I recently participated in a Model UN event as the delegate of the Phillipines to the United Nations Environment Program. It went better than I expected as I even bagged a prize. But that is far from the main point.

I and a couple other delegates from around the world came up with a resolution that would help combat climate change and prevent or atleast delay the rapid rise of global temperatures currently estimated to be headed for 2⁰c above pre-industrial levels. Why I loved this resolution so much is that everything felt very possible, pragmatic, feasible and measurable. Without further ado, I present to you the Global Citizens’ Coalition Environmental Pact 1.0.

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COMMITTEE
United Nations Environment Program
SPONSORS
Philippines 1, Philippines 2, Indonesia, Peru, Kyrgyzstan
SIGNATORIES
Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, South Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Poland, Tajikistan
TOPIC
“Combatting and Drawing lessons from the effects of COVID-19”

The United Nations Environment Program,

 Noting that Biomedical waste by the ASEAN countries is exponentially
increasing,
Requests that nations fund the technology ‘Sterilwave’ that reduces volume of trash by 80% and mass by 25%. It is currently used by Southern Philippines Medical center and is doing wonders;

 Proposes the research into and potential adoption of soluble plastics by the Indian company Envigreen which can cut down the amount of non-biodegradable plastics. The UNEP should therefore look to invest funds and expertise to get this idea into a scalable solution;

 Invites UNEP to fund projects like pyrolysis, present in Peru, in order to
reduce the volume of trash and produce fuel from plastic waste to reduce on
use of fossil fuels;

 Further invites member states to fund and advocate for electrical buses to curb pollution levels that could rebound after the pandemic. With this, there will be less motor vehicles on the road that would cut pollution and electricity use is far cleaner than petrol;

 Emphasizes the need for decentralization of solid waste management plants to ensure larger amounts of trash are treated and disposed. These plants be set up at municipality level or lower to alleviate the central plants of pressure;

 Taking into consideration that people have been situated at homes and thus domestic waste has rapidly increased, also owing to the increasing popularity
of goods delivery services,
Designates that member states should have citizens sort their own trash before collection by the waste management companies with strict enforcement;

 Bearing in mind that recycling or reusing plastic is of crucial importance to the state of the Earth, Calls for plastic bricks made of molten recycled plastic and sand, an invention by Gijenge makers in Kenya to be looked into. The maker claims they are stronger than concrete bricks. The UNEP should verify this claim and if true globalize this solution. Ponchillas (plastic school bags) and rubber bricks project too. In India, scientist Rajagopalan Vasudevan developed an innovative method to reuse plastic waste to construct better, more durable and very cost-effective roads. He thought up the idea of shredding plastic waste, mixing it with bitumen, and using the polymerized mix in road construction. The UN could fund projects such as this;

 Pushes for transition to efficient lighting systems to reduce pressure on the electricity production sector reducing GHG levels. Recycling of incandescent lamps to reduce Mercury pollution. Sensitization on the importance of turning off lights not used.

 Encourages work-from-home drives for identified workers that could afford to conveniently work from home such as IT and software people, corporates, and others. The pandemics has taught us that we don’t need to commute for meetings and this will significantly reduce carbon emissions. Education and the unable workers such as the sedentary will remain operative. Every country will assess the situations independently;

 Noting with deep concern that invasive predatory species of fish that feed on native species have increased in the marine ecological system during the
pandemic. They are favoured by the rise in sea temperatures and the reduced fishing activities of man,
Emphasizes that a quota system should be set in order to proportionately fish
more invasive fish. This will restore the ecological balance of the invasive and native fish and ensure a sustainable supply of fish;

 Resolves that sensitization drives are of utmost importance. Leaders and the
common citizen alike should be facilitated with knowledge and skills in order to identify the problem and collectively solve it. They should also be kept up to date on the latest information on best practices and technological developments so they can implement them. Community leaders should also be held accountable for implementation and the lack of it thereof. The acronym GAPS is therefore coined standing for Governance, Accountability,
Participation, Sensitization. This will strongly enforce the environmental do’s and don’ts. UNEP to team up with influencers such as Youtubers, bloggers to spread the environmental drives;

 Urges super power states to commit to providing funding to the global south to cater to the losses and damages that these developed countries cause since they are the major emitters. Also asks that all countries adhere to providing funding as per the Voluntary Indicative Scale of Contribution;

 Noting with deep concern the large carbon footprint of tourism and yet the great importance of this sector to many countries,
Endorses solar ferries implemented in India as opposed to ferries that use petrol. Invests in efficient mass production of green aviation fuel and reduce prices of this green fuel for compliant states since green fuel portrays fewer emissions;

 Alarmed by the negatively changing patterns of wildlife that indicate increasingly unfavorable conditions,
Declares accordingly that sanctuaries and gazetted sites be set up immediately to harbor the worst affected species such as polar bears, Asian elephants, cheetahs, tigers, green sea turtles.

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