Special Summit On Climate Change: A Background Guide

A Background Guide
for the
Special Summit on Climate

Change
Table of Contents
Letter from the Secretary-General................................................................................ 3

Letter from the Director.............................................................................................. 4
Introduction................................................................................................................ 5
History of the Committee........................................................................................... 5
Committee Dynamics and Powers...............................................................................6

History of the Problem................................................................................................ 7
Current Situation...................................................................................................... 12
Past International Actions.......................................................................................... 16
Timeline of Significant Events ..................................................................................18
Proposed Solutions.................................................................................................... 19
Bloc Positions............................................................................................................ 20
Relevant Partners....................................................................................................... 22
Questions a Resolution Must Answer........................................................................ 22
Suggestions for Further Research............................................................................... 23
Position Paper Requirements..................................................................................... 23

Closing Remarks....................................................................................................... 23
Endnotes....................................................................................................................25
HARVARD MODEL UNITED NATIONS CHINA 2021
A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Delegates and Faculty Advisors,
It is my distinct honor and pleasure to invite you to join us for the eleventh session of Har-
vard Model United Nations China!
Since 1927, Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) has united talented young leaders
Kalos K. Chu from all over the world to discuss the most pressing and complex challenges facing humanity.
Secretary-General In the process, tens of thousands of delegates have honed their public speaking, writing, and
negotiation skills; gained exposure to people of myriad backgrounds, cultures, and points of
view; and formed lasting friendships with like-minded peers.
Connor S. Dowd
Director-General In 2010, HMUN journeyed, for the first time, beyond Boston, Massachusetts—launching
the first international conference of its kind: HMUN China. Over a decade later, we are
Nancy W. Wu overjoyed to be returning with some of Harvard’s most talented and caring Model United
Under-Secretary-General
Administration Nations directors. Each director has been carefully selected for their substantive experience
and dedication to HMUN China’s educational mission, and our delegates notice. Every year,
Parker J. Mas HMUN China delegates leave conference carrying the lessons that they’ve learned in and
Operations outside of the committee room with them, confident that they are ready to become leaders
and change-makers in their own communities.
Alistair W. Gluck
Under-Secretary-General In the wake of a global pandemic, we made the difficult decision to cancel HMUN China
Committees
2020 to ensure the health and safety of our delegates, faculty advisors, and staff members.
Our work, however, has not gone to waste, and we will be bringing to HMUN China 2021
twice our usual caliber of preparation, substantive excellence, and delegate experience.
It is an honor to serve as your Secretary-General for HMUN China 2021, and I—along
with my Under-Secretaries-General and directors—are committed to ensuring that this, our
eleventh session, is the best yet.
Sincerely yours,
Kalos K. Chu
Kalos K. Chu
Secretary-General
Harvard Model United Nations China 2021
59 Shepard Street, Box 205

Cambridge, MA 02138
Voice: 617-398-0772
Fax: 617-496-4472
Email: [email protected]
www.hmunchina.org
A LETTER FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to your background guide for Harvard Model United Nations China 2021! We are
all so excited that you’ve elected to participate in HMUN China this year, and cannot wait to
see you in August. Your committee director has worked hard throughout the year to ensure
that you will have a great experience. Model UN in general, but especially HMUN China,
Kalos K. Chu gives you a unique experience to both tackle some of the most important issues in the world,
Secretary-General
and collaborate with other students from diverse and unique backgrounds. I hope that you
enjoy participating in HMUN China as much as we enjoy preparing for and running it!
Connor S. Dowd The HMUN China experience is likely going to be quite different this year, and I am beyond
Director-General
excited to be serving as the HMUN China Under-Secretary-General for Committees—the
organ with which you all will have the most contact this summer. I hope that you will help
Nancy W. Wu
Under-Secretary-General me to create a positive and uplifting culture that will remain a hallmark of the conference for
Administration years to come.
Parker J. Mas
Under-Secretary-General We are living through turbulent times, and I would be remiss to not acknowledge that the
Operations COVID-19 pandemic has impacted each and every one of us in ways we never could have
expected. All of the staff of HMUN China 2021 remain well aware of the consequences of
Alistair W. Gluck the pandemic that many of you have experienced and will continue to experience, and we are
Committees here as another network of support for you during these trying times. That being said, we are
dedicated to making sure this iteration of Harvard Model United Nations China maintains
a high level of debate and competition, and are excited to pioneer our transition to new and
exciting formats. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you and your loved ones are
staying safe and healthy.
My passion for Harvard Model United Nations comes from participating in HMUN
throughout my college career. I have been able to see how positively our conference impacts
each and every one of its staff members and attendees, and I am so grateful that I am able to
be part of it. Whether you’re a senior who’s participating in HMUN China for your fourth
time, or someone who is brand new to the conference this year, welcome! We are so looking
forward to seeing you virtually in just a few short months.
All the best,
Alistair W. Gluck
59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Alistair Gluck

Cambridge, MA 02138 Under-Secretary-General
Voice: 617-398-0772
Fax: 617-496-4472 Harvard Model United Nations China 2021
www.hmunchina.org
A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the Special Summit on Climate Change! My name is Jason Jorge and I have the
absolute pleasure of being your director at HMUN China 2021.
I am a sophomore at Harvard College pursuing a joint concentration in Astrophysics and

Kalos K. Chu Earth and Planetary Sciences. While I have neither taken Government classes nor studied
Secretary-General Government as many other directors at HMUN China have, my passion and love for Model
United Nations and international relations in general is just as strong. Beyond my involvement
in The Harvard International Relations Council, I partake in climate change and agriculture-
Connor S. Dowd related research on campus, love to sing, and frequently explore Greater Boston with both
Director-General the friends I’ve made at Harvard and the friends from high school who now attend university
just across the Charles.
Nancy W. Wu
Under-Secretary-General I went to a public high school in Southbury, Connecticut, and was fortunate enough to
Administration
participate in HMUN, HNMUN’s sister conference for high schoolers, for two years. The
Parker J. Mas
amazing experiences I had as a delegate inspired me to continue Model UN in college, so
Under-Secretary-General as a first-year student at Harvard I was Assistant Director of the European Union during
Operations HNMUN 2020 and Assistant Director of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) during HMUN 2020. This year, in addition to being your director, I directed
Alistair W. Gluck the UNHRC at HNMUN 2021.
Committees
Not only will this conference allow you to practice communication, public speaking, and
leadership skills, it will also give you an opportunity to build new friendships and debate
some of the world’s most critical issues. Every Model UN conference I attend or staff, I
leave with a new set of people I consider myself close with, new knowledge about society’s
challenges and how I can solve them, and increased confidence in our generation to make
the world of tomorrow better than the world we inherited; I hope you can leave conference
with those takeaways as well.
Once again, I cannot wait to meet all of you and have a very productive, educational, and
fun weekend together at conference. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime,
please feel free to send me an email!
Sincerely,
Jason L. Jorge
59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Jason Jorge

Cambridge, MA 02138
Voice: 617-398-0772
Director: Special Summit on Climate Change
Fax: 617-496-4472 Harvard Model United Nations China 2021
www.hmunchina.org
6 Background Guide: Special Summit on Climate Change 6
Introduction and equality, is what this committee is tasked with

facing throughout your time at HMUN China.
The time to act on climate change is now, as we
are already experiencing unfathomable changes
to our climate and planet. The pollution of air Committee Dynamics and Powers
and the poisoning of water has resulted in the
death of plants, animals, and fellow human
beings. In 2019, the average global temperature Over the course of the conference, we will meet
was 0.95°C above the twentieth century average, for six committee sessions. While there is a
rapidly approaching the 1.5°C mark that climate level of flexibility to be expected from both the
scientists describe as a point of no return, and a delegates and the dais in terms of committee
point that some places have already surpassed. session structure and flow, I will provide a rough
Our response, or lack thereof, to this increasingly timeline on what our weekend together will look
insurmountable problem will undoubtedly shape like. Please feel free to contact me if you have
our future. questions about this schedule before or during the
conference.
Though this is a challenge the whole world faces
together, it is not one which affects communities Our job as members of the dais is to not only
equitably. Climate change and its impacts are enable debate between delegates but to also
predominantly felt by poor communities and encourage learning and growth by supporting
states, exposed to not only the effects of climate you in every way that we can, so the beginning of
change more strongly than those in privileged the first session will be focused on introductions
positions, but are more predisposed to damage and getting to know one another. Next, we will
and an inability to get back on their feet. With transition into general debate on our topic area
economies and livelihoods largely based on and will give all of the delegates an opportunity
agriculture, food security and economic stability to speak and listen to the broad positions of each
are already at risk in areas plagued by famine and delegation. Towards the end of the first session,
economic underdevelopment, a threat that will debate should evolve from a general discussion of
grow with climate change and carbon emissions. the effect of climate change on poor communities
Rising sea levels, desertification, and extreme to more specific areas of the issue that are outlined
temperatures will inevitably displace millions later in this background guide. Working papers
of people and create a climate refugee crisis and how you might address different aspects of
exacerbated by poverty and existing inequity, and the issue within them should begin to be thought
the health of billions of people will be at risk with about as well. In the second session, debate
diseases and conditions becoming more severe. should be increasingly focused on specific issues
related to the topic, and blocs should begin to
These are just some of the issues that will be detailed form. Working papers should also be a priority
in the rest of this guide, considering how climate to delegates, as they are typically due at the end
change and its effects impact many facets of the of the second committee session. However, this
lives of the disadvantaged and underprivileged. does not mean that the working papers have to
This guide will provide you background and be fully comprehensive and fleshed out; there will
prepare you for tackling climate change and its still be ample time to consider bloc mergers in
disproportionate impact on poor communities later committee sessions before draft resolutions
and otherwise disadvantaged groups of people. are due. The third committee session will open
Climate justice, the acknowledgement that climate with presentations of the working papers that
change is not merely an environmental or physical were submitted at the end of the second session.
issue but rather a matter of ethics, human rights, After presentations are over, the rest of the session
Harvard Model United Nations China 2021 7
will be dedicated to debating the working papers History and Discussion of the Problem
and beginning to merge separate working papers
into draft resolutions. Please also be mindful that The next section of this guide will present you
according to HMUN procedure, no more than with a discussion of the problem at hand: the
two draft resolutions will be accepted by the dais. connection between human rights and climate
The goal of the fourth committee session will then change, particularly the disproportionate effect
be to finish draft resolutions so that they can be of this conflation on the poor, as the well as
submitted by the middle of the fourth session or on indigenous communities, women, and
the beginning of the fifth. We will then introduce children. First, we will address why it is that the
the resolutions with presentations, debate them disadvantaged are so vulnerable to climate change
within committee, and follow through with the and its effects, detailing the different factors that
amendment procedure. The final vote on the allow this disparity and a cycle of its aggravation to
draft resolutions will take place either at the end exist. Next, we will briefly talk about indigenous
of the fifth session or the beginning of the sixth, communities, women, and children and how
and as will be the case with all substantive and they are disproportionately threatened by climate
procedural matters in committee, it requires a change, similar to those who are in poverty or
simple majority to pass. of a lower socioeconomic status. Finally, we will
The remainder of the sixth and final session of focus on a number of specific human rights that
conference, we will hold a “colloquium” in which are threatened by climate change. After having
delegates will be given the opportunity to forgo read this portion of the guide, delegates will
their roles as representatives of their delegation have a better understanding of the problem, its
and speak openly about the topic. Delegates often intricacies, and its origins.
discuss what they learned throughout conference,
their personal experience with the topic area,
and opinions that they may have not been able
to express during committee to remain consistent Human Rights, Climate Change, and the
with their delegation’s positions. The colloquium Disadvantaged
is a great way to end our intense weekend together We are first going to discuss the reasons why those
with a more relaxing, meaningful, and open in poverty, indigenous communities, women, and
platform of expression, and I am eager to hear children are particularly threatened by climate change.
what each and every one of you has to say. Climate change disproportionately impacts those
disadvantaged groups of people in our society and
Additionally, the dais and I may decide to use their human rights as a result of three major factors:
crisis elements throughout our time at conference an increased exposure to climate change hazards, an
as a means of controlling debate if, for example, increased susceptibility to damage by climate change
a certain aspect of the topic area is not being hazards, and a decreased ability to deal with and
given the level of attention it should be. Rather recover from that damage. Together, these three effects
than respond to these crises via crisis notes and perpetuate the inequality that made subsections of our
directives as in Specialized Agency committees, society vulnerable in the first place, thus reinforcing a
delegates should include responses to the crises cycle of climate change and inequality.
directly within their working papers and draft
resolutions.
Increased Exposure to Climate Change Hazards

8 Background Guide: Special Summit on Climate Change
The first of the factors that comprise this cycle is dry sub-humid aridity zones, and two-thirds
the increased exposure that disadvantaged groups are estimated to live in areas where water access
of people have to climate change hazards, whether is severely restricted for at least one month per
it be in urban or rural areas and coastal or inland year, a number that will grow as climate change
regions. The number of people in developing continues. Furthermore, considering that drought
regions that live in low-elevation coastal zones exposure and poverty rates are both higher in
and 100-year flood plains is projected to exceed rural areas than in urban areas, it can be deduced
1.2 billion people within the next decade, and that communities in these rural areas are more
93% of the inhabitants of low-lying coastal zones likely to be facing poverty while at the same time
and flood plains in the least developed countries also facing the worst of water scarcity issues. In
on Earth. As poverty tends to be more prevalent terms of exposure to climate change hazards, we
in rural areas than in urban areas, the high must consider the occupation of the people most
proportion of people living in rural areas within at risk, as many of them also work in outdoor
the least developed countries and the world at large conditions frequently.
means that hundreds of millions of impoverished
While this provides a few examples of the
people are living in high risk regions for flooding.
However, urban areas are also impacted. Many increased exposure that the most disadvantaged
have to climate change hazards by discussing low-
“slums” are found in low-lying parts of cities that
elevation coastal zones, drought exposure, and
are prone to flooding, and others are forced to live
along hillsides that are at risk for mudslides. the threat that urban areas face, this list is by no
means exhaustive. The most vulnerable among
Additionally, although too much water may us are disproportionately exposed to climate
be a problem for some, too little water may be change hazards a number of ways, and we must
a problem for others. Around one-third of the adequately combat the issue of increased exposure
world’s population lives in arid, semi-arid, and to climate change hazards.
Rural farming in Nepal (Wikimedia)

Increased Susceptibility to Damage temperatures and heatwaves as they are less able
The second factor that results in disadvantaged to afford air conditioning and other methods of
people being disproportionately impacted by heat alleviation.
climate change is an increased susceptibility Gender, age, ethnicity, and race also affect the
climate change caused damages. Susceptibility susceptibility of the disadvantaged to damages
to damage can depend on many things, from the caused by climate change. As aforementioned,
types of building material used in infrastructures women are often tasked with collecting water and
to the types of occupations of those most firewood, exposing them to climate change hazards
disadvantaged. For example, if there are two and heightening existing gender inequality. For
houses constructed within a flood plain or by example, prolonged drought due to climate
the coast and one is made out of flimsy materials change resulted in poverty traps for women in
and the other is made out of sturdy materials, Gituamba, Kenya, and household surveys and
the house made of flimsy materials will likely be village focus group studies across nine African
more severely damaged by a flood or coastal storm countries found that a number of issues make
than the sturdy house. This was seen in Mumbai, climate change more harmful to women than
India in 2005 when low-income families living in men. From limited control of land to less access
less sturdy homes required multiple home repairs to common property resources, legal precedent
following devastating floods, the cumulative cost alongside social norms result in this disparity. Age
being a much higher proportion of their income is also a key factor in the level of susceptibility
when compared to the repairs done by more that the disadvantaged face, with younger and
wealthy households in sturdier housing. older populations especially vulnerable. For
The disparity over lost income extends to example, flood related mortality in Nepal was
the agricultural sector as well, as the poorest higher for both boys and girls when compared to
households in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, adult men and women,30 and the elderly are more
and Yemen experienced higher losses of income, likely to suffer from chronic respiratory diseases
crops, livestock, and fish caught due to climate and heart disease that can be exacerbated by heat.
related changes, losing 46.4% of their income The elderly are also less able to relocate prior to or
compared to only 20.7% for rich households. following disasters that will become more frequent
Similarly, low income farmers in Uganda lose with climate change, as in the case of the elderly
greater shares of income from limited rainfall than residents of Limpopo, South Africa, who did not
the average farmer because of their limited ability have access to the labor necessary to build flood-
to use water saving technology, limited access to resistant homes, and subsequently experienced
agricultural extension services and water storage more damage. Finally, ethnicity and race also
facilities, and limited options for changing crop play a role in susceptibility to damages caused
patterns. by climate change. Seen in the Irrawaddy delta
in Myanmar following cyclone Nargis in 2008,
However, the disadvantaged are also more the densely populated region of low-income,
susceptible to climate change hazards related to minority farmers experienced extensive damage
health. People living in poverty are more likely to due to a lack of effective warning systems and
suffer from diseases that climate change may help infrastructure, suffering the most in lives, income,
to spread, such as malaria and waterborne diseases and assets lost. Furthermore, Afro-Latinos and
that thrive in untreated and misused water indigenous groups suffer disproportionate climate
sources, demonstrated by a higher prevalence effects throughout many places in Latin America
of disease in the low-income neighborhoods of with the effects of low-income also intertwined
Mumbai, India following monsoon flooding. The with race and ethnicity status.
disadvantaged are also adversely affected by high
As is true with the discussion of the increased communities. meaning that the well-off are less
exposure to climate change hazards, this does not impacted by the effects of climate change on these
provide every example of increased susceptibility ecosystems than the disadvantaged. Thus, while
that the disadvantaged face. With factors ranging the tools that the disadvantaged use to recover
from building material used in infrastructures from disaster are being damaged by climate
to gender and from crop loss to ethnicity, it is change, the well-off and their ability to recover
clear that the increased susceptibility that the following climate related disasters are not.
disadvantaged face to damages caused by climate
change hazards is a multifaceted and complicated Another example of the disparity in recovery
problem. Notably, the increased susceptibility that between the disadvantaged and the well-off can be
the disadvantaged face reinforces inequalities that found in New Orleans, USA, following Hurricane
made these individuals more susceptible initially. Katrina, also demonstrating the role that ethnicity
and race play in recovery. Areas of the city that
suffered the worst damage, predominantly low-
income and black communities, experienced much
Decreased Ability to Recover slower recovery times than wealthier and whiter
neighborhoods. Ultimately, this resulted in a cycle
Lastly, the third factor we identified earlier is where many black residents did not return to New
that they are less able to recover from damage Orleans at all, demonstrating the devotion of less
that climate change inevitably causes. Alongside resources to assist the recovery of low-income and
evidence from Kraay et al. that the disadvantaged black neighborhoods which further drove black
recover slower from disasters than privileged residents from the city. It was discovered that
communities, the disadvantaged simply do not the slow recovery time in predominantly black
have access to resources that allow them to recover parts of the city was a conscious effort to reduce
in the same way that those with those resources construction and inhabitation of low-elevation
do. For example, Little et al. found that poverty- areas that are vulnerable to flooding, and those
stricken households in Ethiopia were forced to who could return to the city had better labor
sell livestock assets during droughts while richer market outcomes than those who could not.
households were not. Furthermore, poor families
in Sub-Saharan Africa were found less likely to Thus, as is true for the increased exposure
eat nutritious food, less likely to go to the doctor, to climate change hazards and the increased
and more likely to take their children out of susceptibility to the damage caused by those
school to save money. However, beyond personal hazards, the disparity in recovery from damage
resources, publicly owned resources that people can also exacerbate existing inequality and further
rely on to recover from disaster are also threatened harm the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Taken
by climate change hazards, particularly for the together, the three factors we have just gone
disadvantaged. Many groups of people rely upon over highlight the danger that the disadvantaged
access to commonly owned ecosystems for means face when it comes to climate change hazards.
of sustenance such as timber and fish as well as for Attempting to solve the issue of inequity as it
a significant portion of their income. Thus, any relates to climate change without recognizing the
slight change in said resources due to a disaster or multiple facets of the problem will not succeed in
climate change at large could impact their income full. Now that you know more about the problem
overnight. In comparison, Noack et al. (2014) and its subtleties, we are going to talk specifically
found that the richest 20% of communities about indigenous communities, women, and
in Latin America, South Asia, and East Asia children and the threats they face.
depend on these commonly-owned resources and
services less than the bottom 80% of those same
Indigenous Communities, Women, and polar regions have already moved to areas with
Children more food and milder conditions. Because the
I identity of indigenous peoples is often associated
with their ancestral and their livelihoods, the
ndigenous communities, women, and children degradation of these lands and livelihoods due
experience climate change more harshly than to climate change effectively erases their culture.
others, similarly to poor communities. While the This threat of erasure is felt even more strongly
majority of this guide will be focused on poor by the indigenous people who inhabit low-
communities so as to not make the topic area too lying island states where rising sea-levels and
broad, I will be addressing these other groups of inaccessible fresh water could force them to
people in this section as I think it is important abandon their land and homes completely. If sea-
and something you should consider throughout levels were to rise anywhere between 0.18m and
your time at conference. 0.59m throughout this century as predicted by
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
As will later be discussed, one of the first (IPCC), entire islands would disappear beneath
international recognitions of climate change the water, raising the question as to where the
as a human rights issue was posed to the Inter- displaced would be relocated to and how their
American Commission on Human Rights rights would be protected during relocation.
(IACHR) by Sheila Watts-Cloutier, an Inuk
woman and Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar The extreme endangerment that indigenous
Conference (ICC). Detailing how climate communities face as it relates to climate change
change violates the Inuit’s rights, Watts-Cloutier stems from the fact that they often live amidst
describes in her petition to the Commission how delicate ecosystems and on lands that cannot
uniquely threatened indigenous communities continuously provide, a large part of which is
like hers are to climate change and human rights due to the systematic removal of indigenous
violations as a result. Some Inuit communities in communities from their original homes. Alongside
Greenhouse gas emissions from a factory (Sky Noir)

pollution and environmental degradation, can be especially harmful to both the agriculture
climate change thus poses an enormous risk to of those regions and the conditions they must
the fragile ecosystems and lands that indigenous endure. For example, property law in some areas
communities call home and rely on. For example, as it relates to female ownership only allows them
many of the indigenous communities of the to own small pieces of land that realistically cannot
Pacific depend upon coral reefs and the local provide much. Coupled with tasks traditionally
fish populations they support for much of their completed by women such as walking long
food, which are very biodiverse and fragile distances daily to collect water, it is a common
environments. However, with warming water that women must expose themselves to things
temperatures and increased ocean acidification as that are hazardous to their health, something
a result of rising levels of carbonic acid, coral reefs that will only become more common as the
are becoming bleached, including those around climate continues to change. The vulnerability
the communities that rely on them for basic to climate change that women face as a result of
survival. This factor, that many of the ecosystems inequality and gender roles was echoed by Verona
and lands that indigenous communities live on Collantes, an intergovernmental specialist with
are fragile and marginal, directly ties into the UN Women, when she said, “Gender inequality
next factor that leaves indigenous communities hampers women’s capacity and potential to be
particularly vulnerable to climate change: how actors of climate action. These gender inequalities
indigenous communities support themselves. — access to and control over resources, access to
Many indigenous communities entirely depend education and information, and equal rights and
on the land they live on and water they live by, access to decision-making processes — define
what is also known as subsistence living. As such, what women and men can do and cannot do in a
the impacts of climate change on indigenous particular context of climate change.”
communities infringes upon the rights of
approximately 370 million people to collect water Women are also more likely to drop out of school
and food to maintain themselves. when households come under the additional stress
associated with disasters and other climate change-
As has already been slightly touched upon, related effects, a symptom of existing gender roles
women experience greater risk of harm by climate that allow boys and men to educate themselves
change due to “gender discrimination, inequality, but stigmatizes the education of women and girls,
and inhibiting gender roles.” According to the placing it low on the list of household priorities.
IPCC, women are more at risk at all points during As it relates to rural women, they are particularly
a disaster, ranging from the community response vulnerable to the effects of climate change
during the disaster to the recovery after the storm. on agriculture and living conditions, a threat
Women have a higher mortality rate than men only exacerbated by gender discrimination and
during disasters, for example, because women prescribed gender roles. For example, as a result of
who are typically in charge of domestic affairs look social norms and property law, rural women often
after children. However, the threat that women secure only marginal land that is more exposed
face does not simply end once the storm has to climate change hazards and have to complete
passed and recovery has been completed. Women tasks such as collecting water, food, and other
are also susceptible to gender-based violence and resources, forcing them to travel long distances
sexual assault during these periods of disaster or and subject themselves to heat, pollutants, and
relocation away from an affected area. Women other hazards in the process. The vulnerability
are also more likely to stop attending school as to climate change that women face as a result of
a result of natural disasters as the education of inequality and gender roles was echoed by Verona
women and girls is secondary or even a privilege Collantes, an intergovernmental specialist with
in many places. For rural women, climate change UN Women, when she said “Gender inequality
hampers women’s capacity and potential to be resources critical to the survival of themselves
actors of climate action. These gender inequalities and their family like during Hurricane Maria. As
— access to and control over resources, access to a result, women in this position have less time
education and information, and equal rights and to pursue education or careers that would allow
access to decision-making processes — define them to move out of poverty and into a higher
what women and men can do and cannot do in a socioeconomic status, reinforcing the gender
particular context of climate change.” discrimination, inequality, and gender roles that
made them more initially.
An example of the effect of gender inequalities
and gender roles on women can be seen clearly Finally, it is also important that we discuss the
in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in impact of climate change on some of the world’s
2017, killing nearly 3,000 people and becoming most vulnerable: children. Under the Convention
the most costly hurricane to ever hit the island. A on the Rights of the Child, states are compelled
report conducted by Oxfam found that women to protect children’s rights as it relates to pollution
carried much of the burden of recovering from and the degradation of the environment. Studies
the hurricane, where women who are responsible show that climate change will only worsen
for taking care of people and the domestic sphere existing health conditions and risks to children
in general found themselves managing water while simultaneously eroding protective and
and electricity needs for months despite the developmental systems such as education. In
toll it took on their physical and mental health. terms of education, something else to consider
Ultimately, climate change clearly makes the is the impact that the education of children
maintenance of the domestic sphere by women a on climate change may have on communities.
much more difficult task than it already is, with Educating those who we will be tasked in the
forest fires, droughts, and other disasters causing future with thinking of ideas of environmental
women to spend longer times travelling to collect preservation and climate change could allow us
Children carried through floodwaters after Cyclone Idai (Daily Mail)

to make a difference from a multigenerational, other items gathered from fish and wildlife which
proactive standpoint rather than the retroactive supply rural residents dependent on subsistence
standpoint experienced by generations today. It is uses,” the threat to the Inuit’s subsistence by the
also important to note that the impact of climate changes that climate change is causing to their
change on the health of children will be most surrounding environment subsequently threatens
evident in the developing world where natural their right to life.
disasters, a lack of consistent access to water,
and extreme heat already result in malnutrition As it relates to the right of life of children, the
and child mortality at rates not seen in the more Committee on the Rights of the Child stated it
developed world or by people of privilege. must be promoted “through the enforcement
of all the other provisions of the Convention,
including rights to health, adequate nutrition,
social security, an adequate standard of living, a
The Human Rights at Stake healthy and safe environment ….” The report also
references the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)
The next portion of the history and discussion of of the United Nations IPCC which projects an
the problem section of the background guide will increase in death and injury from natural disasters
detail which specific human rights are threatened such as floods and heatwaves, as well as death and
by climate change and its effects. Please consider injury that stem from food-related maladies such
each of these carefully as you are reading, as you as malnutrition. The IPCC AR4 also projects the
will be required to address them throughout your average sea level to rise anywhere between 0.44m
time at conference and in the draft resolutions and 0.77m by 2100, potentially devastating the
you will be writing. small island, low-lying coastal, and atoll states
whose populations generally live near the water.
Furthermore, given that “262 million people were
affected by climate disasters annually from 2000
The Right to Life to 2004, over 98 percent of them in the developing
The right to life is protected under Article 6 of the world” according to a Human Development
ICCPR where it states, “Every human being has the Report by the United Nations Development
inherent right to life. This right shall be protected Programme (UNDP), it is evident that weather-
by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his related disasters play a big role in threatening the
life.” The notion that climate change can directly right to life of millions around the globe.
infringe upon one’s right to life as defined by the
ICCPR was declared by the Inuit in their petition Ultimately, ensuring that the right to life is
to the IACHR, stating that the greenhouse gas protected in the context of climate change requires
emissions of the United States have impeded the that other sets of human rights are fulfilled as
Inuit’s right to life. They cite changes in snow well, demonstrated by the Inuit petition to the
and ice that jeopardize individual Inuit lives, the IACHR and the Male’ Declaration that describe
threat to critical food sources, and unpredictable their right to life as being threatened by changes to
weather that makes travelling dangerous. Inuit their environment and their ability to survive off
hunters fall through rapidly thinning ice, and of subsistence. Thus, it is important to recognize
game is becoming scarce as the climate changes. that saying the right to life is fulfilled depends
Coupled with changes in species’ locations and upon making sure other human rights are being
travel difficulties, this damages the Inuit’s right fulfilled as well.
to subsistence. Thus, because according to the
U.S. Congress, “no practical alternative means
are available to replace the food supplies and
The Right to Food and Water drinking water services, and 3 billion people do
The right to food is given under Article 11 of the not have access to places to wash their hands. Water
ICESCR, affirming that States “recognize the right contamination and diseases linked to water are
of everyone to an adequate standard of living for preventing billions from experiencing their right
himself and his family, including adequate food,” to health as we will later discuss, and the CESCR
thus acknowledging that a part of fulfilling the recognizes that “the continuing contamination,
right to food involves that food be nutritious as a depletion and unequal distribution of water is
means of preventing malnourishment. However, exacerbating existing poverty.” As is true for the
the right to food is clearly threatened by climate other human rights mentioned thus far, the right
change as delineated in the Fifth Assessment to water is also threatened by climate change
Report (AR5) of the IPCC. With a projected and its impacts. The IPCC AR5 states that
increase in average global temperature of 1 to climate change is predicted to “reduce renewable
3°C above late twentieth century levels, “wheat, surface water and groundwater resources in
rice, and maize in tropical and temperate regions, most dry subtropical regions,” and the IPCC
climate change without adaptation is projected to AR4 projects that “widespread mass losses from
negatively impact production,” increasing the risk glaciers and reductions in snow cover over recent
of food insecurity and hunger decades are projected to accelerate. . . reducing
water availability, hydropower potential, and
More specifically, a report conducted by the changing seasonality of flows in regions supplied
UNDP in 2006 estimates that 600 million more by meltwater from major mountain ranges (e.g.
people will be threatened by malnutrition due to Hindu-Kush, Himalaya, Andes), where more
the effects of climate change, especially in Sub- than one-sixth of the world population currently
Saharan Africa where malnutrition and food lives.”
insecurity are already prevalent. Furthermore, in a
report by Special Rapporteur on the right to food Taken together, the right to food and water are
Jean Ziegler, it was acknowledged that “half of inherent rights that every human being needs
the world’s hungry people therefore depend for in order to survive, acting as constituents of the
their survival on lands which are inherently poor overarching right to life. It is imperative that
and which may be becoming less fertile and less throughout your time at conference the right to
productive as a result of the impacts of repeated both food and water are addressed, particularly
droughts, climate change and unsustainable how these rights are specifically threatened for
land use.” Thus, in order to ensure that the right marginalized and disadvantaged groups such as
to food is fulfilled for all rather than just the the poor, women and children, and indigenous
privileged, special attention must be given to the peoples.
most vulnerable either because of their subsistence
lifestyle, poverty, or otherwise.
While the right to water is not explicitly given The Right to Health
under the ICESCR, the Committee on Economic, The right to health is outlined in Article 12 of the
Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) described ICESCR, stating that everyone has the right “to
water as a “prerequisite for the realization of the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard
other human rights” like right to food and the of physical and mental health.” Accordingly,
right to health. Furthermore, a report by the fulfilling the right to health necessitates the
World Health Organization (WHO) and United fulfillment of other human rights.
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that
1 in 3 people globally do not have access to The IPCC AR5 report describes the impact of
safe drinking water, 2.2 billion people lack safe climate change on the right to health, detailing
a “greater likelihood of injury and death due to However, climate change particularly threatens
more intense heat waves and fires, increased risks the rights of those who live in low-lying coastal
from foodborne and waterborne diseases and loss areas, small island states, the Arctic, and river
of work capacity and reduced labour productivity deltas to adequate housing. The natural safeguards
in vulnerable populations.” Furthermore, with that are in place to protect our coasts from erosion
increases in malnutrition, injury, and death due and flooding, such as mangroves, coral reefs, and
to extreme weather events, healthcare systems saltmarshes, are also projected to deteriorate as
could be stressed to the point where healthcare the climate changes, increasing coastal exposure
can no longer be provided to those who need it to waves and storms and putting those who live
most, particularly those whose health systems are along those coasts at risk. In a UNDP report
short on doctors and/or funding. from 2007/2008, they cite that there are “1
billion people currently living in urban slums on
The Right to Adequate Housing fragile hillsides or flood-prone river banks,” an
unfathomable number of people who are at risk
The right to adequate housing is listed in Article of having their right to adequate housing violated.
11 of the ICESCR as one of the requirements for Appropriately combating the threat that climate
promoting the “right of everyone to an adequate change poses to the right to adequate housing
standard of living,” described by the CESCR as will require “adequate protection of housing from
“the right to live somewhere in security, peace, weather hazards, access to housing away from
and dignity.” However, the CESCR also makes hazardous zones, access to shelter and disaster
it evident that fulfilling the right to adequate preparedness in cases of displacement caused
housing is not just making sure everyone has a by extreme weather events, and the protection
house but “rather it should be seen as the right of communities that are relocated away from
to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity.” hazardous zones.”
Residents of South Tarawa, Kiribati walking through hide tides (New York Times)
This portion of the guide will present you with

some of the greatest effects of climate change
The Right to Self-Determination on our lives and how those effects are felt more
profoundly by those who are most disadvantaged.
The very first article of the ICESCR states that all
people have the right to self-determination, that
they may “freely determine their political status
and freely pursue their economic, social and Food Security
cultural development.” However, the right to self-
determination is endangered by climate change The first of major effects of climate change on
and its effects, especially affecting indigenous human life that we will discuss is that of food
populations and those who live on small island security. The Food and Agriculture Organization
states that are threatened by the inundation of of the United Nations (FAO) defines food security
sea water. With sea-level rise and extreme coastal to be a “situation that exists when all people, at
weather events already threatening the ability to all times, have physical, social, and economic
live on low-lying island and atoll states, many of access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that
their most basic human rights are at risk. In 2015, meets their dietary needs and food preferences
the President of Kiribati and the Prime Minister for an active and healthy life.” This definition
of Tuvalu attended a UNHRC panel to discuss successfully incorporates multiple aspects of the
the impact of climate change on their states, human rights that are implicated in food security
such as the right to food and the right to health.
stating that some of their citizens have already left
their homes and that the government had begun The definition of food security provided by the
to purchase land outside of their traditional FAO also discusses the need for nutritious food to
boundaries. For indigenous populations such as prevent malnourishment and undernourishment.
the Inuit that we discussed at the beginning of Defined to be imbalances in a nutrient and energy
this section of the background guide, the risks are intake and when the food they are eating is not
the same, threatening the use of their traditional nutritious enough respectively, malnourishment
land, their sources of livelihood, and their abilityand undernourishment are crucial in discussing
to provide for themselves. food security. By incorporating the importance
of nourishment, equitable and stable food
The goal of this section of the guide was to make production, and the maintenance of said
you aware of a number of human rights that are production for generations to come, what the
threatened by climate change, as well as to make FAO has said on food security is comprehensive
you aware of how interconnected they are to one and a good starting point for our discussion of its
another. Throughout our discussion of various connection with climate change.
human rights as they relate to climate change,
the inherent relationship that exists between these Under pressure from both climate change and
human rights should have become clear, where non-climate change related things such as
the supreme right to life necessitates the right to population and income growth, the four pillars
food and water and the right to health requires of food security – availability, access, utilization,
adequate housing, and so forth. and stability – face a significant threat that should
worry all of us. In terms of food availability, rising
temperatures, decreases in annual rainfall, and
more severe weather are contributing to decreases
Current Situation
in crop yields in the places that most rely on
agriculture. Africa, for example, heavily depends
on agriculture as it employs a majority of those who
are old enough to work, contributes a significant poverty and less able to establish the regulations
proportion to the continent’s gross domestic and institutions that govern food safety. However,
product (GDP), and provides substantial value alongside food safety and human health exist
to the continents’ exports as a whole. As such, other concerns regarding food utilization and the
the reduction of crop yields in such areas due quality of our food. As climate change is being
to climate change promises to have a substantial driven by the introduction of carbon dioxide
impact on the food security of many. Industrial into the atmosphere, plants have access to excess
systems related to livestock production systems carbon dioxide and undergo photosynthesis at a
will also suffer, experiencing rises in the costs of quicker pace, an effect known as carbon dioxide
water, feeding, housing, and the destruction of fertilization.
infrastructure due to extreme events.
This, alongside reduced water loss from
The second pillar of food security – access – is transpiration and changing temperatures, affects
also negatively affected by climate change. One the metabolism of the plant and ultimately impacts
mechanism through which this will occur is the plant’s growth rates, yields, and nutritional
increased food prices brought on by the decreasing quality. Experiments designed to determine the
availability of food, particularly affecting low- effect of an elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide
income consumers who are already stretched too concentration on the nutritional value of wheat
thin financially. With 90% of those who face and rice grains found that on average, wheat
malnutrition living in developing countries, it grains contained 6% less protein, 5% less iron,
becomes clear that poverty and malnutrition are and 9% less zinc when grown in an environment
inextricably linked where malnutrition is both a of elevated carbon dioxide while protein decreased
consequence and a reinforcer of poverty. Thus, for by 10%, iron decreased by 8%, and zinc decreased
the most impoverished among us, food access is by 5% in rice grains. As rice is a staple in the diets
already difficult enough as it is, and climate changeof millions of the world’s poorest communities
is not going to help. Ultimately, the impact of in low-income countries, the decrease in its
higher food prices, lower purchasing power by the nutritional value under high carbon dioxide
consumer, and smaller/less nutritious food intake may affect the nutrient status of 600 million
will push upwards of 183 million additional people and push them into malnourishment and
people toward hunger, many of whom are already undernourishment. Furthermore, “148.4 million
balancing on the fine line that separates being of the world’s population may be placed at risk of
able to afford food and not being able to, between protein deficiency” due to rising levels of carbon
nourishment and malnourishment. dioxide according to and the number of people
at a “new risk of zinc deficiency by 2050 was 138
The impacts of climate change on the third pillar million.” For those who already struggle with
of food security – utilization – can be seen in food nourishment, especially the poor, the decrease
safety, human health, and the quality of our food. in the nutritional value of food as evidenced by
Climate change, through “changes in temperature studies relating to iron and zinc is particularly
and precipitation patterns, increased frequency dangerous and life-threatening.
and intensity of extreme weather events, ocean
warming and acidification, and changes in The impact of climate change on the final pillar
contaminants’ transport pathways” can increase of food security – stability – can be seen mainly
the occurrence of organisms that contaminate our through increased natural disasters. In 2017,
food and drink. For poor countries in particular, the FAO conducted a study on the prevalence
the lack of food safety regulations or institutions of undernourishment (PoU) and found that
to monitor food safety result in foodborne illnesses countries exposed to climate extremes had a PoU
and premature death that push them further into of 15.4%, countries with high vulnerability of
agricultural yields to climate variability had a PoU and results in a self-reinforcing cycle of increased
of 20%, and countries with risk of severe drought food aid and decreased local food production.
had a PoU of 22.4%. It was also found that Instead, the food aid that allows this to happen
countries with a high dependence on agriculture could be replaced by untied cash aid that can
as measured by the number of people who work be used to buy locally grown food or food from
in the sector, primarily low and middle-income neighboring countries, simultaneously preserving
countries with many people in poverty, were local business and getting food to those who need
found to be more vulnerable to instability and it. Nutrition is another hurdle that food aid does
food security at large. Thus, as the IPCC has not always successfully overcome, with another
stated, “A changing climate leads to changes in study finding that food aid in the Marshall Islands
the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration, due to climate change can result in poor health
and timing of extreme weather and climate outcomes due to the poor nutritional value of the
events, and can result in unprecedented extreme aid. With malnourishment, undernourishment,
weather and climate events,” more countries will and other chronic diseases related to nutrition
be exposed to extremes, drought, and experience as threats that arise from food aid that is poor in
food stability issues as a result. One study projects nutritional value, the food aid may do more harm
that the extent of heat-stressed areas in South Asia than good if it does not contain the micronutrients
could increase by 12% in 2030 and by 21% in needed to sustain healthy lives.
2050, and another finds that dry areas will get
dry earlier, more severely, and to a greater extent Taken together, the four pillars of food security
than humid regions, the population of sub- attempt to break up the multifaceted problem
Saharan Africa most at risk. Testing the potential that is food security into smaller, digestible pieces.
effects of these extreme events on food security Importantly, it should be recognized that as is true
also revealed rising instability in the global grain for many of the things we have already discussed,
trade and international grain prices, affecting the these pillars interact with one another such that
800 million people living in poverty that are most negative impacts to food availability will clearly
vulnerable to price spikes as we discussed earlier. hinder food stability, changes to food utilization
While there are alternatives that can be employed will impact food access, and so on and so forth. As
in the event of a lack of food stability and security food insecurity is something that affects all of us
at large, such as aid that specifically provides food and something that disproportionately threatens
to those who need it, that too is flawed and can the poor, it should be of great importance to our
ultimately harm the recipients it is supposed to committee throughout the conference weekend.
help. In 2015, 14.5 million people were assisted
with food aid, disaster-risk reduction, and climate
change resilience building activities, and with
the risk of hunger and malnutrition projected to Displacement due to Climate Change
increase by 20% by 2050, more people will need One of the most prominent impacts that climate
this life-saving food aid in the future. Food aid is change will have on the lives of individuals is
especially helpful for those who cannot afford food influencing where they live, rendering places
after an extreme weather event or natural disaster, uninhabitable that were once hospitable.
giving them the opportunity to save money for However, there is no international definition of
home repairs or other damages to their crops and a climate refugee or migrant. The OHCHR and
livestock while still having food to eat. However, the International Organization of Migration, for
food aid also comes with unanticipated negative example, have said that the terms ‘climate refugee’
implications. For example, some have found that and ‘environmental refugee’ should not be used
reliance on food aid hampers local food production given that refugee law does not explicitly define
these individuals and using such terms may when he filed for refugee status in New Zealand
harm the refugees who are covered by such laws. in 2010. Arguing that their lives would be
As of right now, the 1951 Refugee Convention threatened if forced to return to Kiribati due to
only extends to those who fear “being persecuted rising sea levels that threaten to sink the islands,
because of race, religion, nationality, or Teitiota highlighted the effects of climate change
membership of a social group or political opinion, on numerous rights, including his right to life,
and are unable, or unwilling to seek protection right to water, and right to adequate housing.
from their home countries.” However, agreeing After hearing and debating his case, the New
upon a coherent definition of a climate refugee Zealand government denied him protection in
or migrant is difficult, as it is hard to determine2013, and the UNHRC concurred following
whether someone is fleeing their home because his appeal of New Zealand’s decision in 2020.
of a short-term disaster exacerbated by climate However, the latter also stated in its ruling that
change, a long-term climate change hazard such people who live in places where climate change
as sea-level rise, or something in between. Some poses an immediate threat to their lives could not
people may be forced to leave due to a lack of be forced to return without states forgoing their
freshwater, the elimination of their agriculture job,
human rights obligations as laid out in article 6
or violence that arises over battles for resources. It
and 7 of the ICCPR. Although Teitiota lost his
is exactly the diverse reasons for which a climate case, was forced to return to Kiribati, and the
refugee or migrant may need to leave that makes declaration of the world’s first legally recognized
it so complicated to settle upon a single definition
climate refugee fell short, this case still represents
or cover all possibilities in a single law. a significant milestone for climate refugees and
their rights. There is now a legal precedent for
Subsequently, the human rights of those displaced those threatened by climate change to seek asylum
due to climate change are currently in jeopardy in other states when their home countries cannot
and will be without further action. This was fulfill the human rights obligations to its citizens,
challenged by Ioane Teitiota of Kiribati, however, opening the door to future refugee claims on the
Carrying belongings through flooded waters (Quartz)

basis of climate change-induced human rights force many people out of their homes and away
violations for the first time. from land that can no longer support them,
thus resulting in climate refugees and migrants
In addition to the legal aspects of climate refugees who will flock to regions that are better able to.
and migrants, it is also important to discuss the Desertification, in addition to the rising sea-levels
many different ways in which these refugees that threaten dozens of island states, coastal zone
are forced to migrate and which populations erosion, and coastal sinking, represent the more
are particularly at-risk of becoming displaced. permanent effects of climate change on habitation
Experienced by Teitiota, other inhabitants of that require long-term solutions alongside
low-lying island states, and coastal residents, short-term ones. Mitigating flooding and water
one method of displacement includes those who shortages, providing sustenance for those who
live at an elevation lower than that of high tide, can no longer support themselves, and educating
a number that will “rise to 150 million in 2050 farmers on sustainable agriculture now while
and 190 million by 2100. . .under a scenario of simultaneously preparing for mass migration from
very modest climate change.” Characterized by lands that are inhospitable to life in the long term
slow-onset disaster and gradual environmental are essential in dealing with displacement due to
degradation, the sinking of islands beneath slow-onset disaster and gradual environmental
the waves is not the only way this method of degradation.
displacement can result in climate refugees and
migrants, as desertification and the sinking of Other reasons why people may choose to relocate
coastal zones are also possibilities. Desertification due to climate change include natural disasters
is defined to be the transition of fertile land into such as hurricanes and floods and the social effects
desert as a result of drought, deforestation, and of climate change which can induce violence. For
unsustainable agricultural practices and threatens displacement caused by natural disasters, people
the lives of those who live in those areas by are often displaced for a relatively short period of
destroying the agriculture and livestock that time and are then able to return to their homes.
people may rely upon for sustenance, income, However, with over a billion people projected to
and economic stability. The lands most at risk live in low-elevation coastal zones and 100-year
for desertification (arid, semi-arid, and dry sub- flood plains within the next decade, the number
humid zones) are home to 2.7 billion people, of people threatened with displacement cannot
90% of whom live in developing countries and be understated. While these events are short-
are less able to withstand the negative effects of lived and their effects are less permanent when
desertification on crop yields, livestock, and food compared to desertification and rising sea-levels,
security. Three out of four people in poverty rely displacement occurs nonetheless, and successive
upon natural resources and agriculture to survive, storm events may be too much for some to
their sources of income and food depending on handle. The impact of successive climate shocks
animal husbandry and crop raising. For them, the from increasingly common flood and storm
land degradation and difficult access to drinking events can erode household assets, their adaptive
water and irrigation that are associated with capacity, and influence decisions involving
desertification can be devastating, as it diminishes permanent migration away from the at-risk area.
their ability to provide for themselves, others, and For the most disadvantaged and poor, this asset
gain income. As desertification is also a longer- erosion is particularly damaging, as their home,
term change to the environment when compared crops, and livestock may be all that they have in
to rapid-onset events such as storms, it is likely assets, leaving them vulnerable to damage from
that any movement out of an affected area will storm events and likely to experience economic
also be long-term and potentially permanent. distress in the aftermath. While the wealthier may
Desertification will undoubtedly continue to have more options to diversify their assets so that
one major storm does not eliminate their wealth, become larger if climate change is not addressed.
move away from the at-risk areas, and adapt One must consider how to define a climate
locally to better withstand storm events, the poor refugee or migrant or otherwise protect their
often do not have those same options. The most rights in the event of displacement, the different
vulnerable groups have the fewest opportunities to reasons for which someone may relocate, the
adapt locally or move away from the at-risk area, effects of climate change on violence and conflict,
and they face adverse circumstances even if given and more. Tackling this portion of the connection
the opportunity to travel. With 97% of global of the overarching issue of climate change is an
disaster displacement from rapid-onset hazards essential part of the work that we will do together
coming from low and middle income countries at conference, as one of climate change’s most
from 2008 to 2013, it is evident that the poor and profound impacts to our lives will be where we
disadvantaged simultaneously experience the most are able to settle.
displacement, are least prepared for displacement,
and are most hurt by displacement that results
from rapid-onset events such as hurricanes and
floods. Public Health
As mentioned, displacement can also materialize On top of everything else we have already
due to the social impact of climate change which discussed, climate change also poses a great threat
often leads to violence and conflict. Exacerbating to public health, both at the local, individual level
and driving conflict through increased pressure and the international level. As has been the pattern
of resources, natural disasters, and sea-level thus far, this burden will predominantly fall on
rise, climate change can subsequently threaten those in poverty or otherwise disadvantaged. In
livelihoods, increase competition for natural 2018, the Fourth National Climate Assessment
resources, intensify socioeconomic, gender, by the U.S. Global Change Research Program
and racial cleavages, reduce state capability and and 13 other U.S. scientific agencies described
legitimacy, trigger poorly designed climate action how “higher temperatures, severe weather events
with unintended consequences, and lead to large and rising seas can contribute to heat-related
movements of people that may have negative cardiopulmonary illness, infectious disease and
impacts in receiving areas. According to one mental-health issues,” also acknowledging that
study by the International Alert and Swedish factors such as poverty, discrimination, unequal
International Development Cooperation Agency access to healthcare, and pre-existing conditions
(SIDA), “there are 46 countries – home to 2.7 have a role in making some populations extremely
billion people – in which the effects of climate vulnerable to public health hazards.
change interacting with economic, social and One way in which climate change can be
political problems will create a high risk of detrimental to human health are the heat-
violent conflict.” However, an annual report aggravated illnesses that will only be exacerbated
from the OHCHR stated that “it should be as the global average temperature continues to
noted, however, that knowledge remains limited rise. With hot days expected to become even
as to the causal linkages between environmental hotter and more frequent, heat stroke, exhaustion,
factors and conflict and there is little empiricalcardiovascular issues, and kidney problems are
evidence to substantiate the projected impacts of projected to become more severe, particularly for
environmental factors on armed conflict.” the elderly. Furthermore, with increased ozone,
With hundreds of millions of people who may pollutant, pollen, and other aeroallergen levels
have to leave their homes due to climate change, as another consequence of higher temperatures,
it is without question that a refugee crisis will the 300 million people living with asthma are
also at risk of having their condition aggravated. However, beyond heat-related illnesses, climate
However, alongside the illnesses and conditions change can also result in an increase of vector-
that climate change will make worse through borne diseases and water-borne diseases. With
heat, it will likely result in many more deaths. rising temperatures and the frost-free season
Rising temperatures are predicted to cause up getting longer, disease-carrying vectors such
to tens of thousands of premature deaths across as mosquitoes and ticks will expand beyond
the United States during the summer months their current range in the tropics to include
through heat waves and increased average midlatitudes and increase in activity. One
temperatures, a staggering toll that will likely mosquito, the Aedes aegypti which caused the
be matched or surpassed by countries across the Zika Virus epidemic in 2016 and dengue viruses,
world who experience more heat stress. With little is already beginning to expand its range into
to no access to air conditioning or other means Northern America along with the mosquito that
of heat alleviation, many of those in poverty are causes the West Nile Virus. Another study done
much more at risk to die from heat-related causes in 2016 concluded that warmer winters are likely
than those not in poverty, whether it be in urban to in increase the number of ticks that survive and
or rural environments. For those in poverty who lengthen the time in which they are active, while
do live in urban areas, the exacerbation of heat- their range will expand to other areas more slowly
related health issues may be even more extreme than mosquito-borne diseases. As is true for heat-
with the EPA stating that paved surfaces and aggravated illnesses, those who work outside or
the built environment retain heat and can make otherwise spend a large amount of their time
air temperature in cities up to 12°C hotter than outdoors have an increased risk of becoming ill via
nearby rural areas. mosquitos, ticks, or other vectors. With low- and
Women collecting water from a dried-up lake in Chennai, India (New York Times)
middle-income families more likely to be in this areas that are cheaper for them to build on. The
position when compared to high income families, same study done on pollution levels in California
it becomes evident that once again, those who are found that sources of pollution such as shipyards,
more disadvantaged face a disproportionate threat factories, warehouse delivery trucks, aviation and
from increased prevalence of climate change- agriculture are often located closer to low-income
aggravated diseases. and predominantly non-white neighborhoods.
Alongside heat-related illnesses and vector-borne Finally, public health is also threatened by food
diseases, diseases and death that arise as a result and water that is either unreliable, unsafe, or both,
of air and water pollution are also expected to as well as by natural disasters that will impact more
worsen with climate change. As temperatures and more people. Regarding access to safe food
continue to rise, so will the amount of ground- and water, the former we have already discussed
level ozone, the main ingredient in smog that can in detail through food security, crop yields, price
blanket entire metropolitan areas such as New increases, and decreases in the nutritional value
Delhi, India where breathing the air is equivalent of food grown at higher concentrations of carbon
to smoking 50 cigarettes a day on the health of dioxide. However, this threat extends beyond
your lungs. In 2017, pollution of both water that of food and impacts milk and water as well.
and air resulted in the deaths of over 2.3 million Research conducted by the U.S. Department
people in India alone, a toll that reached 8.3 of Agriculture shows that cows produce less
million people worldwide and represented 15% milk at higher temperatures, and any milk that
of all deaths that year. Many of these premature is produced is lower in fat, solids, lactose, and
deaths due to pollution can be found in places protein content, a reduction in value that will
where both air and water quality are not well harm those who may rely on milk for sources
maintained or maintained at all, thus harming the of protein and nutrients. Rising temperature
people who contribute the least to the problem of and extreme weather will also negatively impact
excess greenhouse gas emissions. Discrimination water quality and access, with warm water
and racism also play a big role in who gets exposed temperatures and increased stormwater runoff
to the worst of air and water pollution. Numerous resulting in harmful algae blooms and storms
studies have concluded that your socioeconomic and sea-level rise threatening drinking water,
status and your race have a significant role in wastewater, and water infrastructure by increasing
the amount of pollution you are exposed to, the number of people exposed to contaminated
with research by Yale University showing that water. Extreme weather can also overwhelm water
air contains “more hazardous ingredients in treatment facilities, leading to the contamination
non-white and low-income communities than of common water sources that communities
in affluent white ones.” In California, U.S.A. rely on. Beyond impacts to our food and water,
for example, another study found that African extreme weather such as droughts, wildfires, and
Americans and Latinos breathe in around 40% tropical cyclones very clearly have the power to
more particulate matter from vehicles than white physically harm us and make the public health of
Californians, and households earning less than a region worse. On top of this, it is also important
US $20,000 per year and people who do not to recognize the impact that extreme weather
own cars suffer vehicle pollution levels around can have not just on physical health but mental
20% higher than the state average. Unfortunately, health as well, with post-traumatic stress disorder,
the disproportionate exposure to air pollution anxiety, and depression being some of the most
that low-income and non-white communities common effects of extreme weather on the mental
face is not an accident, with corporations and health of those affected. Furthermore, with one
regulators building hazardous-waste sites, power 2019 study projecting up to 52% more deaths
plants, and waste incinerators in low-income by tropical cyclones under many climate change
scenarios and the harm extreme weather can do IACHR to convince the commission that “the
to healthcare infrastructures by forcing hospitals United States is violating the human rights of Inuit
and residential facilities in impacted areas to shut people by failing to take action on climate change.”
down, it is clear that the impact that extreme This, described by the UN Special Rapporteur on
weather events have on public health and safety human rights and the environment John Knox,
is extensive. “was the first harbinger of a sea-change in how the
international community thinks about climate
Altogether, climate change and public health change.”
are inextricably linked, and their entanglement
ranges from heat-aggravated illnesses to tick- Later that year, the representatives of the Small
borne diseases and from healthcare infrastructure Island Developing States (SIDS) adopted the
to discrimination against low-income and non- Male’ Declaration on the Human Dimension of
white communities as it relates to pollution Global Climate Change, and for the first time in
exposure. The threats to public health that we have an international agreement, declared that climate
outlined together, as has been true for all other change impedes on human rights. In a similar
sections thus far, is by no means exhaustive. The way to the Inuit petition, the Male’ Declaration
relationship between public health and climate emphasized climate change’s impact on a number
change is multifaceted with many moving parts, of basic human rights, also detailing their
but combating these threats to public health unique vulnerability as small states that sit barely
and protecting the human right to health is an above sea level to rising waters. The UNHRC
essential piece of the puzzle that we will try to responded accordingly to the Male’ Declaration
figure out at conference. and passed its first resolution on climate change
and human rights, stating that “climate change
poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to
Past International Actions people and communities around the world and
has implications for the full enjoyment of human
Unfortunately, the recognition of climate rights.” Recognizing the extreme vulnerability of
change as a human rights problem alongside an the world’s poor to the effects of climate change,
environmental problem is still a relatively new this resolution was also the first mention of
concept and one that is still evolving. One of the climate change and its disproportionate impact
first to formally acknowledge this connection on the poor by the UN.
was Inuk woman and Chair of the ICC Sheila Resolution 7/23 adopted by the UNHRC
Watt-Cloutier who has been mentioned in some also requested that the Office of the United
other sections already. In 2005, she presented a Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
petition to the IACHR alleging that The United (OHCHR) conduct a study on the relationship
States, by contributing to climate change through between climate change and human rights. This
greenhouse gas emissions, committed human report came into fruition in 2009 and cited
rights violations against them. both the Male’ Declaration and resolution 7/23
Discussing how climate change violates a number as catalysts for its completion. The report both
of the rights we have discussed in previous sections, detailed which specific human rights are most at
the Inuit link climate change to detrimental risk of being threatened by climate change and
effects on human rights specifically in the context which groups of people are most vulnerable to
of indigenous peoples. Although this petition was climate change. Women, children, and indigenous
initially rejected by the IACHR, in 2007 ICC peoples were listed by the OHCHR as some of
representative Martin Wagner testified before the the most vulnerable groups of people, along
with those displaced due to climate change. The
report also discussed how industrialized countries In 2010, the Conference of Parties (COP) to
have contributed most greenhouse gas emissions the United Nations Framework Convention on
yet have the capacity to tackle climate change. Climate Change (UNFCCC) formally echoed
In contrast, “the impacts of climate change are the language of the UNHRC at the 2010
distributed very unevenly, disproportionately United Nations Climate Change Conference,
affecting poorer regions and countries, that is, citing climate change’s threat to human rights,
those who have generally contributed the least and declared that “parties should, in all climate
to human-induced climate change.” Following change related actions, fully respect human
the publication of this report on 15 January rights.” Momentum continued to build, and in
2009, the UNHRC passed resolution 10/4 on 2012 an expert on human rights as it relates to
25 March 2009 as a more detailed follow-up to climate change was appointed by the UNHRC.
resolution 7/23 that first stated the Council’s On Human Rights Day in 2014, the UN Special
acknowledgement of the issue, affirming “human Procedures Mandate Holders urged members to
rights obligations and commitments have the consider human rights in climate change-related
potential to inform and strengthen international negotiations, stating “human rights must be
and national policy making in the area of climate pivotal in the ongoing negotiations and the new
change, promoting policy coherence, legitimacy agreement must be firmly anchored in the human
and sustainable outcomes.” Referencing the rights framework.”
OHCHR’s report and the specific human rights
that are threatened as a result of climate change, In January 2015, the Special Rapporteur reminded
the resolution also identified “geography, gender, all parties attending the 2015 Paris Climate
age, indigenous or minority status, or disability” Conference that “States’ human rights obligations
as factors that make someone more vulnerable to also encompass climate change,” stating that it
climate change. is “beyond debate that climate change threatens
Protests outside the White House against the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreemeent (Vox)
the enjoyment of a vast range of human rights.” rules were reached. While the issue was initially
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, supposed to be debated and/or settled at the 2020
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, echoed Knox’s words at UN Climate Change Conference, the conference
the Conference, declaring that “effective and was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19
ambitious action is certainly a moral imperative. pandemic.
But it is also a legal obligation.” Zeid also stated
that we are “living in an age of widespread breach
of these [human rights] obligations” as a result Timeline of Significant Events
of climate change, acknowledging the special
attention the vulnerable should receive as these • In 1946, the United Nations Commission
issues are solved in the future. These statements on Human Rights was established by the
from the High Commissioner were a precursor to United Nations. Composed of 53 members,
what was agreed upon when the Paris Agreement the commission was tasked with examining the
was drafted from 30 November – 12 December human rights of UN member states.
2015:
• In 1948, the UDHR was adopted by the
“Acknowledging that climate change is a common General Assembly, becoming the first set of
concern of humankind, Parties should, when international human rights standards.
taking action to address climate change, respect,
promote and consider their respective obligations • From 1947 to 1967, the Commission strictly
on human rights, the right to health, the rights of promoted human rights and helped to expand
indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, state treaties, observing the sovereignty principle
children, persons with disabilities and people in and not investigating or condemning human
vulnerable situations and the right to development, rights violators.
as well as gender equality, empowerment of
women and intergenerational equity.” • In 1966, both the ICCPR and the ICESCR
were passed by the General Assembly, becoming
Despite the tremendous progress that this constituent treaties of the International Bill of
agreement represents, there is still debate over Human Rights.
how best to implement what was agreed to. One
such portion that is unclear is Article 6, a keystone • From 1967 onward, the Commission
within the Paris Agreement that would ensure abandoned its observation-only policy and
nations make meaningful emissions reductions adopted interventionism, promising to
through international carbon markets, as well investigate human rights violators and produce
as a central UN mechanism for trading credits reports on their investigations.
from emissions reductions generated through • In 2005, Inuit woman and Chair of the ICC
specific projects. For example, countries that have Sheila Watt-Cloutier filed a petition to the
already exceeded their emissions reductions target IACHR alleging that the United States committed
may ‘sell’ their surplus to another country for human rights violations by contributing to
carbon credits. However, many have argued that climate change.
Article 6, in establishing these carbon markets,
ultimately allows states to circumvent human • In 2006, the Commission was replaced with
rights obligations. Discontent was displayed at the UNHRC.
the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference, where
demonstrations against Article 6 broke out and • In 2007, the SIDS adopted the Male’
resulted in around 300 detentions, all while no Declaration on the Human Dimension of
decision on how to implement Article 6 or its
Global Climate Change citing the connection address a multitude of topics in a manner that
between human rights and climate change. makes them meaningful and impactful. Thus, in
this portion of the guide, we will discuss some of
• Also in 2007, the UNHRC adopted resolution the solutions that have been proposed to guide
5/1, establishing three bodies under their your thinking on your own solutions that will
jurisdiction: the UPR Working Group, Advisory be drafted in committee. However, it is also
Committee, and Complaint Procedure. important to realize that as the understanding of
• In 2008, the UNHRC adopted resolution climate change as a human rights issue is relatively
7/23, recognizing that climate change prevents new, you have the ability to take solutions in many
people from enjoying their full set of human different directions and beyond that of what we
rights. will discuss in this section during committee and
the draft resolution writing process.
• In 2009, a report conducted by the OHCHR
on the climate change and human rights was One such solution to consider is one that
released, explaining how specific human rights attempts to solve the problem of food insecurity
are at risk due to climate change and describing in Africa. With the short and long-term effects
the groups of people that are most vulnerable to of climate change, poverty, land degradation,
climate change. and poor farming processes, Africa cannot feed
its rapidly growing population and will be less
• Also in 2009, the UNHRC passed resolution able to do so as the climate continues to change
10/4, citing how different factors result in specific if nothing is done. However, with 60% of the
groups of people being especially at risk to climate global uncultivated arable land, Africa has the
change. potential to dramatically change the way in which
food is produced and feed its entire population
• In 2015, the Paris Agreement acknowledged in the process. One major way in which this
that Parties should remember to implement human can be accomplished is what the IPCC labels
rights responsibilities when combating climate as sustainable land management (SLM), an
change. It also recognized the disproportionate important part of addressing the threats of climate
impact that certain groups feel when it comes to change, food insecurity, and malnutrition and
climate change. undernutrition while also improving the delivery
of water and protecting against disease. Alongside
SLM, the IPCC also encourages multifunctional
Proposed Solutions land-use approaches combining food production,
cash crops, ecosystem services, biodiversity
As has been seen by this point, the relationship conservation, ecosystem services delivery, and the
between climate change and human rights is a incorporation of indigenous and local knowledge.
very complex one with different facets of the issue Designed to address extreme events and short-
to consider and diverse groups of people who term climate variability, stress on water resources,
are affected. The connection between the two flooding, pests, the warming and drying trend,
extends from issues of food insecurity to massive reduced crop productivity due to heat, drought,
displacement, and those who are impacted by deforestation, and land degradation, and increased
climate change and its effects range from the pest and disease damage, the IPCC as well as a
indigenous people that reside in northern Canada number of other studies have put together both
to Somali women collecting water. Any solutions short-term, incremental adaptations and long-
that are put forth must be comprehensive enough term, transformational adaptations. Examples
to help the full range of people whose human of incremental adaptations include changes in
rights are threatened by climate change and water management and water harvesting, the
introduction of agroforestry, the introduction of common extreme-weather events, rising sea-

planting dates and feed banks, soil management levels, desertification, and the other effects of
and composting, and the adoption of drought- climate change will force millions from their
tolerant crop and livestock species. In contrast, homes if something is not done. As it stands right
transformational adaptations include early warning now, the term “climate refugee” and “climate
systems for droughts and floods, the abandonment migrant” do not exist in international law, so
of monoculture farming and diversifying crops, there are no protections for most of those who
crop and livestock insurance, erosion control, are displaced due to some effect of climate
climate services for new agricultural programs, change, either forced or voluntary. With different
new technology such as farming systems, crop, and reasons for which they may be migrating such as
livestock breeds, food storage and transportation job elimination due to drought, desertification,
infrastructure, and changes in cropping area and decreased crop yields, or intense coastal storms,
land rehabilitation. This can all be made possible the diverse way in which climate change impacts
through the establishment of climate services, and displaces people complicates this lack of legal
integrated water management policies, seed banks protection further. Thus, the question remains as
and seed distribution policies, a national food to how the massive displacement will be handled
security program based on increased productivity and how human rights will be protected in the
and the diversification of crops, the strengthening process. Put together by Groundswell of the
of local and national institutions to support World Bank Group, a study on internal climate
agriculture and livestock breeding, and input migration in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and
from local communities and indigenous people Latin America was released in 2018 and offers
on sustainability and agriculture. insight as to how we may attempt to solve this
complicated problem. Whereas the solutions to
While I will not go into the details of every food insecurity presented by the IPCC were a
part of this compiled solution by the IPCC, it mix of both short-term, incremental adaptations
is important to note that some of the ideas they and long-term, transformational adaptations,
propose are outside of the jurisdiction of the UN. this report emphasizes that incremental measures
Imposing requirements upon states to change may not be enough to counter the effects of
local and national institutions to better support climate change on migration. Part of the longer-
agriculture, for example, is not achievable, whereas term solution, for example, may be an economic
recommendations can be made on how to adjust transition toward sectors that are less vulnerable
those institutions and providing funding for those to climate change by providing training to
changes is possible. That being said, what the migrants, identifying destination labor markets,
IPCC has put together in regard to food security and supporting migrant integration into new
in Africa is very comprehensive and detailed and jobs. Alongside this, the report also encourages
is a possible roadmap for what can be done about investment in human capital and adequate
food insecurity not just in Africa but around the management of demographic transitions, where
world. However, there is still debate on how to reduced mortality and fertility rates translate into
best tackle food insecurity and related issues in a younger, larger, and more dependent workforce.
the context of climate change, as some advocate In order to support this large and young workforce,
for a rejection of meat-based diets in favor of policies ensuring healthcare, education, and
plant-based diets in order to reduce greenhouse employment for the workforce are essential to a
gas emissions and reduce the pollution of water productive and climate-resilient labor market that
by fertilizers. can expand into non-agricultural and climate-
Another potential solution is one that tackles resilient sectors. In the short and medium term,
the brewing migration crisis as increasingly giving migrants the ability to make informed
migration decisions rather than making choices consequence of climate change and an aggravator
based on limited information could improve of diseases and illnesses, the EPA suggests
migration outcomes. By providing pre-departure incentives and awards from governments, utilities,
orientations, increasing migrants’ financial and other organizations to encourage individual
literacy, securing their legal status, and ensuring heat reduction actions such as below-market
access to financial resources, migrants are more loans, tax breaks, product rebates, grants, and
likely to succeed in their new environments than giveaways. In combination with the establishment
if they were not given that support, making these of urban forestry, tree, and landscape programs
policies an essential tool in combatting what that give grants to communities and organizations
could be disastrous climate migration. that promote or maintain urban forests, the
retrofitting of public buildings, the establishment
However, whereas thus far we have discussed of green building codes, and emissions control
ways to support migrants that have already been strategies to reduce smog and other pollution,
displaced, the report also identifies ways in which the EPA outlines a number of ways in which
the number of migrants can be reduced. A rapid extreme heat can be combatted in urban areas.
reduction in global emissions, for example, can However, it does not consider the effects of
reduce pressure on people’s lives and livelihoods, extreme heat on rural areas and particularly those
the scale of climate migration, and movements who work in agriculture, leaving out those who
under distress. The report also suggests embedding are most exposed to extreme heat and those who
climate migration into development planning are most vulnerable to it. As it relates to water
given that in most regions, “laws, policies, and quality, air quality and public health, the EPA
strategies for dealing with human movements outlines modeling anticipated climate changes to
from increasing climate risks and enabling positive understand its effect on water quality, air quality,
development outcomes are weak or absent.” While and safety, working with water utilities to assess
the report in its entirety offers details as to how we how infrastructure and natural systems will fare
may mitigate the negative effects of migration and under a changing climate, analyzing current
prevent migration, it does not touch upon legal wildfire management capabilities and monitoring
options that can be taken to protect migrants and efforts, assessing location-based vulnerabilities
their human rights or ensure that they will have to wildfires, ozone, and other pollution, and
a place to go in the event they need to migrate identifying the populations and communities that
from their homes. There is still debate over are most vulnerable. Furthermore, alongside the
whether or not to change international refugee actions that the EPA is suggesting to deal with
law to incorporate “climate refugees” and “climate extreme heat and threats to water and air quality
migrants” into its framework to give them the same and safety exists the Center for Disease Control
protections that other refugees receive from the and Prevention’s (CDC) Building Resilience
1951 Refugee Convention. Furthermore, as this Against Climate Effects (BRACE) program. Its
report was focused on internal migration, or the five steps – anticipating climate impacts and
movement of people within one’s country, there assessing vulnerabilities, projecting the disease
is no mention of the integration of migrants into burden associated with climate change, assessing
their new homes if they are forced to externally public health interventions, developing and
migrate, or the movement of people outside of implementing a climate and health adaptation
one’s country. plan, and evaluating the impact and improving
Finally, another solution is one from the United the quality of activities to combat threats to
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public health – “allows health officials to develop
on public health adaptation strategies for climate strategies and programs to help communities
change. On the subject of extreme heat, a prepare for the health effects of climate change”.
However, the EPA does not recognize in its plan what countries align with one another to take
that a large facet of the public health crisis is the action on climate change in the context of human
famine, malnutrition, and undernutrition that rights.
will become more common as a result of climate
change, nor does it recognize the unequal access One such group of states that may work together
to healthcare that will disproportionately harm during conference is that of the Marshall Islands,
people in poverty and those who are otherwise Fiji, and the Bahamas. All members of the SIDS
disadvantaged. While what was put forth is a group, they share more similarities than just
starting point for addressing the relationship being island nations. With similar sustainable
between climate change and public health, there development challenges such as growing
is still much more to address and tackle. populations, limited resources, remoteness,
susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability
Throughout this portion of the guide, we have to external shocks, small domestic markets and
gone through three different proposed solutions a dependence on external markets, high costs for
to the climate change-human rights nexus, one energy, infrastructure, and transportation, and
each for food security, displacement, and public fragile environments, it is likely that these three
health. In reading about what others have put states will work together to ensure that their
forth, where they did well, and where they fell interests and the interests of other SIDS members
short, you should have a better idea about solutions are being taken into consideration throughout
we may see together in committee. However, as I debate and the writing process. However, other
said before, these solutions are not by any means states who share many of the same sustainable
exhaustive or comprehensive, and there are many development challenges despite not being a SIDS
different ways to solve the problems we have member may be interested in working together
been discussed. As a delegation, you have the with the Marshall Islands, Fiji, and the Bahamas.
opportunity to be creative and innovative in your Nepal, for example, is a remote and mountainous
solutions. country that is one of the most vulnerable in
the world to climate change. People suffer from
landslides, crop failures, and a growing water
Bloc Positions availability crisis, and with the rugged terrain, it is
both hard to get help from the outside in the event
Climate change and its effect on human rights of a disaster and to build infrastructure. Despite
across the globe is a very complicated and diverse the obvious geographic, topographic, and other
set of issues that impact different regions and differences between Nepal and the island states,
groups of people differently. As such, one blanket they are connected in their limited resources, high
solution for the threat that climate change poses energy, infrastructure, and transportation costs,
and one set of priorities that each country can fragile environments, and the overall threats that
align with cannot be applied to everyone. Thus, climate change poses to their people.
blocs within the UNHRC in regard to taking Another group of countries similarly shares
action on climate change and human rights will many of the same problems, concerns, and
likely form out of a number of different contexts, vulnerabilities as it relates to climate change
beyond the simple boundaries of language and and human rights despite diversity in language,
geography that we assume states will fall into culture population density, religion, and many
line over. Factors such as population density, the more: those of sub-Saharan Africa. As a region,
extent to which the economy is dependent upon sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most vulnerable
agriculture, urban versus rural splits, and the in the world when it comes to climate change,
vulnerability of the ecosystem will all play into a result of its dependence on agriculture for a
large proportion of its GDP, high rates of poverty the ultimate goal being to come together and pass
and malnutrition, financial and technological a resolution that will address the climate crisis.
constraints, and more. However, it is also likely
that states within this group will have different
paramount priorities. Nigeria, for example, as Questions a Resolution Must Answer
one of the most densely populated and urban
countries on the continent, may want to focus How will the protection of the impoverished,
more on the effects of climate change on urban indigenous communities, women and children in
areas alongside rural areas. In contrast, Eritrea is a the context of climate change be ensured?
much less urban and densely population country,
relying more on agriculture, animal husbandry, How will the four pillars of food security:
forestry, and fishing for a substantial portion of availability, access, utilization, and stability be
its GDP. As such, it may focus more on its rural protected?
population and transitioning and diversifying its
economy toward relying on less climate-sensitive Will malnutrition and undernutrition be a focus?
sectors. However, separate from this group may Will you advocate for changing existing
be the countries of Somalia, Sudan, and Libya. As international refugee law to include those
members of the Arab League and predominantly displaced due to climate change-related effects,
Muslim countries, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya enjoy propose new legislation, focus on adaptation, or
international relations that mainly align with that implement some combination?
of the Arab Muslim world. Positive relationships
between Pakistan and this trio of countries, along Will you handle internal and external migration
with Pakistan’s predominant Muslim faith and a in the context of climate change differently?
number of similar vulnerabilities including water
availability and excessive heat, make it likely that By what means will the re-integration of migrants
they may work together to represent their specific into society be handled?
interests. How will you treat voluntary and forced
While I am not going to sort every delegation in migration?
the committee into blocs based on any number Will different reasons for migrating (job loss,
of relevant factors, it is important that you natural disaster, etc.) result in different outcomes
put some thought into what states you will be for the migrants?
working together with at conference. Remember
to consider factors beyond simple geography Will populations that are vulnerable to public
when you try to form your blocs, as India and health hazards as a result of poverty, discrimination,
Pakistan may share a border but are less than unequal access to healthcare, and pre-existing
likely to shake hands and work together on a conditions be protected?
climate-related agreement. Furthermore, with a
How will you tackle increased disease
topic as complicated and diverse in nature as this
transmission, air pollution, water pollution, and
one, blocs will likely also be fragile and tenuous.
health problems related to nutrition and diet?
Lobbying, logistics, and out-room discussions will
be crucial tools for you to use as you develop your How will you balance mitigating the ongoing
blocs and build coalitions, and we also encourage effects of climate change on vulnerable populations
you to listen to your fellow delegates along with while working to begin transformational change?
their concerns and ideas. As this is Model United Adaptation or transformation?
Nations, diplomacy and cooperation are essential,
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Barbier, Edward B. (2010). Poverty, the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved
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and Development Economics, vol. 15, no. 6, p.
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Howe, Caroline, Helen Suich, Paul Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment
van Gardingen, Atiq Rahman and Georgina M. Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Mace (2013). Elucidating the pathways between Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K and
climate change, ecosystem services and poverty Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland,
alleviation. Current Opinion in Environmental 104 pp.
Sustainability, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 102-107.
Ibid.
Noack, Frederik, Sven Wunder, Arild
Angelsen and Jan Börner (2015). Responses to M. Macchi and others, Indigenous
weather and climate: a cross-section analysis of and Traditional Peoples and Climate Change,
rural incomes. Policy Research working paper no. International Union for Conservation of Nature,
WPS 7478. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. 2008.
Finch, Christina, Christopher T. Emrich Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Region.

and Susan L. Cutter (2010). Disaster disparities www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/pdf/
and differential recovery in New Orleans. factsheet_Pacfic_FINAL.pdf.
Population and Environment, vol. 31, no. 4, p. Williams, Jay (2012-05-01). “The impact
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Mutter, John C. (2015). Disaster implications for the cultural, spiritual, economic
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Richer and the Poor Even Poorer. New York: St. International Journal of Human Rights. 16 (4):
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Ibid. Ibid.
FEMA (2016) Hurricane Katrina: A Y. Lambrou and R. Laub, “Gender

Decade of Progress through Partnerships, https:// perspectives on the conventions on biodiversity,
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progress-through-partnerships (accessed on Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
September 7, 2017). (FAO), Gender and Population Division, pp. 7-8.
Groen, Jeffrey A. and Anne E. Polivka Ibid.

(2008). The Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Perez, Carlos, and others (2015). How
Labor Market Outcomes of Evacuees. American resilient are farming households and communities
Economic Review, vol. 98, no. 2, p. 43-48. to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based
Ibis. perspective. Global Environmental Change, vol.
34, p.95-107.
OHCHR (15 January 2009). “Report
of the Office of the United Nations High McCarthy, Joe. “Why Climate Change
Commissioner for Human Rights on the Disproportionately Affects Women.” Global
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change-affects-women/.
Ibid. from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2013.

Retrieved 10 June 2020.
Perez, Carlos, and others (2015). How
resilient are farming households and communities Ibid.
to a changing climate in Africa? A gender-based
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34, p.95-107. Committee on the Rights of the Child,
McCarthy, Joe. “Why Climate Change general comment No. 7 (2006) on implementing
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globalcitizen.org/en/content/how-climate-
change-affects-women/. Ibid.
17, September, and Oxfam. “Hurricane Ibid.

Maria Put a Disproportionate Burden on Women.”
United Nations Development
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Human solidarity in a divided world, p. 8
“Convention on the Rights of
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UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014:

Climate Change and Children: A Human
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151 pp.
Ibid.
UNDP Human Development Report
World Bank, Global Monitoring Report 2006, Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the
2008 - MDGs and the Environment: Agenda for global water crisis.
Inclusive and Sustainable Development, p. 211.
Ziegler, Jean. “PROMOTION AND
Ibid. PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS,
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“International Covenant on Civil and AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING
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“Petition to the Inter American See e.g. CESCR general comment No.
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Caused by Acts and Omissions of the United
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Comment No. 15: The Right to Water (Arts. 11 and submitted pursuant to Commission resolution
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FAO, 2018a: The Future of Food and
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Ibid.
Ibid.
A/62/214, para. 102.
Smedley, Audrey, and David N.
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Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing Ibid.
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“Underlying Causes of Malnutrition.”
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Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK,
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scientists-triple-their-estimates-number-people- IPCC AR4 WGII Report points out (citing
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and contributing causes of conflict and many
Rafferty, John P., and Stuart L. Pimm. environmentally-influenced conflicts in Africa are
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www.britannica.com/science/desertification. “caution in the prediction of such conflicts as a
McSweeney, Robert. “Explainer: result of climate change” (p. 365).
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world/2019/dec/19/india-suffers-most-pollution- Dimension of Global Climate Change (14
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United Nations Human Rights Council
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Boyd-Barrett, Claudia. “People of Color Ibid.

and the Poor Disproportionately Exposed to Ibid.
Air Pollution, Study Finds.” California Health
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www.calhealthreport.org/2019/02/08/people-of-
Ibid.
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the Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth
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taken by the Conference of the Parties at its
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Ibid. Ibid.
Ibid. Ibid.
Ibid. Report of the Independent Expert on the

issue of human rights obligations relating to the
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A Background Guide

Special Summit on Climate

Letter from the Secretary-General................................................................................ 3

Committee Dynamics and Powers...............................................................................6

Position Paper Requirements..................................................................................... 23

A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Delegates and Faculty Advisors,

59 Shepard Street, Box 205

A LETTER FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

All the best,

59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Alistair Gluck

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

I am a sophomore at Harvard College pursuing a joint concentration in Astrophysics and

59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Jason Jorge

Introduction and equality, is what this committee is tasked with

Increased Exposure to Climate Change Hazards

Rural farming in Nepal (Wikimedia)

Greenhouse gas emissions from a factory (Sky Noir)

Children carried through floodwaters after Cyclone Idai (Daily Mail)

This portion of the guide will present you with

Carrying belongings through flooded waters (Quartz)

introduction of agroforestry, the introduction of common extreme-weather events, rising sea-

Endnotes LOSES ALL CREDIBILITY. July 2003, rsf.org/

“FAQ: The Covenant on Civil & Political Neumann, Barbara, Athanasios T.

An Assessment of Population Levels in the Sherwood, Amy (2013). Community

Finch, Christina, Christopher T. Emrich Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Region.

FEMA (2016) Hurricane Katrina: A Y. Lambrou and R. Laub, “Gender

Groen, Jeffrey A. and Anne E. Polivka Ibid.

Ibid. from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2013.

17, September, and Oxfam. “Hurricane Ibid.

CESCR (20 January 2003). “General Secretary-General, Mr. Francis M. Deng,

Lewis, Sophie. “Millions of Future Buhaug, H., N. P. Gleditsch, and O. M.

Boyd-Barrett, Claudia. “People of Color Ibid.

Ibid. Report of the Independent Expert on the

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