on the Right of Indigenous People
The Declaration was adopted back in 2006 at the recommendation of the previous
United Nations Commission on Human Rights. UNDRIP has become a giant leap to the
recognition of the indigenous people among their rights to be respected and protected. The
Declaration also became the ground instrument for indigenous people to pursue their rights in
participation as it is stated in the article 5 of UNDRIP.
Any mitigation mechanism that will create a possible threat, which will jeopardize the
right of indigenous people, in fact, will be a violation of UNDRIP, particularly in respect to
article 8.
2. Anchorage Declaration
On April 2009, for the first time, indigenous representatives from all over the world
decided to gather in Anchorage, Alaska, to share their experiences and knowledge about
different ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The Anchorage Declaration itself, in article 5 emphasizes the security in regards to the
recognition and the implementation of the right of indigenous people during the mitigation
mechanism, especially when the mechanism took place in their land tenure and ownership.
Indigenous people, through the Anchorage Declaration, wish for more traditional methods and
customary law as respectful to the indigenous people before any action takes place.
3. UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP)
After all responses were received from indigenous people regarding the mitigation
mechanism, the UNFCCC decided to bring more contributions from the indigenous people by
allowing them to share their views, ideas and experiences from implementation of the
mitigation scheme.
Since 1998, the representatives of indigenous and traditional people have been
participating in the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties. During the participation of the
indigenous people to COP, they actually have released numbers of statements that expressed
their feelings, concerns and discontentedness related to the implications of climate change
policies towards their lives and culture.
However, until now, indigenous people are still waiting for the approval of an ad hoc
Working Group on Indigenous People and the Climate Change by the UNFCCC.

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D. Proposed Solutions
What we need to do first is to discuss how we should examine the obstacle to achieve
effective participation of indigenous people in the decision making process; what we should
do is too look up to the references from national parliaments.
Second of all, we need to identify ways in which indigenous people can be stimulated and
assisted in the strategies for effective participation.
It is also important to facilitate more on the sharing experiences, lessons learned and
challenges - not only at national level but also across regions, continents and the globe.
During the facilitation, it is also important to stimulate the discussion about what works and
what does not work in ensuring the effective participation and representation of indigenous
people.
Lastly, the most important part is to raise awareness on the vulnerability of indigenous
people to the climate change, and on the rights of indigenous people for inclusive
participation.
E. Bloc Positions
The bloc positions have been created based on each area’s environmental characteristic
regarding the impact of climate change.
1. Tropical and sub tropical countries, such as South East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia,
Philippines, etc), Latin America (Brazil, Venezuela, etc) , and some part of Australia.
These countries share the same environmental characteristic where there are a lot of rain
forests laid on their areas. They have more problems within the discussion on the
mechanism used to participate in the legal framework, on the claims of land and territory
of the forest during the implementation of REDD/REDD+.
2. Arid Lands, such as African Countries (Ghana, etc) share the common environmental
characteristic that is dry land, lack of water resources and food stocks. Their main
problem is the food insecurity.
3. High Altitude and High Mountain, consists of northern European countries, Canada,
Asia, and North America. The ecosystem of the high altitude and high mountain
characteristic bare the same concerns on the melting mountain glaciers that will endanger
their water supply.
4. Marine Area, Small Island states in the Caribbean islands. Their biggest concerns are
towards the climate change, since the raising sea level will endanger the existence of their
island as a whole.
5. The Arctic Ecosystem, as the climate change barometer. The second one is according to
the definition of developed and developing countries stated in the Kyoto Protocol (Annex
I and Annex II country) and the least developed countries. This division will discuss on
each country procedure, on the recognition of the right of indigenous people and most
importantly, about the implementation of the mitigation process on their legal
jurisdiction.

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F. Thinker’s (Question A Resolution Must Answer)
1. Do the advocacy efforts provided by NGOs, International Organization on Indigenous
People, United Nations and any other parties sufficiently considered to cater the
importance of Indigenous People? Is it necessary to create an advocacy body to cater
their importance? And if yes, what is the best mechanism to achieve this?
2. What role does UNDRIP and other basic instruments of the indigenous people should
have for the implementation of inclusive participation for the indigenous people?
3. Did the agenda, created during the past actions, integrated the human rights based
approach to the development and importance of indigenous people?
4. What is the best way that national government can undertake in order to implement
their contribution and commitment to the UNFCCC without jeopardizing the
importance of Indigenous People?
5. What kind of method will produce the most effective mechanism to emphasize the
awareness of the society in respect to the rights of indigenous people?
G. Recommended Readings
I would like to suggest you to take a deep understanding of the basic instruments on
the rights of indigenous people, included but not limited to:
1. United Nations The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – available at:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
2. Universal Declaration on the Right of Indigenous People – available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf
3. All information regarding the UNFCCC and its Conference of The Parties can be
found online at: unfcc.int, and the Anchorage Declaration - available at:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/smsn/ngo/168.pdf
4. The Report of Our Common Future or The Brundlant Report (1987)
5. I also suggest you to find various literature from several countries on the report of
Indigenous People especially its connection to climate change policy -
REDD/REDD+, a lot of national, regional or international NGO havee a lot of reports
on this condition; for example, Guide on The Climate Change and Indigenous People

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that was written by the Tebtebba Foundation, and also Issues Paper on Indigenous
and Traditional Peoples and Climate Change by IUCN.
6. Several reports on country policy and its ratification on the issue of Kyoto Protocol,
REDD/REDD+ and its link back to the issue of indigenous people.

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Introduction to the Topic
The Impact of Climate Change to the Indigenous People
Subtopic B - The Use of Technology to mitigate climate change on traditional people
Climate Change and its impact on our environment, our economies and our security, is
the defining issue of our era (OECD report, 2008). It is one of the most critical, and also most
daunting, challenges facing policymakers in the twenty-first century (World Bank 2010).
World Green House gases emissions which are emitted by many economic activities have
roughly doubled since the early 1970s and if not controlled could rise by over 70% during
2008-2050. Quantitatively, the largest share is accounted for by power generation (about
26%), followed by industry (about 19%) and transportation (13%). It must be noted that
deforestation and forest degradation are estimated to account for more emissions globally than
the entire transport sector (OECD report, 2008). Our ability to avoid the worst climate change
impacts depends on mitigation efforts we make over the next two or three decades.
At the very heart of mitigating climate change is the use of technology. Therefore, the
debate is not so much about the importance of new technology in solving climate change
problem but rather over what the most effective policies and institutions are for achieving the
dramatic technological changes and associated emission reductions necessary for
stabilization. Overall, this study guide aims to emphasize on the huge importance of the use of
technology in mitigating climate change. The impact of climate change is all around us to
see; and the sooner we act at this critical moment in history, the better for us all. Firstly, this
study guide gives the statement of the problem by giving definitions of the concept related to
climate change. The history of climate change is also briefly explained with a focus on the
actors involved. Secondly, an analysis of climate change is given, this aims to describe the
causes of climate change and why it still exists. The third part deals with the past actions of
the UN and some other stakeholders in mitigating climate change. This study guide could not
mention or fully discuss all the past actions because of its scope and limit. Actions that have
been taken to mitigate climate change
are numerous. However, the most
relevant ones to our discussion at the
Rotaract Global Model United
Nations 2013 are mentioned and
discussed. While writing individual
position papers, delegates are urged to
research more on this. The next part is
about some of the important solutions
that have been proposed in mitigating
climate change. In this section too,
because many solutions have been
proposed, in the course of writing
individual position paper, more solutions proposed are expected to be covered. The solutions
discussed in this study guide aim to serve as a background to more effective solutions to be
proposed during our discussions and debates in the Human Rights Council.
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A. Statement and analysis of the problem
According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate
change means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity
that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural
climate variability observed over comparable time period. Simply put, it is a change in
world’s climate as a result of human activities. The build-up of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere is already affecting the global climate. Historically, energy-related GHG
emissions were predominantly from the richer developed countries of the OECD, even today,
the rise in GHG concentration is largely accounted for by economic activity in these
countries. The developing countries outside the OECD, account for two-thirds of the flow of
emissions into the atmosphere, however, without new policies, developing countries would
account for most of the projected increase in world greenhouse gas emissions over the coming
decades. The absence of reliable clean energy and services imposes a huge disease burden on
low-income populations which hinders prospects for development.
Mitigation refers to the
policies and measures designed to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Measures can include reducing
demand for emissions-intensive
goods and services, increasing the
use of low-carbon technologies
and renewable energy. Mitigation
can also be made by enhancing
“sinks”-reservoirs that absorb
CO2, such as forests or peat dogs
(Know Climate Change n.d.). If
no action is taken soon, the
world’s global greenhouse gas emissions will continue to grow over the next few decades and
the global temperature could rise by as much as 6.4 C this century. In fact, without action
emissions of the six main greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur
hexafluoride, PFCs and HFCs- are projected to rise by 25-90 per cent by 2030. Over the past
three decades, greenhouse emissions have said to increase by an average of 1.6 percent
annually. About 55 percent of greenhouse emissions are immediately absorbed by the upper
oceans and terrestrial biosphere while the remainder enters the atmosphere and is removed by
the ocean and terrestrial sinks only very gradually (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change 2007). As indicated earlier, it must be noted that Deforestation amounts for about 20
percent of greenhouse gas emissions, with most forest land cleared for agricultural use. If
managed effectively, forests are net carbon sinks, able to permanently absorb about one-tenth
of global CO2 emissions into biomass, soil and forest products (United Nations n.d.).
According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading
international body for the assessment of climate change, warming of the climate system is
absolute. It has been shown from increases in global average air and ocean temperatures,
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widespread melting of snow, ice and rising global average sea levels. The impacts of climate
change can be seen around the globe through floods, droughts, and an increased frequency
and intensity of severe weather events. These impacts are projected to increase over the
course of the 21st
century. Studies have shown that the annual average arctic sea ice extent
shrunk is 2.7 per cent per decade. The sea level is on the rise, glaciers are melting and
seasonal shifts are constantly on the rise.
B. Past Action
In mitigating climate change, the UN has been involved in several actions. This study
guide will give three main actions which basically summarize the UN action. Making
commitments is part of the action that has been taken by both UN and other stakeholders.
Truth is, several commitments have been made by both developed and developing nations to
mitigate climate change but the question is how did they live up to these commitments? For
example, just last year on December 6 in Doha, ministers from 25 nations at a ministerial
meeting during the UN Climate Change Convention Conference committed to enhancing
voluntary action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. Also, in 2009 at the United Nations
Climate Conference in Copenhagen, several industrialized countries set a goal of mobilizing
US$100 billion per year by 2012 to advance mitigation in developing countries. According to
this report, the Secretary-General’s high level Advisory Group on climate financing “found
that raising US$100 billion per year is challenging but feasible”. These commitments range
from support in financing to transfer of technologies.
Another past action which is worth mentioning is the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM). This system was designed to meet two objectives which are, firstly to help developed
countries engage in cost-effective emission reduction targets under Kyoto Protocol and assist
developing countries which are also non-annex 1 parties in achieving sustainable
development. The CDM mechanism, established under the Kyoto Protocol, stimulates both
sustainable development and reduction of emission while giving industrialized countries some
flexibility in meeting targets of their emission reduction. The first CDM project was
registered in 2004. According to the Kyoto protocol, the CDM provides a legal framework
which allows developing countries earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits based on
emission-reduction projects. Each of these credits is equivalent to one tone of CO2. CDM has
been said to be a success so far even though there are concerns such as overall efficiency and
the risk of fraud. Schneider, a France-based multinational corporation specializing in
electricity distribution, automation management and production of installation components for
energy management, once commented that if those concerns are properly taken care of, CDM
will continue to be an “important instrument in the fight against climate change”. Simply put,
CDM serves as a marketplace for technology diffusion opportunities.
Furthermore, efforts have been made to leave existing forests intact coupled with
planting new trees. As explained earlier, if effectively managed, forests can serve as good
sinks to absorb green house gas emissions. However, since deforestation account for about
20percent of emissions, afforestation is a good means of mitigating. The United Nations
Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

18
in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), launched in 2008 is responsible for the above
mentioned mitigation effects.
C. Proposed Solutions
Obviously, inaction is not an option in mitigating climate change. In solving this
insidious problem, several solutions have been proposed by various stakeholders and
researchers. However, all these solutions can be categorized into two main approaches which
are the mitigation approach and the adaptation approach. The mitigation approach deals with
the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels i.e. moving to a low cost, carbon free system by
focusing on renewable and on energy gains. The adaptation approach explains finding ways
which will allow people and communities to cope with the impacts of climate change. Low-
emissions technologies as a force for mitigating climate change can be implemented in every
sector of the economy. These technological options are needed to keep mitigation costs low.
As concluded by
IPCC, there is no single
economically and
technologically feasible
solution to climate change.
This is why at the point of
every discussion, coordinated
action at the international level
is needed to harness the full
effect of clean technologies
and energy efficiency. i
Also,
individual governments should
make efforts in promoting a
wide range of options like
natural gas and renewable
energy technologies. Improving public awareness on energy sufficiency is also very
important. Some of the current marketable clean technologies include solar panels, wind
turbines, biomass, wind turbines, hydro-power generation, hybrid vehicles using electric and
combustion engines and nuclear power. In short, the government’s support for more research
and development into innovative clean technologies is an empirical solution to climate
change.
Also, according to the International Energy Agency, another solution especially in the
developing countries is transfer of technology by developed countries so as to avoid the
polluting technologies of the past. The first approach explains the cost-effective approach
which uses models of the economic and climate system. The cost-effective approach is also
known as integrated assessment models. The cost-effective approach ensures that incentives
are given to undertake research and development (R&D) and innovate energy-saving and
climate-friendly technologies. Technology has taken us beyond what even our forefathers
bravenewclimate.org

19
never imagined by making our lives better. However, it is important to note that “even if
innovative and effective technologies emerge, they will not be intensely used until their costs
come down close to those of existing competing technologies, unless incentives are put in
place for people to use themii
. Therefore, the cost-effective approach must be seriously put
into consideration in other to foster an effective technological means of mitigating climate
change.
Financing of low-carbon reduction technologies by developed nations in developing
countries or least developed nations is also a proposed solution to mitigating climate change.
Because least developing nations and developing nations’ financial incapability to finance
low-carbon reduction technology, financial help will help a great deal in mitigating climate
change in these countries.
D. Bloc Positions
All countries have come to realize the dilapidating effects of climate change and the
necessity to solve it together. Report of the Copenhagen conference shows the positions of
each nation’s position on mitigating climate change, various talks and agreements were made
and agreements. For the purpose of this model United Nations, I will not go into all the talks
and commitments that were made by each country. I will dwell on the disagreements between
mainly US and China. It must be noted that United States and European Union occupy nearly
the same position in mitigating climate change while China and India stand at the opposite
end.
Even though all nations recognize the need to mitigate climate change, there seems to
be points of disagreement on means of mitigation. One of this is where United States and
China disagree on legally binding mandates. While the United States insists that legal
mandate on carbon dioxide emissions reduction must been made and all countries must abide
by it, China alongside India insists that even though there are legal mandates, every country
must not be forced in abiding by it. As explained by Huang Huikang, special representative
for climate change negotiations in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China is both a
developing and poor country compared to the United States. Therefore, China is not yet ready
to agree to mandates. Also, as India rejects legally binding mandates, it insists that rich
countries must be legally bound. India also wants rich countries cut 40% of its emissions by
2020.
Furthermore, another position where United States and China disagree is the point of
transparency from donor receiving countries. China, for example, at the Copenghen
conference said that the rich countries should give 1% of their GDP per year to help
developing countries. However, for this to come into place, the United States is requesting
developing countries submit themselves to an International Monitoring System. This
international Monitoring System is an expert panel review of the efforts made by developing
countries to reduce carbon reduction. This review will be submitted to the UN which will
determine whether assistance should be given or not. Even though China is in support of this
monitoring system, there is mistrust on what will be done with the result of the review. China

20
does not want United States scrutinizing the numbers of other countries. Hence, a clear and
transparent system must be in place in other to bring all parties to agreement.
E. Thinker’s - Questions that our resolution must answer
From Bali to Poznan to Copenhagen, several commitments have been made by both
developing countries and developed countries in mitigating climate change. However, what
can be done to make both developed and developing countries follow their
commitments? Commitments not backed with actions will amount to nothing! These
commitments range from transfer of low-carbon technology to developing countries, financial
assistance to developing countries just to mention a few.
Up till date, several amounts of dollars have been donated by both developing nations
and international organizations to developing nations. In the future, more financing will be
done. However, there must be an effective mechanism to check the proper use of these funds.
Both United States and China agree that there should be an International Monitoring system
which will access and review. However, how can this mechanism be properly drafted in
such a way where both parties can agree? Also, what more can be done in making donor
receiver countries more accountable for the funds they receive and the technology they
get from developed nations?
Finally, what more roles can both developing nations and developed nations play
in mitigating climate change? More still needs to be done by individual countries.
F. Recommended readings
I hope these recommended readings help in getting a good understanding of the topic
and help in searching for more resources:
1. OECD, 2008. Climate Change Mitigation: What Do We Do?
You can download this at: http://www.oecd.org/env/cc/41751042.pdf
2. Gateway to the United Nations Systems Work on Climate Change Website: This
website gives almost all if not all the information needed on climate change impact.
This website also links to other major UN agency websites working on our subject.
3. Newpaper articles such as the ones below:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/china-agrees-to-impose-
carbon-targets-by-2016-8626101.html
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/12/08/08climatewire-us-and-china-maintain-
polite-disagreement-as-84506.html?pagewanted=all
4. State Government Websites such as:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/04/207465.htm
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Accord

21
i
Gateway to the United Nations Systems work on climate change
ii
Climate Change Mitigation: What do we do? A report by OECD on how climate change can be mitigated
References
OECD, 2008. Climate Change Mitigation: What Do We Do?
Gateway to the United Nations Systems Work on Climate Change Website
The Independent,2013. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-
change/china-agrees-to-impose-carbon-targets-by-2016-8626101.html
New York Times,2010. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/12/08/08climatewire-us-
and-china-maintain-polite-disagreement-as-84506.html?pagewanted=all
U.S Department of State, 2013. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/04/207465.htm
Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference
Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Accord
David, K., 2005. Climate Change: The Science and the Policy. Journal of Applied
Ecology, Vol.42 No. 5, pp. 779-783
Andy, H., et al., 2007. Policies for accelerating access to clean energy, improving
health, advancing development, and mitigating climate change.
Joseph, E.A., et al., 2010. Designing Climate Mitigation Policy. Journal of Economic
Literature, Vol. 48, No.4, pp. 903-934
Heleen, D.C., Carolyn F., Richard, G.N., Takahiro, U., 2007. International
technology-oriented agreements to address climate change.

Rotaract MUN 2013 Council Tackles Climate Change Impact

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