HU MUN MOCK SESSION 2018

Transcription

1 HU MUN MOCK SESSION 2018 CHAIR REPORT D i s c u s s i n g W a y s t o I m p r o v e E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y T h r o u g h S u s t a i n a b l e C i t y D e v e l o p m e n t UNEP 민정현, 원자윤

2 Agenda Introduction <Limiting the agenda to air pollution> Of all the current environmental problems occurring throughout the world, air pollution is the most imperative predicament to solve, due to its fatal effect on people s health. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), almost 12% of world s death is attributed to air pollution. And because the atmosphere has been most susceptible to industrialization, air quality needs a more immediate and fundamental approach than other environmental issues. <Most ambient air pollutants and its impacts on human health> Sulphur dioxide (SO2): Mainly derived from burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. SO2 irritates the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and is likely to cause harm on the respiratory system. Therefore, people with lung diseases such as asthma are highly sensitive and has the potential to have more serious effects when exposed to higher SO2 levels. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) : Found close to road traffic, indoor gas cookers, NO2 increases the likelihood of respiratory problems such as the lining of lungs and causes more frequent and intense attacks on people with asthma. Ozone : Caused by chemical reactions between natural, traffic and industrial pollution in strong sunlight. Ozone exposure can lead to weakening the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and is responsible for premature deaths in 2013 in EU 28 countries. Fine particles (PM 2.5) : Atmospheric particulate matter that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is about 3% the diameter of a human hair. PM 2.5 can get deep into lungs and some may even get into the bloodstream and cause heart diseases. Coarse particles (PM ) : Relatively large atmospheric particles with the diameter ranging from 2.5 to 10 micrometers, such as dust, pollen, spores, fly ash, and plant and insect parts. Although of less concern than PM 2.5, they can irritate a person's eyes, nose, and throat.

3 Carbon monoxide (CO) : Though studies have not yet clearly demonstrated the exact correlation, it is well known that constant exposure to CO increases the risk of respiratory tract infections as well as other cardiopulmonary diseases. Acid rain : A phenomenon which causes the destruction of forests, decrease in aquatic biodiversity and hazards the entire ecosystem mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. <Cross border air pollution> Although most air pollutants have derived from local or regional sources of emissions, air pollution does not stop at national borders. Cross-border pollution is a form of pollution that originates in one country but can cause harm in another s environment by means of water or air. Transboundary air pollution hazards not only human health but affects various fields of human livelihoods, its diversity ranging from food security to economic development. Therefor transboundary flows of pollutants are a major cause of ongoing bilateral disputes, but said problem cannot be solved by a single party and requires the cooperation of the international community. Committee Introduction The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) is a branch of the United Nations that coordinates and organizes environmental actions alongside with the purpose to support developing nations into implementing eco-friendly policies. UNEP has played an essential role in less developed countries targeted -international environmental conventions, extending the field of environmental science and information and furthermore setting the roadmap for those to be implemented in line with governmental policy and legislation or campaigns of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). UNEP has also been active in funding development projects. Status quo Although most air pollutants have derived from local or regional sources of emissions, air pollution does not stop at national borders. Some air pollutants also originates far from their sources since they tend to circulate globally and deposit randomly on land and water bodies. In other words, Cross-border pollution is a form of pollution that originates in one country but can cause harm in another s environment by means of water or air. Transboundary flows of pollutants are a major cause of ongoing bilateral disputes, but said problem cannot be solved by a single party and requires the cooperation of the international

4 community. Since some of these pollutants result from global commons such are international shipping and aviation. The issue of transboundary air pollution has been acknowledged and highlighted upon by the international community as a serious problem since the 60s when scientists have first identified it as the main cause acid rain. In order to seek a viable solution to resolve said phenomena, 32 countries in the pan-european region decided combine efforts in order to reduce air pollution and pollutants. In 1979, they signed the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, creating the first international treaty to deal with air pollution on a broad regional basis. As a result of the combined effort of the nations in UNECE and their past actions there has been a significant decrease in the level of sulfur in the atmosphere. This in turn has helped to reduce the acidic levels of acidifying compounds to below critical levels in various regions in the Northern Hemisphere. However nitrogen emission, though it has decreased, has yet to reach the same significant degree. Hence, areas in Europe still exists where acidification of forest soils are still a problem their main presence a result of the exceedances which are mainly due to deposition of nitrogen compounds. As a result the Convention now more actively focusing on reducing the level of nitrogen oxides emissions and other components. The continuously efforts led to a decrease in lead pollution. According to the status report done by the UNECE lead pollution levels in the UNECE countries were reduced by almost 80% between 1990 and With the most significant decrease in reduction rates taking place in the beginning of the promotion, reaching 15-18% per year in a number of countries (e.g., Finland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Norway etc.).

5 < Air pollution emissions in the ECE-region between 1990 and 2012 (excluding Canada and the United States of America). Sulphur has the steepest decline (Source: EMEP-Centre for Emission Inventories and Projections) > While as having a malicious effect on human livelihood, air pollutants know no borders, which is why international coordination of air pollution policy remains indispensable. Ratification and implementation accordingly to the country s stance of the Convention and its protocols will, for many Parties, reduce the negative health and environmental impacts that pollutions are foretold to bring in a more cost-effective way than with unilateral action. Also by having a common set of legislations and standards regarding the prevention of air pollution and pollutants, industries across countries can pursue economic benefits in a harmonized manner without interested parties competing amongst themselves at the expense of the environment and health. Past actions of the international community The UNECE Convention (in short the Convention) has substantially contributed to the further development of environmental laws in the international community by showing precedence in intergovernmental cooperation. It s most notable accomplishments are in sectors such as framework and control for reducing damages to human health and the environment caused by transboundary air pollution. It was first established back in 1979 to seek a viable solution to resolve said phenomena, 32 countries in the pan-european region decided combine efforts in order to reduce air pollution and pollutants, they signed the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, creating the first international treaty to deal with air pollution on a broad regional basis. From that point on the Convention sought an effective and harmonious way to achieve the goal of reducing air pollution.

6 Over the past 35 years the Convention has gone through a number of phases in order to subdue air pollutions. In the beginning the construction of a sound scientific bases was the Convention was its main focus. Subsequently, the attention shifted toward the development and negotiation of more intricate protocols repeatedly amending each to advance them further. Currently the Convention puts emphasis on the examination and review of its previous protocols as well as implementation and compliance in order to revise them in a matter befit the contemporary status of the international community. As a result of this collective feet series of harmful substances have been reduced by 40 to 80% since 1990 in Europe. In particular the rate of Sulphur has decreased most significantly and with it the deposition of acidifying compounds, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and lead, have decreased below critical levels in various regions in the Northern Hemisphere. One of the most effective way for the Convention to promote air pollution abatement was to have a shared scientific underpinning of the status quo. As a measure of achieving that goal the related parties promoted the development of a common knowledge base including a scientific infrastructure aimed at joint monitoring and modelling programs. In addition to having a shared international network of scientist and various disciplines, the Convention created a platform where vast amounts of relative research was shared among related parties. These efforts helped shape the Convention s first protocol entered into force in the 80s.The first protocol that was signed under the Convention (The 1984 Geneva Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe(EMEP))did not set any emission reduction targets, rather it was enacted to provide financial aid to fund the activities conducted under the EMEP. It is noted to one of the most effective protocol the Convention has ever enacted since from the establishment as the scientific hub of the Convention EMEP has since provided the corresponding information to Governments on the emission, transport and deposition of air pollution. With the foundational purpose of the Convention lying in acid rain and acidification of rivers and lakes, the first substantive protocol of the Convention was on air pollution abatement, mainly focusing on decreasing the level of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere, was the 1985 Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cent. However it soon became apparent that the decline in sulfur was not enough to reduce the level of deposition of acidifying compounds, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and lead, have decreased

7 below critical levels in various regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Subsequently, the following protocols, 1988 Sofia Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes, 1991 Geneva Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes to ensure emission reductions of all possible pollutants and parties responsible. While the first protocol developed under the Convention focused on technologies to reduce air pollution through effects-oriented approach(e.g Sulphur Protocol, 1988 Protocol on Nitrogen Oxides and the 1991 Protocol on VOCs). However the results of the collective studies done by the EMEP suggested otherwise, that an alternative solution would be much more effective. Through research it was proven that a substance-by-substance approach less efficient and was the reason to develop a so-called multi-pollutant-multi-effect approach. Subsequently a new format of protocol was devised, the 1994 Oslo Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions. It was the first protocol to derive its quantitative reduction obligations from the cost-effectiveness and effect-based principles. Its reduction obligations did not addressed one substance at a time and prescribed the same flat-rate emission reductions per quota as the previous protocols did, rather it was based on the critical loads approach. The significance of this protocol can be found in the fact that it differentiated the emission reduction obligation of each party and held accountable the true polluters by making them pay burden sharing. Signing a country-specific ceiling in order to hold the true polluters accountable for their actions. The Convention later extended their focus on two other sets of pollutants in their subsequent negotiations: heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The following protocols are a result of the UNECE s negotiations the 1998 Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the 1998 Aarhus Protocol on Heavy Metals which would be further be elaborated in more advanced protocols. In a manner, all of the previous protocols put forth by the Convention culminated in the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol). As a review of the previous protocols the Gothenburg protocol is the first multi-pollutant and multi-effect protocol which builds on the cost-effectiveness and effect-based principles. Prescribing a specific national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds the Gothenburg Protocol is currently under revise to further extend it boundaries to include emission reduction commitments for fine particulate matter. When implemented the protocol is expected to further pave the way in reducing air pollution, while at the same time facilitating climate co-benefits

8 In the more contemporary settings the paramount concerns of the Convention has shifted toward the implementation of the Convention and its protocols rather than seeking an effective model to abate air pollutions. Shifting its focus to target nations from Eastern, South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia the Convention is now actively promoting its protocols through the assistance of programs that raise the political profile of the Convention in the regions above to ratify the UNECE s protocol. Recent amendments to the Convention s key protocols grant flexibilities to facilitate accession by newly recruited member states. For instance, a party new to the Convention joins the Gothenburg Protocol before the end of 2019, under the modified protocol that member state has the flexibility to postpone the application of emission limit values by up to 15 years after the entry into force of the amended Protoco l. Stances of UN Member States China China is currently posing a huge threat on neighboring countries due to their single-minded attempts to expand their economy. Being aware of the fact that it is responsible for the ongoing environmental disputes in East Asia, the Chinese government has set an environment budget of $175 billion an proclaimed a war against pollution. ROK The Republic of Korea is currently suffering through high concentration of PM 2.5 and is having the worst air quality among its member states in the OECD. According to an air quality field study by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), mainland China has contributed to 34 percent of South Korea s seasonal fine dust. Japan Japan s famous ice trees, Juhyo, is one of the major tourist attractions but is currently under a great threat from sulfur produced in China s Shanxi province. Japan is also not free from PM 2.5 and fine dust that is a fatal threat especially to young children and the elderly. United States Though the US has made a series of attempts to reduce air pollution under the Clean Air Act (1956), the contaminated atmosphere is still continuing to harm people s health and the environment. Currently, the EPA( ) is helping states to meet standards for common pollutants by establishing emissions standards for new motor vehicles and non-road engines, and industrial emissions standards for power plants, factories, and other manufacturers.

9 Mexico Being the world s most polluted cities, Mexico City has carried out a policy of banning cars on Saturdays. However, unlike scientists expectations that it will reduce vehicle emissions by 15%, there were no signs of air quality improvement. Russia Russia has achieved high economic growth based on rich natural resources but their excessive use of resources has resulted in serious air pollution such as high rates of carbon emissions and SO2. UK Having been the main polluter country at the time of the Industrial Revolution, the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to legislate laws for environmental protection and participated in the Clean Air Act (1956). However, UK has currently been warned by the EU for flouting the nitrogen dioxide air pollution limit along with other four nations. In response, it has announced an action plan to tackle nitrogen dioxide and has invested 255 million for the project in France Though one of the most industrialized countries in the world, France ranks 17th by carbon dioxide emissions and is making autonomic efforts for preservation of the environment. Germany Since 1970s, Germany has made environmental movements to control industrial emissions and city smog, and has developed awareness of an eco-industry. It has also ratified international treaties on air pollution. Spain With its excessive use of fossil fuels and high concentration of the population in big cities, Spain is having serious air pollution. According to Ecologist in Action, 84% of Spanish citizens are breathing air with levels lower than what the World Health Organization has recommended. To solve the predicament of its country, the Spanish government legislated laws to create Zero Emission zones and execute non-local cars. Norway Norway is enacting sectoral, economic policies for sustainable development and is investing money in producing various kinds of renewable energy.

10 India Due to its growing population and ever expanding economy, India has one of the highest greenhouse gas emissions rate and its air problem has steadily worsened over the past 25 years. Based on a recent study, India s air pollution deaths could rise up to 1.6 million across the country by 2030 unless the government take severe actions to stand up against the emissions. However, India currently has one of the most deficient air quality monitoring systems and therefore needs to focus on establishing more environmental policies. Major cross-border air pollution problems and efforts to solve them <China-ROK, Japan> With China expanding their economy at the risk of the environment, emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides from coal-burning plants in northern China is creating acid rain that falls on Japan and South Korea. Furthermore, the toxic chemical smogs created by China s factories are carried off to Japan and South Korea along with the yellow dust from the Gobi Desert <EU_European Air Policy> The European Union has been actively working out together to solve air pollution throughout the European continent, mainly by legislating EU air quality directives to which member states are obligated to comply. Established in 1973, the EU Environment Commission is in charge of proposing the policies and making sure that Member States are doing their job properly. Currently there have been new air quality objectives for PM 2.5. <LEDCs and MEDCs> Since the global community shares one atmosphere, it is obvious that even countries that do not share their borders can affect one another. Therefore, each county s individual efforts to compromise economic development and air quality improvement is essential. Questions a resolution must answer - What are ways to compromise economic development and conservation of the environment? How can the committee resolve the conflict and gap between LEDCs and MEDCS? - Are there measures set to limit actions that are invoking such environmental problems such as limiting oil consumption and carbon emissions? - How can clashes between oil producing countries and non oil producing countries be resolved?

11 Bibliography Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution by the Royal College of Physicians WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY - Environmental History Of Air Pollution And Protection - Stephen Mosley Giddens, A. (2009), The Politics of Climate Change Australian government web_ Department of the Environment and Energy United States Environmental Protection Agency The UNECE The EPA The HTAP The EMEP- graph and the description below