Topic:
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Cosmo Steffke
The effects of climate change have already shown themselves to have severe effects on the world as we know it, and it can only get worse without intervention. Over 3.6 billion people live in areas susceptible to climate change, and many countries do not have the ability to do anything to save themselves. According to WHO, between 2030 and 2050 two-hundred and fifty million additional deaths per year are expected, from the effects of climate change such as malnutrition, malaria, and more. If the UN does not take swift and drastic action, the damage to come will be irreversible.
Japan recognizes that multiple threats face not only itself but the world as a whole. Many of Japan’s major cities are near the coastline, and a large share of the economy depends on factors such as agriculture, fishing, infrastructure, tourism, and more. Japan has already taken actions to prevent this such as signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, which adopts long-term goals to reduce fossil-fuel dependencies worldwide and mitigate the damage of climate change. They have also set into place policies domestically and proposed protocols worldwide that aim to set binding restrictions on greenhouse gas output. However, work still needs to be done before we can move past this issue.
Japan advocates for multiple steps to be taken for mass fatalities and property destruction to be prevented. First, clear and harsh restrictions need to be made on greenhouse gas emissions for all countries. Second, financial aid needs to go to countries that cannot deal with the effects of climate change, focusing on healthcare and adequate food and water being available to all citizens. Despite the scale of this impending crisis, this still can be avoided with proper planning and followthrough.
