UN Secretary General António Guterres said that “Climate Change is the defining issue of our time.” It poses a “direct existential threat” that the 13th Sustainable Development Goal, Climate Action, addresses. As global temperatures continue to rise, global resources are depleted and standards of living decline. Our current course of human development is unsustainable and irresponsible. For too long, short sighted politics and conscious neglect have stood in place of progress.
Our generation is in a pivotal position to implement decisive reforms for advancing climate action, and we must do so before we reach the point of no return. New legal frameworks need to be created, while social and economic measures must be addressed at local, national and international levels.
The 13th annual BERMUN2 conference aims to consider and address these challenges. The Environment Committee (EC) will be addressing the topic of reducing pollution in industrial zones and urban areas. The Special Conference (SPC) will be deliberating about ending energy over-consumption. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will discuss implementing measures to tackle the spread of infectious diseases influence by climate change. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will debate the impact of climate change with the increasing predicament of environmentally displaced persons. The Security Council (SC) will consider a case example of the impact of climate action: the pressing situation in the Sahel Region, the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition in Africa between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south. For the second time at BERMUN2, there will be a model of the International Court of Justice. This year, the court will hear the case of “Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay - Argentina v. Uruguay”.
The effects of climate change will particularly affect the daily lives and most importantly, the future of young people, and this is why we believe that we should address this issue. We are sure that it will provoke lively debate and provide for a successful conference.
Edward Brand, Secretary-General
Tristan Strzelczyk, President of the General Assembly
Isabel Tscherniak, Deputy Secretary-General
