UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
Committee Introduction
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network. It is currently an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP assists countries in developing policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and building resilience in order to sustain development results. In order to help countries achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UNDP’s programmes mainly focus on poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, democratic governance, energy and environment sustainability, social development, and crisis prevention and recovery.
Dias
Chair: Laura Chen
Co-chair: Sue Lin
Co-chair: Daphne Hsu
Topic A: Regulating Marine Litter
Marine litter, also known as marine debris, is defined by UNEP as “any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.” Research suggests that 6.4 million tonnes of debris reach the world’s oceans each year. Masses of garbage are littered across the ocean floor or trapped in huge gyres, or rotating ocean currents, in the Pacific and elsewhere.
Marine debris is not only an economic cost to society and the environment, but also damages marine industries. Governments and communities along coastline have suffered from the serious impact on fishing industry, transportation, and tourism caused by ocean pollution and marine debris. In 2008, marine debris was estimated to have directly cost the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies approximately US$ 1.265 billion.
Owing to the global current system, all countries share responsibility for the impact of marine litter. For example, Sweden spends about 1,125,000 euros per year for cleaning up the accumulation of litter along the east coast. Ironically, analyses determined that 80 % of the litter found there did not originate in Sweden.
Nowadays, as much as 80% of the global marine debris entering the ocean each year is thought to come from land-based sources, with the remainder arising from shipping and other maritime
sources. Measures to control and prevent debris from entering the sea need to be implemented by governments and the private sector.
In order to improve sustainable development of marine industries, all bodies working to regulate marine debris need to identify expenditure, assess the most effective use of funds and communicate, and cooperate more effectively with each other to regulate and lower levels of marine debris.
Topic B: Post-2015 Development Agenda
In 2000, 189 countries gathered in United Nations. To share their vision on ensuring social development, human dignity and equity, these countries agreed on 8 goals, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which should be achieved by 2015:
1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. To achieve universal primary education
3. To promote gender equality and empower women
4. To reduce child mortality
5. To improve maternal health
6. To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. To ensure environmental sustainability
8. To develop a global partnership for development
During the past decade, governments, international organizations and civil society groups around the world have spared no effort to make our world better. According to the MDGs Report 2014, Women and children’s situation have been improved in certain district; however, the world continue to fight fatal diseases, including ebola, malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. In accordance with the MDGs Momentum: “There are about 500 days to accelerate action on issues such as hunger, access to education, improved sanitation, maternal health and gender equality.”
As the deadline approaches, a debate on what should follow the MDGs when they expire in 2015 is underway. In fact, after MDGs come to an end, the post-2015 development agenda is aiming for tackling several issues such as but not limited to end poverty and hunger, improve health and education, make cities more sustainable, combat climate change, and protecting oceans and forest. However, many voices suggest UN put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) coming out of Rio+20 be integrated into global overarching post-2015 development agenda. To achieve a world of prosperity, human dignity, freedom, equality and peace, a complete future blueprint is required.