Topic: UN's Role in preparing for Global Climate Shift
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Ailih Weeldreyer
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Cuba position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
The UN has been dealing with climate change since 1992, with the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the “Earth Summit.” At this conference, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was created to help stabilize greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and prevent the negative effects that the buildup of these gasses might have. The UNFCCC meets yearly to discuss progress on these subjects. An important follow-up to the Earth Summit and the UNFCCC was the 1997 conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol, an addition to the UNFCCC that required nations to limit and eventually reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses. Although many countries adhere to this protocol, some countries have resisted it, countries that have adhered to the emissions cap have back-slid, and developing nations have no obligation to participate at all. Despite this, the UN has come to the consensus that climate change is real, and that there must be measures to reduce its effects. Some of the predicted effects of climate change are the rise of sea levels, stronger storms, more frequent heat waves, and even possibly the sterilization of oceans.
Cuba is greatly affected by climate change. Every year, Cuba is in the path of hurricanes and tropical storms that have the potential to devastate the country’s infrastructure, economy, and population. Although Cuba has taken measures to ensure that these storms do no damage, there is no guarantee that if these storms strengthen, Cuba will be able to continue to protect against damage. Rising sea levels are also a problem for Cuba. Cuban scientists predicted that at least 1.2 miles of coastline would be under water by 2100, seriously destroying or damaging 122 towns. Rising sea levels would also taint freshwater sources and render cropland infertile.
Cuba would like to see progress on the prevention of the buildup of greenhouse gasses. Cuba, as a country that is greatly affected by climate change feels that it is imperative that the UN and all its member states come to an agreement that will make a great impact on the effects of climate change on the global environment. Cuba hopes to find a resolution that addresses all countries’ needs in a timely manner.
