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Topic: RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY PORTUGAL, CONGO, CANADA, NORWAY, PAKISTAN, CHILE, GREECE, RWANDA, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL
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posted 2/14/07 6:54 AM
Concerning the necessity of international unity in taking the first steps towards eliminating the immediate threat to the environment due to the increasing rates of acid rain, deforestation and the continuous emissions of Greenhouse gasses. The Commission for the Environment;Recognizing the potential threat of Global Warming which is continuing to shape the worlds climate, geography and wildlife, due to deforestation and the anthropogenic releases of Greenhouse gasses (GHGs) emitted by industrial activity. Further recalling the increasing level of air pollutants in the atmosphere which is causing the atmospheric temperature to increase, thus contributing to biosphere instability including damage to the ozone. Recent data tells us that, globally, the earth became warmer by 0.6oC in the 20th century. These changes trigger melting of icebergs, significant rise in sea levels and increase the intensity and frequency of floods, droughts, heat waves, and tornadoes. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts the average global temperature will increase between 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius by 2100 and will lead to water levels rising to 140cms.Aware of the increasing levels of CO¬2 and air pollutants due to the diminishing number of trees. It is feared that annual deforestation rates could amplify with population growth, political stability and continued reliance of the country’s economy on agriculture and shifting cultivation. In 1988, World Conservation Monitoring Committee reported an annual deforestation rate of 0.2%, which has now gone up to about 0.7%. Deeply regretting that the air pollution resulting from deforestation and industrial waste has increased acid rain. Acid rain has adverse effects on human health, the marine ecosystem, plants, soil, and surface waters, erosion of certain buildings and materials as well as forests.Emphasising that pollution is transboundary so we require support from all countries to make a significant impact on the world’s polluted environment. The environment belongs to us all and it is our duty to protect it.1) Calls upon member of states with assistance from United Nations Environmental Programme to recognize this as a major concern and roll out national agendas to limit and control deforestation as well as the emission of air pollutants which cause global warming and acid rain. We further request that member nations increase their donations to the Global Environment Facility (GEF).2) Requests that the UN with the help of existing infrastructure and expertise of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) bring awareness to the people about new methods of farming. This program requires adequate funding, priority attention and may address the following; high-yield hybrid crops, greenhouse cultivation, autonomous building gardens and hydroponics .We also request all logging companies to compensate for the trees cut down by replanting the equivalent of what was taken if not more. 3) Demands all the international community to focus their efforts on the minimizing of deforestation under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).4) Reminds all member nations to execute Operational Program Number 5: Removal of barriers to Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation in developing nations.5) Urges all member nations to put a tax on diesel to discourage its use and the future manufacturing of diesel engines. Money raised by these taxes can then be used to fund the following:a) Manufacturing of CNG, Ethanol and Hydrogen which could be used as alternative forms of fuel to petrol and gasoline. It is also recommended to improve the use of other renewable energy sources.b) Follow the US’s policy of introducing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD).
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