For all those who love to speak towards the betterment of our environment, SLMUN 2018 will be simulating a committee just for you. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) is an agency of the United Nations with the overall responsibility of setting the global environmental agenda and coordinates UN’s environmental activities and assist developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and encourage sustainable development through viable environmental practices. Its headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP covers a wide range of environmental problems such as atmospheric pollution, degrading of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Founded by Maurice Strong on 5th June 1972, its sole mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. This mission is spread along the 7 categories: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review. This organization is considered a body of global significance in bringing all member states to work towards the greater benefit of the environment. The UNEP acts as a governing body for all such members and representatives by creating international conventions to create and implement policies voicing to tackle the tragic and greatest global environmental challenges of our time.

The UNEP plays a significant role in developing and promoting environmental sciences and policies and has also aided in the formation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the trade of potentially harmful chemicals. It also illustrates practical measures conjunction with government policy to all corners of the world so no human is left behind. UNEP makes the world realize of the horrors humans are capable of impacting on our environment. The UNEP has many registered successes following its foundation, for example the Montreal protocol in 1987 for limiting emissions of gases blamed for thinning the ozone layer, and the 2012 Minamata convention to limit toxic mercury.

If you are wondering what issues you’ll be tacking at SLMUN 2018 here’s a heads up: During the practice debate delegates will speak on renewable energy and future energy demand. It is a known fact that most energy sources used in production are non-renewable and the challenge is to seek and advice the shift from non-renewable to renewable energy production and usage. Reports state that coal will run out in 110 years with oil running out in just 53 more years. In just less than 200 years Humans have successfully managed to deplete these energy sources which date millions of years back in origin. it is our greatest responsibility that we tackle the energy issue in a sustainable manner. It’s no longer an issue to be ignored. Moving on to another equally crucial environmental problem to be discussed during the conference is marine life and ocean pollution.

The level of pollution happening in the marine world is a crisis of global importance. The ocean has become one of the biggest and best known places for dumping of waste matter. Ironically even with such publicity on the issue there’s comparatively insufficient measures taken to protect marine life as these traumatic acts only keep increasing. Which is why SLMUN is getting the youth to provide solutions for this timely issue. Statistically, more than 1.5 million pounds are being dumped to the ocean every hour and over 100 million marine animals are killed every year due to the millions of tons of garbage dumped annually.

UNEP delegates simply have to have the passion, the love towards the environment and a thirst to fight for Earth’s unheard rights. A knowledge of environmental policies and treaties will be an added plus point. It’s a committee for novice and advanced delegates as it has an incredibly wide scope which will promise many hours of intense debating, negotiating and resolution making at conference. Make your voice heard and bring in solutions to help fight environmental crises and save the Earth for future generations,

join us at SLMUN 2018 by registering up on www. slmun.org.

Chethasi Kudagamage and Bevan Perera