BGA/9/15
Sponsored by Clare Bernheisel, Zoe Brown, Isaiah Krusch, McKoyler Thach of Dyersburg High School
The delegates above represented the Delegation of Palau.
This legislation was filed in the Economic and Financial category
Presented as part of the MUN B 2023 conference
| 1 | Terms in this resolution are defined as: |
| 2 | - Green infrastructure is a form of construction that utilizes natural growth and ecological barriers |
| 3 | to absorb excess water and channel it into the ground. |
| 4 | - Conference of the Parties 27 (COP27) refers to a meeting of 190 countries that took place in |
| 5 | November of 2022 to address the impacts of climate change and discuss possible solutions. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | To the General Assembly, |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Aware that Palau is a developing island country with a small population of 18,058 people (the |
| 10 | majority being indigenous to Palau) and a GDP per capita of 12,084 United States Dollars (USD), |
| 11 | |
| 12 | Alarmed that Palau has experienced an exponential increase in high water incidents since 1990, |
| 13 | along with rising sea levels and water temperatures, with the increase in ocean height diminishing |
| 14 | the protection of the coral reefs that surround Palau, |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Recognizing that escalating sea levels, coupled with the heightened frequency of severe weather |
| 17 | phenomena in Palau, are significantly contributing to the ongoing ramifications of climate change, |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Emphasizing that the dearth of freshwater, escalation of erosion, and degradation of water |
| 20 | infrastructures stand as profoundly consequential outcomes precipitated by the escalation of sea |
| 21 | levels, |
| 22 | |
| 23 | Taking into account that a significant portion of Palau’s economy, along with its residents, depend |
| 24 | on agriculture and fishing for income and food production, |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Highlighting that the fishing industry has been detrimentally affected by both an increase in ocean |
| 27 | temperatures and overfishing, |
| 28 | |
| 29 | Cognizant of the harm done to taro fields and mangrove forests that provide both foodstuffs as |
| 30 | well as protection from high tides and sediment that would otherwise damage surrounding coral |
| 31 | reefs, |
| 32 | |
| 33 | Acknowledging localized Palauan endeavors to mitigate the negative impacts of rising sea levels |
| 34 | and tropical storms by building barricade walls and reinforcing existing construction as well as |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Drawing attention to the development of green infrastructure as a method of addressing rising sea |
| 37 | levels and weather catastrophes, as well as Palau’s current reliance on existing forms of ecological |
| 38 | barriers, |
| 39 | |
| 40 | Recalling the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Sustainable Development |
| 41 | Goal Number Thirteen of combating climate change and its impacts, specifically target 13.a, which |
| 42 | calls for a Green Climate Fund (GCF) of at least $100 billion dollars to be distributed to developing |
| 43 | countries with stipulations of meaningful action and transparent implementation, |
| 44 | |
| 45 | Noting with satisfaction that at the Conference of the Parties 27 meeting (attended by |
| 46 | representatives from Palau) in November of 2022, an agreement was reached to compensate |
| 47 | nations for loss and damage caused by climate change, |
| 48 | |
| 49 | We, the delegates of Palau, do hereby: |
| 50 | |
| 51 | Call upon the United Nations to establish robust ecological barriers using already existing |
| 52 | mangrove forests and other natural growth, thereby substantially mitigating the adverse impacts |
| 53 | of escalating sea levels, such as flooding, droughts, and related consequences, |
| 54 | |
| 55 | Recommend stimulating the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in |
| 56 | collaboration with Palauan authorities and experts, to establish a dedicated commission, the Palau |
| 57 | Climate Commission (PCC), aimed at aiding the Republic of Palau in alleviating the extensive |
| 58 | ramifications of climate change, |
| 59 | |
| 60 | Emphasize the revitalization of the Palauan fishing sector to provide essential support to the |
| 61 | inhabitants of the Republic of Palau reliant on the industry for both economic sustenance and food |
| 62 | provision, |
| 63 | |
| 64 | Welcome the assistance of ECOSOC in the PCC’s effort to develop an effective and reasonable |
| 65 | budget for any new money obtained for causes related to climate change, including the 12.3 |
| 66 | million USD already received from the GCF and funds from the newly established loss and |
| 67 | damages fund, |
| 68 | |
| 69 | Designate 30% of this money for rebuilding previous damage done to coral reefs, residences and |
| 70 | businesses, and the fishing industry, another 40% of this money towards expanding Palau’s |
| 71 | climate change response system in the form of green infrastructure and other natural ocean |
| 72 | barriers, and the remaining 30% of this money for any future expenses related to climate change, |
| 73 | |
| 74 | Urge the commission to use careful discretion to decide the best approach to implementing sea |
| 75 | barriers, green infrastructure, and other related construction, utilizing input from subject matter |
| 76 | experts, local environmental groups in Palau, and authorities from the United Nations Environment |
| 77 | Programme (UNEP), |
| 78 | |
| 79 | Strongly encourage the participation of already existing environmental, social, and economic |
| 80 | groups in Palau in any climate change-related activities, including decision-making, funding, and |
| 81 | labor, |
| 82 | |
| 83 | Endorse semi-annual budget reviews and audits conducted by personnel from ECOSOC to ensure |
| 84 | that all funds are being used appropriately and efficiently, |
| 85 | |
| 86 | Trust that the PCC will further explore different methods of dealing with rising sea levels and |
| 87 | weather phenomena including technology like pervious concrete and air bubble curtains, |
| 88 | Resolve to reduce the adverse effects of rising sea levels substantially by the end of 2024 by |
| 89 | alleviating flooding, rehabilitating the fishing industry, and repairing damage done by typhoons |
| 90 | and other tropical weather catastrophes, |
| 91 | |
| 92 | Encourage the United Nations to extend its initiative to establish ecological defenses to encompass |
| 93 | additional nations, particularly in consideration of the notable repercussions of escalating sea |
| 94 | levels within the Western Pacific Ocean, prominently affecting countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu, |
| 95 | Direct Palau and the PCC to remain engaged in the global conversation regarding climate change |
| 96 | by sharing knowledge gained regarding green infrastructure and assisting other developing and |
| 97 | small island nations in the implementation of this technology, |
| 98 | |
| 99 | We, the delegation of Palau, encourage this plan to be implemented by January 1, 2024. |
| 100 | |
| 101 |