CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS:
MODEL UN TRAININGS & CONFERENCE’2010
FOR STUDENTS
April 10th – April 30th, 2010
Baku, Azerbaijan
TOPIC:
“CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM COMMITMENTS TO ACTIONS”
PREAMBLE
Model United Nations (also Model UN or MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. In standard Model UN, students take on roles as diplomats and participate in a simulated session of UN. In other words, participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems.
Association of Former United Nations Interns (AFUNI) Azerbaijan in partnership with IRELI Public Union announces the call for participation in national Model UN trainings and final conference to be held between April 10th – April 30th, 2010.
The project will run within the frames of the joint programme "Confidence Building in South Caucasus" between AFUNI Azerbaijan, UNA Georgia and UNA Sweden. 50 students from Azerbaijan will take part in the simulated session of UN General Assembly and will be delivered a training prior to final MUN conference.
The theme of the Model UN is “CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM COMMITMENTS TO ACTIONS”. Model UN conference will be the simulation of the UN General Assembly and each country will be represented by two delegates. The General Assembly will be represented by the following countries: Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, USA, France, Russia, United Kingdom, China, Italy, Iran, India, Nigeria, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, South Africa, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, Morocco, Spain and Brazil.
For decades, developed countries in particular have been releasing vast quantities of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing global warming. Humanity now faces one of its most significant challenges: it must adapt to the warming that is now inevitable and at the same time dramatically reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases.
To this end, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at Rio in 1992. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, developed countries committed themselves to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions, with only the US remaining outside this framework. Thus, Switzerland proposed to commit itself to reducing emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. The EU appears to be prepared to accept commitments along similar lines.
Climate change is already producing impacts to which societies will need to adapt. This is particularly challenging for developing countries, as they are exposed to increased risks, and their capacity to cope with these risks is limited. For these countries, which are already struggling to alleviate poverty, adaptation imposes an additional burden.
At present, developing countries are not bound by any reduction commitments, although their emissions are growing rapidly. Collectively, these countries' emissions are already higher than those of all developed countries. While certain developing countries are implementing numerous reduction measures on a voluntary basis, they are not yet prepared to undertake commitments at the international level.
They expect developed countries to offer financial and technological assistance. Within what framework should this be provided?
As the Protocol expires at the end of 2012 and the Climate Change Convention needs to be adapted to the latest developments, the signatories to both agreements met in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The delegates will need to answer the following questions:
• The Copenhagen climate conference faced many challenges and even a possible crisis. Did it deliver what the world expected?
• What is the UN doing to suspend the climate change? What international treaties and conventions exist on this issue?
• What have been the successes and failures of such efforts so far?
• How do international agencies and the private sector help or hinder efforts toward environment-friendly policies and environment-friendly development? What else can be done to ensure environment sustainability?
• How do the Member States rank environment sustainability among their diplomatic priorities?
• What is the situation with climate change in your country? What does the government do to help or hinder the situation? What is your country’s view on the issue?
• What is your country’s view about the importance of environment sustainability? What has your country done to address the issue of environment sustainability in your country and in other countries?
• What does your country propose, if anything, to do with countries that do not engage in climate change dialogue?
• How to classify countries according to their capability to lower emissions, and how countries that do not comply with agreed emission reductions should be treated?
During the preparation period the participants will be trained by the experienced Model UN trainers in Azerbaijan – participants of regional Model UN’2009 conference, held in Tskhneti, Georgia, after which the students are expected to start extensive research on the theme.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
• Fluent English. The official working language of the Model UN Conference as well as of the other activities during the event is English. Therefore, all participants are expected to have good knowledge of the language.
• Full participation and availability for the whole pre-conference trainings and conference period, i.e. from April 10th – April 30th, 2010. Every participant is obliged to take active part in the Model UN trainings and activities organized before and during the event. The trainings will be held twice a week and last 2 hours (14:00-16:00).
• Interest in international affairs.
• Excellent research and writing skills. In a course of the conference participants will be required to write up position papers (a document that clearly shows your country’s point of view on the topics of discussion during the MUN), to make an opening speech, debate and actively participate in writing final resolutions.
HOW TO APPLY:
Those interested in participation in the trainings and conference, please send your CVs to
afuni.az@gmail.com.
Deadline for submission of CVs: Thursday, April 8th, 2010.
