Topic: Capacity Building for Improved Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change in SIDS

Code: Decision 1/1

DO NOT REMOVE: Working Paper Template — Washington State Model United Nations 2018

The Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Recognizing the division of regions between COP State Parties as Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe, and other,

Acknowledging the Kyoto Protocol’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a binding international agreement,

Recognizing the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement by 174 of 197 Parties to the Convention and subsequent creation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF),

Recognizing the current adaptation and successes of the Barbados Plan of Action by certainSmall Island Developing States (SIDS),

Recognizing the sovereignty of SIDS and their rights to an economically and environmentally self-determined future,

Noting the immediate threats faced by SIDS and acknowledging the need for short-term solutions,

Emphasizing the Barbados Plan of Action to encourage innovation adapted to climate change, diversify their economy for greater socioeconomic security, and the fourteen points included in the +5 and +10 amendments that have been successful,

Recognizing the need for financial accountability of foreign infrastructure investment in SIDS,

Emphasizing the need for improved disaster response in SIDS as a result of shifting weather patterns and sea-level rise,

Understanding the need for education surrounding adaptation to climate change caused disasters,

Taking into account the specific circumstances, situations and vulnerabilities of each SIDS to enable them to have adequate access to financial resources, including concessionary financing for investment in sustainable development,

Takes note of the needs of SIDS based on the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index,

Acknowledging the data collection focused aims of the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Change Monitoring Initiative, as well as the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) initiative as well as the shortfalls of information exchange between SIDS and wildly varying systems of data collection among SIDS,

Reflecting upon the recommendations put forth in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,

Realizing the potential ability of more economically developed State Parties, as defined by the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) as upper middle-income State Parties, to monetarily support SIDS,

Taking into account the threat to food and water security, including aquifer exhaustion and seawater contamination, posed by capricious weather conditions that result from climate change,

Acknowledging the efforts of Water for People, Charity: Water, and Water Aid to develop sustainable sources of clean water in rural areas and developing State Parties,

Commending the discussion at the Ocean Conference last June which calls for raising awareness for marine and coastal ecosystem protection and pushing the concept of “blue” economies—defined as the maximization of the economic potential of oceans in order to achieve sustainable growth—in SIDS,

Takes note of the importance of trade relations in fueling economic diversity of a State Party and therefore allowing for development of infrastructure for SIDS,

Recognizing the educational resource potential of NGOs such as: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP), the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),

Urges the creation of an initiative to improve the meteorological organizations within SIDS that currently collect data and facilitate transfer of information pertaining to climate change between SIDS in order to ensure the use of accurate data in current and future initiatives, in alignment with the metric set forth by the Germanwatch Global Climate Index by:

Endorsing the monitoring of atmospheric carbon levels, sea levels, global temperatures; humidity, oceanic temperatures, and ocean acidity in all SIDS by current national meteorological associations, thereby creating a uniform system of data collection that makes information exchange more useful and gives a more complete picture of environmental factors;

Requiring the collection of all data above and publishing biannual reports of that data and further detail the progress of mitigation and adaptation efforts and public availability of reports through government websites;

Improving the reliability of the telecommunications networks between SIDS, through cooperation with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and establishing a backup system for telecommunications in nations that do not already have it;

Encouraging collaboration between the meteorological organizations of SIDS and global and national meteorological institutes with the aim of synthesizing climate data for policymakers within SIDS with the aims of:

Promoting more well informed legislation concerning infrastructure, education, food and water security, and other science-based issues;

Avoiding maladaptation and the waste of allocated funding;

Empowering SIDS to take a principal role in and sustain their own solutions;

Crossing the comprehension barrier that exists between policymakers and scientists in order in order to quicken the adaptation process;

Endorses technological development to address the issues of water accessibility in order to increase stability of SIDS and increase capacity for climate adaptation and migration by:

Supporting developments in water accessibility including desalination plant construction, expanding the current capacity of existing desalination plants, and improving upon aging water supply systems;

Encouraging managed aquifer recharge (MAR) use and artificial storage and recovery (ASR) projects, managed by national governments and funded by the Green Climate Fund, to increase local aquifer supplies at a low-cost, provided the location has appropriate environmental conditions;

Recommending the adaptation strategy of improving sustainable groundwater abstraction based on better groundwater monitoring observation boreholes installation and the regular monitoring of the transition zone;

Calling upon NGOs that combat global water issues, such as Water for People, Charity: Water, and Water Aid, to aid SIDS in clean water source protection and develop sustainable water purification systems, such as those listed above, in SIDS;

EncouragesSIDS to strengthen their economy by:

Developing trading ports to utilize the accessible coastline of many SIDS;

Recommending NGOs invest in the development of small businesses;

Encouraging an effective use of SIDS’ natural marine resources, including the use of sustainable fisheries to improve food security;

Encourages disaster relief efforts to be made in SIDS prone to disasters through:

Facilitating partnership through SIDS with nearby developed nations to monitor the approach of natural disasters such as hurricanes with advanced meteorological seismology technology;

Using regional NGOs affiliated with disaster relief, such as the Red Cross and InterAction to encourage an increased focus on SIDS in dire circumstances;

Calls for the intensification of dialogue with essential private utilities, ensuring the protection of their existing interests within SIDS through:

Further dialogue and cooperation with the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, when addressing:

Groundwater management and salinization;

Aquifer recharge and sewage treatment (MAR);

Suggests adapting pre-existing public educational programs in preparation for natural disasters and long-term environmental changes resulting from climate change on SIDS through programs such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CCADRRP), through emphasis on the following topics:

Tropical storm and tsunami drills within disaster-prone countries through public schools and community events:

Through local governmental efforts and local fire or disaster preparedness departments;

Through education in public schools quarterly about how to recognize a natural disaster, drills in the event of a natural disaster:

Specifics of the education may be determined by the state in question and adapted to each nation’s specific needs;

Education about agroforestry and sustainable farming;

Education about “blue” economy concepts that promote environmental sciences:

Sustainable fishing and farming practices;

Increasing marine management education and systems in SIDS;

Education about relocation of vulnerable persons onto higher ground in case of rising sea levels:

Development of government-sponsored housing through the GCF;

Education of the populace about their impending displacement due to rising sea levels and how best to respond their change in situation;

Enlistment of the local fire or emergency force to aid in relocation and education;

Education about water contamination prevention, including the discussion of better waste disposal practices, by local governments and schools;

Calls upon the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for assistance in funding capacity building and development projects in SIDS, as outlined above, additionally through;

The donation of funds to be used in rehabilitation projects and education in local communities to reduce the effects of climate change that will be determined by the specific needs of each nation, such as:

Ecological restoration of existing natural ecosystems such as wetlands and coral reefs;

Planting of trees to reduce soil erosion;

The continued expansion of previous action taken towards climate change by funding SIDS that the GCF doesn’t encompass exhaustively;

Encourages SIDS to create a biannual declaration of needs for each specific nation, to present to developed state parties currently providing any assistance.

DO NOT REMOVE: Working Paper Template — Washington State Model United Nations 2018