Topic:
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Maddox Podmokly
11/21/2023
Delegate name: Maddox Podmokly
Submitted To: WHO
From: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Subject: Climate Change and Public Health
Climate change has significantly impacted Venezuela, which was once known as a land of beauty and wonders with warm and friendly people. However, this is changing as people have faced difficult times with increased natural disaster frequency, rising temperatures, and melting 4 out of 5 glaciers. Climate change has also contributed to many droughts affecting the agricultural income that Venezuela mainly relied on, forcing reliance on fossil fuels, and further worsening the situation.
Though the topic of climate change is a heavy one, and Venezuela recognizes the adverse effects of climate change, the economy of Venezuela comes first. This economy relies heavily on agriculture and oil production and storage, with oil being Venezuela’s largest international export market. Venezuela trades oil with China, the US, and India. However, the latter of the two have placed sanctions on oil trade with Venezuela in an attempt to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
In 2015, Venezuela joined the Paris Agreement and pledged to reduce emissions by at least 20% by 2030. In addition, the Government of Venezuela signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in June 1992 and in December 1994. This convention seeks to mitigate and prepare for the inevitable effects of climate change. These effects would be similar to already seen developments such as increased natural disasters, rising sea levels, and increases in climates.
Venezuela’s current President, President Nicolás Maduro, believes that climate change is the result of greed and dreams of seeking happiness in accumulating possessions, according to a quote from the New York Times. This, however, is in contrast to the actions of the President promoting the oil market along with deforestation, to support the country’s economy, which takes priority to help our people, despite the adverse effects on the environment contributing to climate change. This also follows the belief that the Global North is responsible for most global warming and should have to pay reparations for damages caused by the release of large amounts of CO2.
Some solutions to the issue of climate change that Venezuela supports would be to make the businesses and countries responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions pay for the damages of their emissions instead of smaller, less impactful nations. This would require countries like the US and China to pay and contribute more to reducing emissions compared to struggling nations whose primary goal is not necessarily to preserve the environment. Venezuela, for example, has its priorities set on fixing an economy decimated by sanctions on oil from these big CO2-emitting powerhouse countries such as the US and India. Venezuela is eager to collaborate with other countries on the topic of climate change along with its impact on economies.
Bibliography:
– Analysis, Mitigation. “Venezuela and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:” Unfccc.Int, 2023.
– “Maduro Faults Capitalism for Causing Climate Change, but Doesn’t Mention Venezuela’s Historic Role in Oil.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Nov. 2022.
– Muggah, Robert, et al. “The Climate Crisis and Displacement in Venezuela.” Humanitarian Practice Network, 27 Apr. 2022.
– Staff, Carbon Brief. “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges.” Carbon Brief, 2 June 2017.
