Heidelberg National MUN 2013 - Descriptions of the Topics
This page contains brief abstracts of the topics that will be discussed during Heidelberg National MUN 2013. They are meant to provide an overview a well as to help you pick a topic preference in the application form. Detailed study guides will be published around Christmas time.
Topic A: Security Council
(Single Delegate Committee)
South Sudan - A gateway to a peaceful future
Background Profile
The emergence of the Republic of South Sudan as an independent country has seen a quarrelsome history, with millions of people dying or becoming displaced. Following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and a referendum in which 99% of the population voted for a split from Sudan, ultimately leading to the declaration of independence of the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011, the young nation has still not found peace. On the contrary, ethnic conflicts manifested in cattle-raids are raging, several boarder conflicts and disputes over water and grazing rights give rise to yet more instability. Despite its abundant oil reserves, fertile grounds and first investments into the underdeveloped infrastructure of the landlocked country, South Sudan is still among the poorest nations in the world, with half of the population below the poverty line.
Challenges for the Security Council
The Security Council is facing the need for immediate action to support the South Sudanese people in multifaceted areas. Although there are two ongoing peace keeping missions in the region, settlements of the ongoing national and international conflicts need to be achieved. Moreover, the improvement of the South Sudanese humanitarian situation and the development of stability as well as a democratic and economically fruitful environment remain challenges to be solved.
Study Guide
The study guide for the Security Council can be found here (pdf, 600 kB).
Resolution
The resolution adopted by the Security Council can be found here (pdf, 100 kB).
Chair: Rima-Maria Rahal
Assistant Chair: Shubei Wang
Topic B: United Nations Environment Organization
(Double Delegate Committee)
Environmental Governance
Background Profile
“Governing our planet’s rich and diverse natural resources is an increasingly complex challenge. In our globalised world of interconnected nations, economies and people, managing environmental threats, particularly those that cross political borders such as air pollution and biodiversity loss, will require new global, regional, national and local responses involving a wide range of stakeholders.” (taken from: UNEP and Environmental Governance at a Glance)Environmental Governance is one of the six key areas of action of the United Nations Environment Programmme (UNEP). However, it can also be considered the culminating point of a variety of precious measures taken, as the worldwide coordination of policies with the goal of achieving environmental sustainability lies at the very heart of the idea of Environmental Governance. Hence, agreeing on international guidelines for Environmental Governance is of paramount importance for a series of key areas of conflict in environmental policy making, including avoiding and dealing with environmental disasters, possibly leading to threats such as oil spills or nuclear fallouts, as well as ongoing debates in resource management, for instance between industrialized nations and emerging economies.
The United Nations Environment Organization
In simulating a committee currently being founded, Heidelberg National MUN 2013 pioneers the development of a strengthened UNEP, dedicated to debating and resolving issues related to worldwide sustainable resource management and, with that, the future of our planet as a whole.
Study Guide
The study guide for the United Nations Environment Organization can be found here (pdf, 600 kB).Resolution
The resolution adopted by the Environment Organization can be found here (pdf, 100 kB).