United Nations OCEANS

The Ocean Panel Conference

Assam Valley School Model United Nations 2023

Committee Background Guide

Agenda:
Discussing the rising sea level with special emphasis on
thermal expansion
 Executive Board Letter
Greetings Delegates!

It's an honour as your Chairperson to welcome you to the second offline edition of the Assam
Valley School ModelUnited Nations, 2023. Congratulating you on your participation in the
conference and expecting an enthusiastic engagement from each delegate upon the forum

The agenda at hand is the most controversial yet intriguing which amplifies the interest and level
of debate. As your Chairperson it's my responsibility to enlighten you about the background
guide being a document to merely initiate your research and quoting and referring to the points in
the document would be a violation and condemnation of the council and its proceedings as a
delegate.

The research on this topic is endless and would encourage you to scavenge multiple routes for an
intellect and detailed understanding of the agenda. Expecting a high adrenaline injected debate
with maintaining the discipline of the prestigious United Nations Oceans Conference. Multiple
answers could unravel while trying to resolve the historic yet ever changing issue. It's an advice
to cautiously assimilate and amalgamate the sensitive parts to bestow a throughout presentation
as a representative.

I'll be ever present to help you out whenever necessary to update and procure knowledge upon
the agenda and any other help required. With this we'd like to wish you luck and happy
researching.

mridushmoymitchu@gmail.com

Yours, Thankfully

Mridushmoy Baruah

(Chairperson)
 Table of Contents
• UN Secretary General Brief

• About the Committee

• UN Oceans Conference
• About the Agenda
• COP 26 Brief

• Oceans and The Laws of The Seas

1. Freedom of the Seas

2. United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS)

3. Protection of marine environment and biodiversity

4. Marine Shipping and Pollution
5. Polar Codes
6. Piracy

• Regional Seas Programme

• Regional and State Statute

• Delegate Guide
 UN Secretary General Brief

ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations, stressing that “rising seas
are sinking futures”, said that sea-level rise is not only a threat in itself, but also a threat-
multiplier. Rising seas threaten lives, and jeopardize access to water, food and health care,
while saltwater intrusion can decimate jobs and entire economies in key industries like
agriculture, fisheries and tourism. Citing the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO)
latest data, he added that global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any
preceding century in the last 3,000 years. The global ocean has warmed faster over the past
century than at any time in the past 11,000 years, he said, adding that, even if global heating
is miraculously limited to 1.5°C, there will still be a sizeable sea-level rise. If temperatures
rise by 2°C, that level rise could double, he said, pointing out that, under any scenario,
countries like Bangladesh, China, India and the Netherlands are all at risk. Further, he
added, mega-cities on every continent will face serious impacts including Cairo, Lagos,
Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles,
New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago.

Noting that nearly 900 million people — 10 per cent of the world’s population — live in
coastal zones at low elevations, he pointed out that, while people in small island developing
States in the Western Pacific are facing sea-level rise up to four times the global average, in
the Caribbean, rising seas have contributed to the devastation of local livelihoods in tourism
and agriculture. Flooding and coastal erosion in West Africa are damaging infrastructure and
communities, undermining farming and often costing lives while in North Africa, saltwater
intrusion is contaminating land and freshwater resources, destroying livelihoods, and
Antarctica is losing an average of 150 billion tons of ice mass annually. Himalayan melts
have worsened flooding in Pakistan, he said, warning that as these glaciers recede over the
coming decades, the rivers will shrink. Many low-lying communities and entire countries
could disappear forever, he said, adding: “We would witness a mass exodus of entire
populations on a biblical scale.” Noting that this will lead to ever-fiercer competition for
freshwater, land and other resources, he said the international community must address the
climate crisis which is the root cause of rising seas. The world is hurtling past the 1.5°C
warming limit that a liveable future requires, and with present policies, is careening towards
2.8°C — “a death sentence for vulnerable countries”, he said.

Stressing the need to provide developing countries the resources to build resilience against
climate disaster, he said this means delivering on the loss and damage fund, making good on
the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, doubling adaptation
finance and leveraging massive private financing at a reasonable cost. Also pointing to the
need to address how environmental disasters like rising sea levels undermine security, he
noted that the Peacebuilding Fund is actively supporting grass-roots resilience efforts against
the effects of climate change. It is vital to improve foresight and early warnings to prepare
and protect vulnerable communities, he said, highlighting the Organization’s plan to ensure
that early warning systems against natural disasters protect every person on Earth within five
years.
Further, the international community must address the legal and human rights impact of
rising seas and shrinking landmasses, he said, adding that this means not only international
refugee law, but also innovative legal and practical solutions to forced human displacement.
“People’s human rights do not disappear because their homes do,” he said, drawing attention
to the solutions proposed in 2022 by the International Law Commission, including continuing
statehood despite loss of territory, assigning portions of territory to an affected State or even
establishing confederations of States. The Security Council has a critical role to play in
building the political will required to address the devastating security challenges arising from
rising seas, he underscored.
 About UN OCEANS
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ("the Earth
Summit") adopted Agenda 21 - an international program of action for global sustainable
development for the 21st century. Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 specifically deals with the
protection of the oceans and the protection and rational use and development of their living
resources. To present a coordinated and comprehensive view of UN agency activities in
support of Chapter 17, the UN agencies dealing with oceans and coastal issues formed the
Sub-committee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on
Coordination (ACC SOCA) in 1993.

Following a review of coordination mechanisms of the ACC in November 2001, the ACC
concluded that all existing subsidiary bodies should cease to exist by the end of 2001 and that
future inter-agency support requirements would best be handled through ad hoc, time-bound,
task-oriented arrangements using a lead agency approach. Subsequent consultations between
the UN Programs and Agencies participating in the coordination of oceans and coasts
indicated strong interest in developing a new inter-agency coordinating mechanism
consistent with the new arrangements being developed in the United Nations system.

In September 2003, the United Nations High-Level Committee on Programmes approved the
creation of an Oceans and Coastal Areas Network (subsequently named "UN-Oceans") to
build on SOCA, covering a wide range of issues and composed of the relevant programs,
entities, and specialized agencies of the UN system and the secretariats of the relevant
international conventions, including the International Seabed Authority and the Convention
on Biological Diversity. Following recommendations from the United Nations Open-ended
Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and taking into account the
decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in this regard, the 57th Session
of the General Assembly invited the Secretary-General to establish a practical, transparent
and regular inter-agency coordination mechanism on oceans and coastal issues within the
United Nations system. UN-Oceans has met on an annual basis since 2005.

In 2011, the General Assembly, in paragraph 239 of resolution 66/231 on oceans and the law
of the sea, invited the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit to review UN-Oceans and to
submit a report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration and requested UN-
Oceans to submit to the Assembly draft terms of reference for its work, to be considered by
the Assembly at its sixty-seventh session with a view to reviewing the mandate of UN-
Oceans and enhancing transparency and reporting of its activities to Member States. The
Joint Inspection Unit reviewed UN-Oceans in 2012 and transmitted its report to the General
Assembly on 28 September 2012. At its sixty-seventh session, the General Assembly, in
paragraph 267 of resolution 67/78 on oceans and the law of the sea, noted the review of UN-
Oceans by the Joint Inspection Unit, decided that the draft terms of reference for its work
submitted by UN-Oceans would be considered by the Assembly at its sixty-eighth session
with a view to reviewing the mandate of UN-Oceans and approving the terms of reference,
taking into account the need to strengthen the central role of the Division for Ocean Affairs
and the Law of the Sea and the need to enhance transparency and reporting of the activities
of UN-Oceans to Member States, and requested UN-Oceans to draft revised draft terms of
reference for its work for consideration and approval by the Assembly at its sixty-eighth
session.

In 2013, the General Assembly, in paragraph 279 of resolution 68/70, recognized the work
undertaken so far by UN-Oceans, approved the revised terms of reference for the work of
UN-Oceans, with a revised mandate, as annexed to the resolution, and decided to review
these terms of reference at its seventy-second session in light of the work of UN-Oceans.

UN-Oceans is an inter-agency mechanism that seeks to enhance the coordination, coherence,

and effectiveness of competent organizations of the United Nations system and the
International Seabed Authority, in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, the respective competencies of each of its participating organizations and the
mandates and priorities approved by their respective governing bodies.

UN-OCEANS was established to:

■ Strengthen and promote coordination and coherence of United Nations system

activities related to ocean and coastal areas;
■ Regularly share ongoing and planned activities of participating organizations within
the framework of relevant United Nations and other mandates with a view to
identifying possible areas for collaboration and synergy;
■ Facilitate, as appropriate, inputs by its participating organizations to the annual
reports of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and on sustainable
fisheries to be submitted to the Secretariat;
■ Facilitate inter-agency information exchange, including sharing experiences, best
practices, tools and methodologies, and lessons learned in ocean-related matters.

UN-Oceans is mandated to:

Strengthen and promote coordination and coherence of United Nations system activities
related to ocean and coastal areas;
Regularly share ongoing and planned activities of participating organizations within the
framework of relevant United Nations and other mandates with a view to identifying possible
areas for collaboration and synergy;

Facilitate, as appropriate, inputs by its participating organizations to the annual reports of the
Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and on sustainable fisheries to be
submitted to the Secretariat; and

Facilitate inter-agency information exchange, including sharing of experiences, best

practices, tools and methodologies, and lessons learned in ocean-related matters.

All you need to know about UN OCEANS and its activities

Other inter-agency activities by UN-Oceans members

Global Climate Observing System - GCOS is intended to be a long-term, user-driven

operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations required for
monitoring the climate system, detecting and attributing climate change, assessing the
impacts of climate variability and change, and supporting research toward improved
understanding, modeling, and prediction of the climate system. It addresses the total climate
system including physical, chemical, and biological properties, as atmospheric, oceanic,
hydrologic, cryospheric, and terrestrial processes.

Global Environment Facility - International Waters The Global Environment Facility is a

partnership between 182 member governments, 4 United Nations Agencies (UNDP, UNEP,
FAO, UNIDO), the World Bank, 4 Regional Development Banks, the International Fund for
Agricultural Development, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector - to
address global environmental issues. Under its International Waters focal area, the GEF
finances activities to help countries collectively manage their transboundary surface water
basins, groundwater basins, and coastal and marine systems in order to sustain and share the
benefits from them. With the help of the 10 GEF Agencies, the GEF International Waters
portfolio has supported regional collaborative efforts for 22 transboundary surface water
basins, 16 large marine ecosystems, and 5 cross-border groundwater systems. The
development of 13 new regional treaties, protocols and regional agreements during these
GEF projects highlights that many countries view the sustainability of these systems as
critical to their future development. In the context of marine and coastal resources, current
GEF strategic programs for International Waters include restoring and sustaining coastal and
marine fish stocks and associated biological diversity and reducing nutrient over-enrichment
and oxygen depletion from land-based pollution of coastal waters in Large Marine
Ecosystems consistent with the Global Program of Action (GPA).

Global Ocean Observing System - GOOS is a permanent global system for observations,
modeling, and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services
worldwide. GOOS is working with national agencies and regional networks to provide
accurate descriptions of the present state of the oceans, including living resources,
continuous forecasts of the future conditions of the sea as far ahead as possible, and the basis
for forecasts of climate change.

Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment - The major
threats to the health, productivity, and biodiversity of the marine environment result from
human activities on land - in coastal areas and further inland. Some 80% of the pollution load
in the oceans originates from land-based activities. The GPA is designed to be a source of
conceptual and practical guidance to be drawn upon by national and/or regional authorities
for devising and implementing sustained action to prevent, reduce, control, and/or eliminate
marine degradation from land-based activities.

Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection

(GESAMP) -GESAMP is an expert group sponsored by several UN agencies that undertake
targeted scientific studies at the request of the agencies to provide technical advice on
scientific aspects of prevention, reduction, and control of the degradation of the marine
environment to sustain its life support systems, resources, and amenities.

Protection of World Heritage marine sites - The 1972 World Heritage Convention unites 193
nations behind a shared commitment to preserving the world’s outstanding heritage for the
benefit of present and future generations. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes about
50 World Heritage marine sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos Islands, and
iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Through cooperation with IMO, Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
(PSSAs) have been designated to protect 7 World Heritage marine sites. Through
cooperation with IOC, an ecosystem-based MSP approach is being applied in several sites.
Through cooperation with CBD (CITES) efforts are undertaken to save critically endangered
species that are of Outstanding Universal Value.

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a partnership among governments,

international organizations, and non-government organizations. It strives to preserve coral
reefs and related ecosystems by implementing Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, and other relevant
international conventions and agreements.
The Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine
Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects - The Regular Process, established by the
General Assembly after the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development aims to
regularly review the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the world’s oceans, both
current and foreseeable. The Ad hoc Working Group of the Whole Regular Process has the
mandate to oversee and guide the Regular Process. The outcome of the first cycle of the
Regular Process, the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment was released in 2015 and
welcomed with appreciation by the United Nations General Assembly, which approved its
summary (A/70/112). The second cycle of the Regular Process covering the period 2016 to
2020 sets out two Outputs, namely, a second World Ocean Assessment(s) and Regular
Process support for other ocean-related intergovernmental processes, including the
preparation of Technical Abstracts specifically tailored to the requests and needs of the
processes.

UN Atlas of the Oceans - The Atlas is an information system designed for use by
policymakers who need to become familiar with ocean issues and by scientists, students, and
resource managers who need access to underlying databases and approaches to sustainability.

World Oceans Day - As a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in
December 2008, the UN officially recognized World Oceans Day as June 8th each year. The
concept for a “World Ocean Day” was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada
at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and it had been unofficially celebrated every year
since then. Since 2002, The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network have helped to
promote and coordinate World Oceans Day events worldwide through support to events and
activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools,
and businesses. Each year an increasing number of countries and organizations have been
marking June 8th as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection
to the sea.

UN Oceans Conference 2022

Having amassed billions of dollars in voluntary commitments and pledges to save the Earth’s
most vital resource, the curtains came down on the second UN Ocean Conference. This
renewed commitment could not have come a moment too soon. The science is clear:
anthropogenic threats including deoxygenation, ocean acidification, marine pollution, and
overfishing, have translated to a steep decline in ocean health. To galvanize action to address
these threats, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 73/292 in 2019 to convene a
high-level Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for
sustainable development in 2020. After two years of postponements due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the Conference finally convened under the theme, “Scaling up ocean action based
on science and innovation for the implementation of SDG 14: Stocktaking, partnerships, and
solutions.

The Conference featured both a general debate and interactive dialogues on: marine
pollution; strengthening ocean-based economies; managing, protecting, conserving, and
restoring marine and coastal ecosystems; minimizing and addressing ocean acidification,
deoxygenation, and ocean warming; making fisheries sustainable and providing access for
small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets; increasing scientific knowledge
and developing research capacity and transfer of marine technology;

enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by
implementing international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS); and leveraging interlinkages between SDG 14 and other Goals toward the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Delegates had announced over 300 voluntary commitments, with approximately 50 high-
level commitments and pledges, including an investment of at least USD 1 billion to support
the creation, expansion, and management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and Indigenous
and locally governed marine and coastal areas by 2030, made by the Protecting Our Planet
Challenge. Other voluntary commitments of note included: The Alliance of Small Island
Developing States (AOSIS) launch of the Declaration for the Enhancement of Marine
Scientific Knowledge, Research Capacity and Transfer of Marine Technology to Small
Island Developing States (SIDS);

The Development Bank of Latin America’s commitment of USD 1.2 billion to support ocean
projects in the region;

Panama’s commitment to increase its protection of at least 40% of the marine surface area by
2030;

China’s pledge to launch 31 marine ecological preservation and restoration projects in the
next five years and provide assistance to developing countries, especially SIDS, through the
One Belt One Road initiative;
Kenya’s plans for a blue economy bank fund;

Portugal’s plan to invest in producing ocean renewable energies with a view to reaching 10
gigawatts of capacity by 2030;

The European Investment Bank’s commitment to extend an additional EUR 150 million
across the Caribbean Region as part of the Clean Oceans Initiative;

The US, Canada, and the UK launched the IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated)
Fishing Action Alliance;

India’s commitment to a Coastal Clean Seas Campaign, including work to ban single-use
plastics, beginning with plastic bags;

Peru’s pledge to submit 19 voluntary contributions, including on aquaculture, and ocean

acidification;

Australia’s pledge of USD 1.2 billion to preserve and restore the Great Barrier Reef;

Namibia’s pledge to allocate USD 5 million annually to conduct research, control,

monitoring, and surveillance in marine ecosystems; and

Sweden’s pledge to provide USD 400,000 in 2022 to support enhanced scientific cooperation
in the UN Decade on Ocean Science.

Beyond the new commitments, delegates attending the conference reflected on the progress
made since the first UN Ocean Conference in 2017. Since then, the world has taken concrete
steps towards addressing plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by
establishing an intergovernmental negotiating committee to hammer out a new international
treaty to end plastic pollution. Delegates also measured progress on the new agreement to
conserve and sustainably use biodiversity in the high seas, with many hopeful that the
process will conclude in 2022, and several called for a moratorium on mining of the deep
seabed. Looking ahead, France and Costa Rica announced their offer to co-host the third UN
Ocean Conference in 2025.
Over 4,000 delegates, including multiple Heads of State and Government, attended the
second UN Ocean Conference, which was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and
Portugal and included special events and side events taking place all over the city of Lisbon,
Portugal, from 27 June to 1 July 2022.

A Brief History of the UN Ocean Conference

In September 2015, Heads of State and Government adopted “Transforming Our World: The
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” including the 17 SDGs and 169 targets. SDG
14 contains ten targets, addressing: marine pollution; marine and coastal ecosystems; ocean
acidification; overfishing and IUU fishing and destructive fishing practices; conservation;
harmful fisheries subsidies; economic benefits for SIDS and least developed countries
(LDCs); and, as means of implementation, increasing scientific knowledge, providing access
to resources and markets for small-scale artisanal fishers, and implementing international
law, among others.

The first high-level UN Conference to Support the Implementation of SDG 14 was held from
5-9 June 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. The Conference aimed to: identify ways
and means to support the implementation of SDG 14; build on existing successful
partnerships and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships to advance the
implementation of SDG 14; involve all relevant stakeholders; share experiences gained at the
national, and regional and international levels in the implementation of SDG 14; and
contribute to the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda, by providing an input to
the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

Spearheaded by Fiji and Sweden, the conference was largely considered a success in building
momentum for the implementation of SDG 14, as a central rather than isolated component of
the 2030 Agenda. The conference produced three outcomes: an intergovernmental agreed
Call for Action; a registry of 1,328 voluntary commitments; and key messages from the
partnership dialogue.
 About The Agenda

Rising sea levels

The importance of the agenda at hand is depicted as important in the forum of international law
and the wider spectrum due to its emerging correlation with international security over the shift
and relocation of strategic points of importance near and about proximity in coastal locations of
defense and administration.

Global mean sea level rise was recorded throughout the twentieth century, and it remains one of
the more expected impacts of global warming. As a result, a variety of effects have evolved,
including increased flood risks, coastal submergence, salinization of surface and groundwater, and
physical landscape changes such as erosion and the loss of wetlands. The potential ramifications
for both human civilizations and ecosystems in the twenty-first century are considerable, yet they
are still unknown. The actual consequences will be determined by a variety of factors other than
the extent of sea-level rise and climate change. Human-controlled components such as coastal
land use and management practices are among them.

Rising sea levels are one of the most noticeable effects of climate change. Average sea levels have
risen by more over 8 inches (about 23 cm) since 1880, with just around 3 inches added in the last
25 years. Every year, the sea level increases by 0.13 inch (3.2 mm). According to a research paper
published in February 2022, sea level rise is quickening and projects a one-foot rise by 2050.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the expected rise in
sea levels over the next 30 years will be similar to the whole preceding century's rise. The findings
are described as "historic" by Rick Spinrad, the head of NOAA, who also warns that the expected
rise would occur even if carbon emissions are greatly decreased.

Despite rising worries about sea-level rise, the majority of countries appear to be ignoring
changing sea levels when it comes to coastal planning. Prioritizing the development of adaptive
capability in vulnerable coastal areas, particularly tiny island nations, is critical. The suggested
research can help identify these at-risk places and improve the design of climate policy for coastal
areas.
• A complete assessment addressing the full range of potential implications throughout the
twenty-first century and beyond is required. This evaluation should take into consideration
not just the expected outcomes, but also low likelihood but high impact occurrences, such
as the possible collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Shelf.
• To effectively assess and explore the consequences of sea-level rise and other linked
changes, improved regional and worldwide integrated models should be constructed.
These models should be supplemented by more extensive local and national evaluations,
which would offer more particular information and allow the findings to be validated. This
combination technique would be extremely helpful in detecting susceptible coastal
regions, sometimes known as "hotspots."
The root of the issue

• Thermal expansion is a phenomenon in which water expands as it warms. This expansion of

water owing to rising temperatures has contributed significantly to around half of the
observed sea-level rise over the last 25 years. Essentially, when the seas warm, they take up
more space, resulting in an overall rise in sea levels.

• Melting glaciers, even large mountain glaciers, undergo a natural melting process each
summer. Typically, winter snowfall, primarily from evaporated saltwater, refills the melting
ice, keeping the system in equilibrium. However, the impacts of global warming, which
have resulted in persistently increasing temperatures, are now causing more widespread
melting over the summer months. Furthermore, changed seasonal patterns, with later
winters and earlier springs, have resulted in less snowfall. As a result, an imbalance between
runoff and ocean evaporation has arisen, adding to sea-level rise.

• Rising temperatures are hastening the disappearance of ice sheets in Greenland and
Antarctica, comparable to the impact on mountain glaciers. The enormous ice sheets that
cover these regions are melting at a quicker rate. Scientists have also discovered a troubling
occurrence in which melt water from above and saltwater from below penetrate through
Greenland's ice sheets. This infiltration works as a lubricant, speeding up the flow of ice
streams into the sea. While the melting in West Antarctica has garnered a lot of attention,
particularly with the 2017 breakup of the Larsen C ice shelf, glaciers in East Antarctica are
also showing symptoms of destabilization, which is raising worries.

Thermal Expansion

Rising global sea levels are caused in part by saltwater expanding as temperatures rise. With
greenhouse warming, the coefficient of thermal expansion, which governs the rate at which
saltwater expands, becomes more evident. As a result, the density of saltwater becomes more
susceptible to rising temperatures, contributing to the observed pattern of faster sea level rise and
expected future rises. The influence of seawater's nonlinear thermal expansion feature on the
variability of future higher sea levels, on the other hand, remains an unknown topic of inquiry.

Coastal communities are facing more frequent floods and erosion as sea levels continue to increase,
causing changes in coastal sea levels. These fluctuations are principally driven on a regional and
seasonal-to-interannual scale by the structure of ocean temperatures and the accompanying density
changes in the seawater column below. Significant regional changes in sea levels, such as those
linked with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, are impacted by thermocline shifts caused by wind
patterns and changes in the heat content of the oceans mixed layer. Climate models predict an
increase in future ocean temperature variability, which is associated with more frequent and severe
ENSO episodes. As a result, temperature-driven sea level fluctuation, known as the thermosteric
component, is predicted to increase. Consequently, temperature-driven sea level variability, known
as the thermosteric component, is also expected to rise in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
COP 26

The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) brought together 120 world
leaders and over 40,000 registered participants, including 22,274 party delegates, 14.124
observers, and 3.886 media representatives. For two weeks, the world was riveted on all
facets of climate change — the science, the solutions, the political will to act, and clear
indications of action. The outcome of COP26 – the Glasgow Climate Pact – is the fruit of
intense negotiations among almost 200 countries over two weeks, strenuous formal and
informal work over many months, and constant engagement both in-person and virtually for
nearly two years. “The approved texts are a compromise,” said UN Secretary-General
António Guterres. “They reflect the interests, the conditions, the contradictions, and the state
of political will in the world today. They take important steps, but unfortunately, the
collective political will was not enough to overcome some deep contradictions.” Cuts in
global greenhouse gas emissions are still far from where they need to be to preserve a livable
climate, and support for the most vulnerable countries affected by the impacts of climate
change is still falling far short. But COP26 did produce new “building blocks” to advance the
implementation of the Paris Agreement through actions that can get the world on a more
sustainable, low-carbon pathway forward.

Many terms were agreed to during the COP 26 conference and they are mentioned below:

Recognizing the emergency

Countries reaffirmed the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the increase in the global average
temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to
1.5 °C. And they went further, expressing “alarm and utmost concern that human activities
have caused around 1.1 °C of warming to date, that impacts are already being felt in every
region, and that carbon budgets consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement temperature
goal are now small and being rapidly depleted.” They recognized that the impacts of climate
change will be much lower at a temperature increase of 1.5 °C compared with 2 °C.

Accelerating action

Countries stressed the urgency of action “in this critical decade,” when carbon dioxide
emissions must be reduced by 45 percent to reach net zero around mid-century. But with
present climate plans – the Nationally determined Contributions — falling far short on
ambition, the Glasgow Climate Pact calls on all countries to present stronger national action
plans next year, instead of in 2025, which was the original timeline. Countries also called on
UNFCCC to do an annual NDC Synthesis Report to gauge the present level of ambition.

Moving away from fossil fuels

In perhaps the most contested decision in Glasgow, countries ultimately agreed to a provision
calling for a phase-down of coal power and a phase-out of “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies –
two key issues that had never been explicitly mentioned in decisions of UN climate talks
before, despite coal, oil and gas being the main drivers of global warming. Many countries,
and NGOs, expressed dissatisfaction that the language on coal was significantly weakened
(from phase-out to phase-down) and consequently, was not as ambitious as it needs to be.

Delivering on climate finance

Developed countries came to Glasgow falling short of their promise to deliver US$100
billion a year for developing countries. Voicing “regret,” the Glasgow outcome reaffirms the
pledge and urges developed countries to fully deliver on the US$100 billion goal urgently.
Developed countries, in a report, expressed confidence that the target would be met in 2023.

Stepping up support for adaptation

The Glasgow Pact calls for a doubling of finance to support developing countries in adapting
to the impacts of climate change and building resilience. This won’t provide all the funding
that poorer countries need, but it would significantly increase finance for protecting lives and
livelihoods, which so far made up only about 25 percent of all climate finance (with 75
percent going towards green technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions). Glasgow
also established a work program to define a global goal on adaptation, which will identify
collective needs and solutions to the climate crisis already affecting many countries.

Completing the Paris rulebook

Countries reached an agreement on the remaining issues of the so-called Paris rulebook, the
operational details for the practical implementation of the Paris Agreement. Among them are
the norms related to carbon markets, which will allow countries struggling to meet their
emissions targets to purchase emissions reductions from other nations that have already
exceeded their targets. Negotiations were also concluded on an Enhanced Transparency
Framework, providing for common timeframes and agreed on formats for countries to
regularly report on progress, designed to build trust and confidence that all countries are
contributing their share to the global effort.

Focusing on loss & damage

Acknowledging that climate change is having increasing impacts on people, especially in the
developing world, countries agreed to strengthen a network— known as the Santiago
Network – that connects vulnerable countries with providers of technical assistance,
knowledge, and resources to address climate risks. They also launched a new “Glasgow
dialogue” to discuss arrangements for the funding of activities to avert, minimize and address
loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

Oceans and the Law of the Sea

The waters gave birth to life. The ocean is huge, covering 140 million square miles, or around
72% of the Earth's surface. The ocean has always been a vital source of nourishment for the life
it has helped to create, and it has also supported trade and commerce, adventure and discovery
since recorded history began. It has both divided and united people.

Even now, when the continents have been surveyed, and their interiors have been made
accessible by road, river, and air, the majority of the world's population lives no more than 200
miles from the sea and has a close relationship with it.

Freedom of the Seas

The oceans have long been subject to the freedom-of-the-seas concept, a 17th-century idea that
basically limited sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the oceans to a narrow sea belt encircling a
nation's shore. The remaining waters were proclaimed open to anyone and belonged to no one. While
this scenario persisted throughout the twentieth century, there was a push by the mid-century to
expand national rights over offshore resources.

There was rising worry about the impact of long-distance fishing fleets on coastal fish supplies, as
well as the threat of pollution and waste from transport vessels and oil tankers carrying toxic cargoes
that sailed global maritime routes. Pollution was always a threat to coastal resorts and all types of
aquatic life. The maritime nations' navies were fighting for a global presence in surface seas and even
under the sea.
United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS)

The United Nations is trying to guarantee that the seas and oceans are used in a peaceful, cooperative,
and legally defined manner for the individual and collective benefit of humanity. Urgent calls for an
effective international regime over the seabed and ocean floor beyond clearly defined national
jurisdiction set in motion a 15-year process that saw the formation of the United Nations Seabed
Committee, the signing of a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons on the seabed, the adoption of the
General Assembly's declaration that all seabed resources beyond the limits of national jurisdiction are
the common heritage of mankind, and the convenion of the United Nations Seabed Committee.

The United Nations' unprecedented effort in enacting the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention stands as a
watershed point in the application of international law to our planet's huge, shared water resources.
The agreement has settled numerous critical questions concerning ocean usage and sovereignty,
including:

• Established freedom-of-navigation rights

• Set territorial sea boundaries 12 miles offshore
• Set exclusive economic zones up to 200 miles offshore
• Set rules for extending continental shelf rights up to 350 miles offshore
• Created the International Seabed Authority
• Created other conflict-resolution mechanisms (e.g., the UN Commission on the Limits of
the Continental Shelf)

Protection of marine environment and biodiversity

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in particular its Regional Seas Programme,
works to safeguard oceans and seas and encourage the sustainable use of marine resources. The
Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans are the world's sole legal framework for regional ocean
and sea protection. The UNEP also established the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of
the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. It is the only worldwide intergovernmental
process that addresses the interdependence of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organises
programmes in marine research, surveillance systems, hazard reduction, and improved management
of ocean and coastal regions through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the primary United Nations organisation in charge
of developing international maritime law. Its primary responsibility is to provide a fair and effective
legal framework for the shipping sector that is widely recognised and executed.
Marine shipping and pollution

To guarantee that shipping is cleaner and greener, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has
enacted laws to address ship emissions of air pollutants, as well as binding energy-efficiency standards
to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. The landmark International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, as amended by a 1978 Protocol
(MARPOL), and the 1954 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil
are two examples.

Polar Code

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) went into effect in 2017.
The Polar Code addresses all aspects of ship design, building, equipment, operations, training, search
and rescue, and environmental protection for ships operating in the hostile waters surrounding the two
poles. It was a significant regulatory development in the sphere of transportation and trade facilitation,
as well as a number of regulatory advances concerning marine and supply chain security, as well as
environmental challenges.

Piracy

Piracy has increased in recent years off the coasts of Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea. Pirate assaults
endanger the safety of sailors as well as the security of navigation and business. These illegal activities
may result in the death of seafarers, bodily harm or hostage-taking, substantial interruptions to trade
and navigation, financial losses to shipowners, increased insurance premiums and security expenses,
increased costs to consumers and producers, and environmental damage.

Pirate assaults can have far-reaching consequences, including as impeding humanitarian aid and
raising the expense of future shipments to impacted countries. To supplement the regulations in the
Law of the Sea Convention for dealing with piracy, the IMO and UN have approved supplementary
resolutions.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) combats transnational organised crime in
Africa through its Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), with an emphasis on piracy in the
Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The initiative has assisted states in the region by conducting
piracy trials and imprisoning individuals, as well as building maritime law enforcement capacities
through the facilitation of training programmes. From the pirate prosecution paradigm to prisoner
transfers and training of members in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean legal systems, to full-time
mentorship to coast guards and police units in Somalia, Kenya, and Ghana, the UNODC GMCP has
achieved numerous victories in a difficult context.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (IMO)

https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Legal/Pages/UnitedNationsConventionOnTheLawOfTheSea.aspx

Oceans and Law of the Sea

https://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm

Oceans and Seas (UNEP)

https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas

Review of Maritime Transport (UNCTAD)

https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/review-of-maritime-transport

Regional Seas Programme

Since its inception in 1974, the UNEP Regional Seas Programme has been the organization's
most important regional instrument for marine and coastal environmental conservation. It is an
action-oriented programme that conducts actions tailored to individual regions, bringing together
stakeholders such as governments, scientific communities, and civil society. These Multilateral
Environmental Agreements are regulated by their own Contracting Parties' meetings.

The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) establish inter-governmental
frameworks to address the degradation of the oceans and seas on a regional scale, initially
focusing on pollution at sea, such as oil spills and the movement of hazardous waste, as well as
pollution on land, such as plastics, wastewater, and excess nutrients. Many people have
embraced the ecosystems approach to managing marine resources, and protocols on protected
areas, marine litter, combating oil spills, pollution from ships, transboundary waste movement,
including disposal, integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), and land-based sources of
pollution (LBS) have been developed to address disaster reduction, climate change adaptation,
and sustainable consumption and production issues. The emphasis is on establishing regional
ocean governance in order to deliver on the global oceans agenda and adapt to growing concerns,
new policies, and initiatives like the Blue Economy.

The Regional Seas and their governance processes, which include regular meetings of governing
bodies (CoPs, IGMs), senior officials, and technical bodies (such as thematic working groups),
contribute to UNEP's strategic regional presence by propelling UNEP's work toward regional
and global consensus and policy coherence on key issues relating to the environmental
dimension of sustainable development, as envisioned in the UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2018-
2021.

Each Regional Seas Convention and Action Plan has a normative and implementation obligation.
They express similar regional goals, such as those in global mandates such as the 2030 Agenda,
clauses of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), and United Nations Environment
Assembly (UNEA) decisions. They also provide forums for action, such as integrated evaluation,
policy creation, capacity building and exchange, and project execution.

By expanding on the mandates of Regional Seas in addressing harmful impacts to the marine and
coastal environment, UNEP may increase the impact and sustainability of activities by
leveraging the benefits of Regional Seas within the regional work programme.

UNEP's Regional Seas Programme now includes three types of Regional Seas Conventions and
Action Plans (RSCAPs) spread over 18 distinct regions:

To date, UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme consists of three types of

Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs), across 18 different
regions:

• UNEP-administered – These RSCAPs have been established and are directly

administered by UNEP who provides Secretariat functions, managing of finances and

technical assistance. UNEP administers 5 regional seas conventions and 2 action plans.

These are: Caribbean Region, East Asian Seas, Eastern Africa

Region, Mediterranean Region, North-West Pacific Region, Western Africa

Region.The Regional Office for Europe administers the Tehran Convention
(Caspian Sea)

• Non-UNEP administered – These RSCAPs have been established under the auspices of

UNEP, but another regional body provides the Secretariat and administrative

functions. These are: Black Sea Region, North-East Pacific Region, Red Sea and

Gulf of Aden, ROPME Sea Area, South Asian Seas, South-East Pacific
Region, Pacific Region
 • Independent – These RSCAPs have not been established by UNEP but cooperate with

the Regional Seas Programme and attend regular meetings. These are: Arctic

Region, Antarctic Region, Baltic Sea, North-East Atlantic Region

Regional and State statutes

Wider Caribbean Region

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/USA.htm

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/GBR.htm

MEXICO

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/MEX.htm

Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)

CHINA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/CHN.htm

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/KOR.htm

VIETNAM

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/VNM.htm

PHILIPPINES

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/PHL.htm

Indian Ocean and Eastern Africa Region (The Western Indian Ocean Region)
SOUTH AFRICA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/ZAF.htm

SOMALIA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/SOM.htm

KENYA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/KEN.htm

The Mediterranean

FRANCE

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/FRA.htm

ITALY

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/ITA.htm

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/SYR.htm

ISRAEL

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/ISR.htm

TURKIYE

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/TUR.htm

ALGERIA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/DZA.htm

EGYPT

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/EGY.htm

Coastal States of the Persian Gulf

IRAN

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/IRN.htm

SAUDI ARABIA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/SAU.htm

Baltic Sea

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/RUS.htm

DENMARK

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/DNK.htm

GERMANY

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/DEU.htm

Southern Indian Ocean

PAKISTAN

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/PAK.htm

INDIA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/IND.htm

MYANMAR

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/MMR.htm

Latin American South Atlantic Region

BRAZIL

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/BRA.htm
CUBA

https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/STATEFILES/CUB.htm

Documentation

Official Documents

• A/CONF.230/2022/14 - Report of the 2022 United Nations Conference to Support the

Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans,
seas and marine resources for sustainable
development [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/CONF.230/2022/12 - Draft Declaration: Note by the
Secretariat [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/CONF.230/2022/L.2 - Draft report [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/CONF.230/2022/13 - Report of the Credentials
Committee [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/CONF.230/2022/1 – Provisional Agenda
• A/CONF.230/2022/2 – Provisional rules of procedure
• A/CONF.230/2022/3 – Organizational and procedural matters
• A/CONF.230/2022/INF/1 - Information Note for Participants

Resolutions

• A/CONF.230/2022/L.1 - Draft resolution submitted by the Presidents of the Conference (Kenya

and Portugal) [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• A/RES/73/292 - 2020 United Nations Conference to Support Implementation of Sustainable
Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development.
[Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]
• General Assembly decision 74/548 - Decision to postpone the Conference to a later date

17 May 2022 | Briefing to Member States on the 2022 UN Ocean Conference

• Remarks by Mr. Liu Zhenmin, USG

• Statement by PR of Portugal
• Statement by PR of Kenya
• Statement by Vladimir Jares, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
15 Feb 2022 | Contributions from Member States to the concept papers on the themes of
the interactive dialogues

• Algeria
• Argentina
• Canada
• China
• Colombia
• Japan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of Turkey
• Singapore
• Sweden
• USA

Concept papers and provisional agenda for the interactive dialogues

• Interactive dialogue 1: Addressing marine pollution [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]

• Interactive dialogue 2: Managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal
ecosystems [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 3: Minimizing and addressing ocean acidification, deoxygenation and ocean
warming [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 4: Making fisheries sustainable and providing access for small-scale artisanal
fishers to marine resources and markets [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 5: Promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in
particular for small island developing States and least developed countries [Concept
Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 6: Increasing scientific knowledge and developing research capacity and
transfer of marine technology [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 7: Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their
resources by implementing international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea [Concept Paper] [Provisional Agenda]
• Interactive dialogue 8: Leveraging interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goal 14 and
other Goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda [Concept Paper] [Provisional
Agenda]
Decisions

• 75/578. 2022 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable

Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development (p. 324)

Letters

• 4 March 2022 | Letter from co-facilitators on rescheduling the second informal consultations of
the 2022 UNOC declaration
• 22 February 2022 | USG Letter_UN System_2022 Ocean Conference Invitation
• 14 February 2022 | Letter from co-facilitators on the second informal consultations of the 2022
UNOC declaration
• 14 January 2022 | USG Letter_All Member States_2022 Ocean Conference and Interactive
Dialogues
• 10 January 2022 | Letter from the Co-facilitators - UN Ocean Conference - SDG 14
• 12 January 2022 | Letter from the President of the General Assembly - UN Ocean Conference -
SDG 14
• 13 April 2020 | Letter from the President of the General Assembly
• President of the General Assembly announces the dates for the preparatory meeting of the
2020 UN Ocean Conference
• Secretary-General’s invite to the Conference issued to all countries [English] [French] [Spanish]
• Under-Secretary-General and Conference Secretary-General calls for contributions to the Trust
Fund

Other documents

• Background note
• Specially Accredited organizations to attend the 2020 UN Ocean Conference and Preparatory
Meeting – First Round
• Logos
• December 2019 | President of the General Assembly announces the dates for the preparatory
meeting of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference.
• November 2019 | Denmark and Palau will serve as co-facilitators of the 2020 UN Ocean
Conference, overseeing the preparatory process and leading intergovernmental consultations
on the outcome declaration.
• June 2019 | United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mr. Liu Zhenmin,
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, as Secretary-General of the 2020 UN
Ocean Conference.
• June 2019 | United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mr. Miguel de
Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, as
Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters.
Contributions from UN System to the concept paper of interactive dialogue 8:

"Leveraging interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goal 14 and other Goals towards
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda"

• ECLAC
• ESCAP
• ESCWA
• ILO
• IMO
• Pew Charitable Trusts
• UN Global Compact
• UNCTAD
• UNDRR
• UNEP COBSEA
• WWF

Background note

Inputs to the Background note

• ECLAC
• ESCAP
• ESCWA
• FAO
• ILO
• IMO
• IOM
• ISA
• ITU
• OHRLLS
• OSAA
• UN Global Compact
• UNCTAD Annex I
• UNCTAD
• UNDP
• UNECE
• UNEP Annex 1
• UNEP
• UNESCO
• UNFCCC
• UN-Habitat
 • UNIDO
• UNODC
• UNOOSA
• UNOPS
• UNOSSC
• UNU
• WMO
• WTO

Guide for Delegates

a. Guide to Preparation
Preparing for a Model United Nations conference entails research on three levels: the procedure
and structure of the conference, the topic of the committee the delegate belongs to, and position
of the country being represented.

Procedural Research: This is a guide to the basic procedure that regulates the Model UN. This
can be divided into rules regarding speech and rules regarding writing. UNSC is a single
resolution committee, to emphasise the need for productive and unified action. Delegates
acquainted with this style of MUN should still review the details given below as the Conference
modifies procedure slightly to create a more engaging committee dynamic.

Topic Oriented Research: Each delegate is assigned to a certain committee and represents a
certain country/state/ individual within it. Each committee has a specific topic that will be
deliberated during the course of the conference. Delegates are given study guides, and these
should be the starting point for research. Other than published literature, academic papers and
news sites on the Internet can be valuable guides. Reuters, and AP are considered credible news
sources but we would also suggest the Congressional Research Service, the Social Science
Research Network and the Woodrow Wilson Centre database for scholarly papers. While
Wikipedia serves as a starting point for most people's basic country and topic research it is not
counted as a credible source and may not be quoted in committee.
Position Oriented Research: Committee topics are typically divisive and highly debatable.
Delegates, however, are not at liberty to form and represent their own opinions. They are
assigned nations, and their statements and actions within committee must be in line with the
foreign policy of the nation they are representing. The most challenging aspect of a Model UN is
adjusting to policy. Delegates are not allowed to raise caucuses that vary vastly from their topics
though slight digressions are allowed to facilitate debate Study Guides The Directors of each
committee prepare a document called a study guide. The study guide outlines the scope of the
topic. Delegates are expected to know their study guides well. Although the study guide is
detailed, additional research is a must.

b. Guide to Procedure
Language: English will be the official and working language of the conference.

Statement by the Secretariat: At any time any member of the Secretariat may make an oral or
written statement or announcement to the committee regarding an update of their topic. Such an
announcement is not questionable.

General Powers of the Committee Staff: The Director(s) will declare the opening and closing
of each meeting and may propose the adoption of any procedural motion at his or her discretion.
During Debate the committee staff has absolute control over the proceedings. The Director will
direct the flow of formal debate, accord the right to speak, put questions before the committee,
announce decisions, rule on points of order and ensure and enforce the observance of these rules.
The other members of committee staff may advise individual delegates or the committee on the
possible course of debate. The Committee Staff is responsible to the Secretariat at all times. The
Press Corps is free to publish any material that lies within the scope of this conference. It is
advised to refrain from the publication of offensive and derogatory material, especially if
targeted at a select group of persons. The Press enters and observes committee proceedings on
the basis that the committee has no significant objections to their presence.

Appeal: Delegates are free to appeal any decision made by the Director or Director. However, it
is the Director's prerogative to accept or reject any appeals. Should the appeal not be related to
immediate committee proceedings but the committee as a whole, the delegates may appeal to the
Secretary General. All appeals must be given in writing with a 200-word explanation as to its
cause. It must bear the signature of the faculty advisor or the head delegate of the delegation
represented.

Quorum: Quorum for the conference is set at one third of the members of the committee. A
quorum will be assumed to be present, unless specifically challenged and shown to be absent. A
roll call is not required. In case quorum fails, committee session will be suspended at the
discretion of the Secretary General.
On Debate: Once the agenda has been set, debate begins, and we start debate with the Speaker's
List. Now the way committee works is that you put your name on the Speaker's List (usually, the
Director asks people to raise their placards in the beginning, following which you submit chits to
the chair and they will ensure your name is tagged on to the end of the Speaker's List). In the
Speaker's List, each member nation gets control of the mike for a full minute and thirty seconds
(the time can be changed by motioning for the same), which is followed by either a yield
(explained in rules governing speeches) or the floor is thrown open to two comments (from other
member nations) which refers directly to the points made in that speaker's time. Therefore, those
whose names are on the Speaker's List control the debate. To counter this, delegates may (and
do) motion for a Moderated Caucuses on specific parts of the topic area. For example, if the
topic of the day were the Israel-Palestine conflict, at some point I would motion for a ten minute
moderated caucus, with an allotted time of thirty seconds per speaker, to discuss the passage of
Christian pilgrims. In that moderated caucus, if anyone strayed from the specific topic at hand, a
Point of Order could be called as a reprimand. Because the exchange is a rapid fire one, someone
raises a point, another person refutes it almost immediately, debate proceeds at a rate much
greater than that of the Speaker's List and within a mere ten minutes the whole committee would
hear a cross section of views on a specific topic. Committee Staff does not usually refuse
delegates the right to motion for moderated and unmoderated caucuses, but when, for example,
we have had over an hour of caucusing, they might feel that the committee is ignoring debate and
therefore refuse subsequent motions for caucusing.

Setting the Agenda: The agenda is limited to the single topic area outlined in each committee's
study guide thus voting to set the agenda to the topic area is mere formality. However. As soon
as committee begins, a motion to set the agenda to a topic area must be raised.

Debate: After the agenda has been determined, one continuously open Speaker's List will be
established for the purpose of general debate. The Speaker's List will be followed for all debate
on the Topic Area, except when procedural motions, amendments, or the introduction of a
resolution or amendment in the event of an international crisis suspends the list

Debate may be carried out through:

1. General Speaker's List

2. Special Speaker's List

3. Moderated Caucus

4. Unmoderated Caucus

• General Speaker’s List: The General Speaker's List is open throughout the discussion of the
topic area. Motions to open any other medium of debate will not close the General Speaker's
 List, but will only overlap it. Hence, if your country is in queue to speak on it and another
medium of debate is opened, your country will remain that position once the General
Speaker's List is returned to. To get your country on the list, simply pass a note to a logistics
member. Speaker's List is ordered on a first come first serve basis provided that their name is
not already on the list. Anything within the scope of the topic area may be discussed. The
General Speaker's List may never be closed.

• Special Speaker’s List: The Special Speakers' List is almost like the General Speaker's List,
except that it must be motioned for. This is opened to discuss a particular topic within the
topic area, and is opened for a specific time period. While motioning to open it, the purpose
and time limit must be specified. Speakers may only discuss the issue that the Special
Speaker's List was opened to discuss. After a delegate finishes his/her speech, he has the
option of yielding. If a delegate chooses not to yield, two 30- second comments are in order.
After a speaker finishes a substantive speech (i.e. speech pertaining to the topic area within
the restrictions of formal debate), two thirty second comments pertaining to that speech may
be made. The comments will be made by two speakers who (usually by show of placards)
display their intent to the Director. It is at the Director's discretion that a delegate may make
comments. This applies to the General Speaker's List as well as any Special Speaker's List.

• Moderated Caucus: The purpose of a moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at

critical junctures in the discussion. The approval of such a motion rests entirely in the hands
of the committee staff and is not subject to appeal. During a moderated caucus, the Director
will suspend the Speaker's List, and call on delegates to speak at his/her discretion. A
moderated caucus is also opened for a specified purpose and a specified time. In a moderated
Caucus, try to be precise and to the point. As far as possible, refrain from going off the
immediate, specific, subtopic. Please do not over-step your time limit.

• Unmoderated Caucus: This is essentially an informal discussion amongst delegates and has
no procedural rules. Delegates generally use it to formulate working papers or resolutions. It
must be motioned for, and it also requires a purpose and a specific time. Suspension or
Adjournment of Session: When the floor is open, a delegate may move to suspend or adjourn
the meeting. If such a motion is in order, it requires a majority to pass. A motion to adjourn
the meeting shall only be in order once three-quarters of the time allotted for the last meeting
of the committee has lapsed. Postponement or Resumption of Debate: When the floor is
open, a delegate may move to postpone debate on particular resolution or amendment
currently on the floor. The motion requires a two-thirds majority vote for its passage.

Closure of Debate: When the floor is open a delegate may move to close debate on a substantive
or procedural matter under discussion. When closure of debate is motioned for, the Director will
recognize two speakers against the motion. No speakers in favour of the motion shall be heard. If
the committee is in favour of closure, the Director will declare the closure of debate, and the
resolution or amendment being debated will be put to immediate vote.
Right of Reply: A delegate whose personal or national integrity has been affronted by that of
another delegate, within the scope of formal debate, may request the Director for the Right if
Reply. If approved by the Secretariat, the respective delegate will be severely reprimanded and
possibly excluded from further committee proceeding. Delegates are requested to employ the
Right of Reply with the utmost discretion.

Points

Point of Personal Privilege: Whenever a delegate experiences extreme discomfort, which

impairs him/her from partaking in the proceeding, he/she may rise to a Point of Personal
Privilege, so that the discomfort may be corrected. Such a point may interrupt a speaker and so
should be used with the utmost discretion.

Point of Order: During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may rise to a Point of Order, out
of order, dilatory or improper if he/she feels the point being made is invalid due to the set agenda
or to point out a factual inaccuracy. It may not however, interrupt a speaker.

Points of Parliamentary Inquiry: When the floor is open, a delegate may rise to a Point of
Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Director a question regarding the rules of procedure. This
however, may never interrupt a speaker.

Point of Information: If any delegate wishes to raise a question based on the statements made
by another delegate during the formal debate session may do so by raising point of information.
This however, may never interrupt a speaker.

c. Paper Work
RESOLUTIONS

A draft resolution may be introduced when it has the required number of signatures as well as the
signature of the committee Director. There are no official sponsors of a resolution. Signatories
actually sign to see resolution on the floor in debate, and being a signatory in no way express
support for a resolution.

Introducing Resolutions: Once a resolution has the required signatories and is also approved by
the Director of that committee, it is copied, distributed and read out to the committee in
unmoderated caucus. Any two signatories of the resolution will read out the resolution, and this
reading is restricted to the operative clauses of the resolution. The minimum number of
signatories required is 1/5th of the total strength

Amendments: Delegates may amend any resolution that has been introduced to committee. An
amendment requires the same number of signatures of members as the resolution as well as the
signature of the Director. Amendments to amendments are out of order, however, an amended
part may be further amended. There are no official sponsors to amendments. An approved
amendment may be introduced when the floor is open. The General Speaker's List will be
suspended, and a Special Speaker's List will be established for debate on the amendment.

At this point, the Director will take any further motions to divide the question so that the
resolution clauses can be voted upon independently. If an objection is made to a motion to divide
the question, which motion will be debated to the extent of two speakers for and against, and will
then be followed by an immediate vote on that motion.

If the motion receives a simple majority required for passage, the resolution shall be divided
accordingly, and a separate vote shall be taken on each divided part to determine whether or not
it is in the final draft. Parts of the substantive proposals, which are subsequently passed shall be
recombined into the final resolution and shall be put to a substantive vote as a whole. If all the
operative parts of the proposal are rejected, the subsequent resolution or amendment will be
considered as rejected as a whole.

Voting: Each country will have one vote. Each vote can be a "Yes", "No", "Yes with Rights",
"No with Rights", "Abstain" or "Pass". Should a member not be present and voting during a
substantive vote, that member shall have not voted (technically equivalent to "Abstain"). All
votes on substantive issues will be conducted by roll call. No outside observers may be present
during a vote, and the Director shall ensure that the room is sealed before proceeding with the
vote. Voting may be interrupted only by a point of personal Privilege. During a Roll Call Vote,
the Director will assume control of the committee.

During the first round of voting, delegates may vote for their member nations in alphabetical
order, choosing to vote a "Yes", "No", "Yes with Rights", No with Rights", "Abstain" or "Pass".
A delegate from a member nation, which does not pass, may request the right to explain his\ her
vote.

A member nation that passes in the first sequence must vote during the second sequence. The
rights to explain that member nation's vote are suspended in this second round. Member nations
who requested the right to explain their votes may do so, with a time limit set by the Director. A
third sequence will ensue in which members may change their votes by expressing this desire, in
writing to the Director. After allowing a pause in committee session for those who wish to
change their votes, the Director will tabulate and announce the final result. Following which the
door of the hall will reopen.

On Resolution Writing
Before it is formally introduced to the committee, a resolution is referred to as a Draft
Resolution. The Director of your committee would like all drafts to deal with ideas and opinions
presented in working papers and existing resolutions, as well as new ideas and innovations.
Remember, a final resolution has to present a well thought out, feasible solution that will solve
the crisis at hand. Your draft resolution should present the same logical flow that will be present
in the final resolution. A sample resolution is presented later in this conference handbook. A
draft resolution needs three things before it can be introduced to the floor. First, it needs the
signatures (but not approval) of at least 1/5th of the total members to that committee. A word
about signing - being a signatory in no way signifies approval for that resolution, you are not
bound to vote for or against a resolution just by being a signatory. Being a signatory merely
implies that you feel that this resolution should be introduced to formal debate. You are signing
to introduce a resolution to debate - no more, no less. Secondly, a resolution needs to present a

logical, simple and above all feasible solution to the situation at hand. Working papers may
contain the most imaginative and creative ideas, but in a resolution these ideas have to stand up
against the real world.

The draft resolution has to be extensive enough to cover the entire topic area. Thirdly, a
resolution needs authors, who will actually be sponsors (although are not officially recognized as
such), and who are willing to amend and emend the resolution until it suits everybody else,
without compromising the meaning or original premises of the resolution. Amending a resolution
is just like writing the resolution itself. Your amendment has to be presented in resolution
format, and along with it you should submit a short note specifying which parts of the resolution
you wish to amend, as a cause of your amendment (renumbering, change of tense, etc.)

Voting proceeds in three rounds - in the first of which you can ask for voting rights - which
implies that between the second and third rounds you may express your reasons for changing
your vote. If you choose to change your vote in the second round, your rights are null and void.
The first two rounds proceed in alphabetical order by roll call and the last by show of placards

The title should be centered, and can be as simple as "Draft Resolution". Other headings include
Committee and Topic Area, both of which should be left aligned and presented below the title.

Body: The resolution is technically a long sentence, with the following rules:

• The resolution begins with your committee name (look to example).

• The next section consists of Pre-ambulatory Clauses that describe the problem being
addressed. Pre-ambulatory clauses should include references to past action taken,
history of the problem and should offer support to the purpose of the resolution. Each
clause should begin with an italicized phrase and end with a comma (,).
• Operative clauses are numbered and state action to be taken by the committee.
 • These clauses begin with present tense active verbs, which are generally stronger
words than those used in the preamble. Each operative clause is followed by a
semicolon (;), except for the last which ends with a period/full stop (.).

WORKING PAPERS
Delegates may propose working papers for committee consideration. Working Papers are
intended to aid the committee in its discussion and formulation of resolutions and need not be
written in resolution format. Working Papers require the signature of the Director to be copied
and distributed. They are concise and an abridged form of the resolution. Working papers
represent the first step in the process of resolution writing. The wonderful thing about working
papers is that unlike other formal documents in a MUN, they are absolutely informal. They
require no signatories, have no absolute format, and can be about anything under your topic area.
All they require for photocopying and distribution is the seal of approval from your Director.
Format: Usually they are presented in the form of a one page draft, but not necessarily so. In my
MUN experience, I have seen working papers in the form of cartoons, in complete resolution
format, as essays.

The only thing they have in common is that they are concise and to the point. Just because they
are informal does not mean they ramble on for pages - in fact, I have never seen a working page
longer than three pages, and most tend to restrict themselves to one. What makes a good working
paper: We have provided a sample one that has all the prominent features of a good working
paper - it makes a good template to base part of a resolution on