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Plymouth Model United Nations: more words and pictures

Delegates involved in heated debate on the impacts of climate change and what should be done to address the issue.

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Pengelly addresses delegates.

Small groups meet to draw up a list of actions Plymouth can take to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

They said...

"What a great event."
Jill Bailey, International Development Officer

"I really enjoyed setting huge targets, then seeing how they could be achieved locally in Plymouth."
Student delegate

“I've done a few of these events on and off over the years and haven't seen anything as well focused and targeted.”
Teacher, Eggbuckland Community College

"A great success and the first of many Model UN Assemblies I hope."
Karl Sweeney, Adviser for Citizenship, PSHEE and Healthy Schools, Plymouth and Model UN President/ chair

 

 

Plymouth Model United Nations Assembly
on climate change
held in the debating chamber at the Civic Centre
on 24th September 2008

 

Sixth formers from five Plymouth schools - Eggbuckland Community College, Lipson Community College, Plymouth High School for Girls, Tavistock College and Torpoint Community College - took part in a lively Model United Nations Assembly debate at the Civic Centre in September.

This was the fourth Model United Nations Assembly in the South West to consider climate change and its impacts around the world. But it was the first to consider the local impacts of climate change and the actions that need to be taken in Plymouth to mitigate against it.

During the first part of the day students took on the role of international diplomats representing nine very diverse nations: Russia, Peru, UK, Ghana, China, Tuvalu, USA, Bangladesh and Sweden. This mix of developing and developed nations led to some lively discussions!

After much wrangling over carbon reduction targets, the nations represented finally agreed to "reduce carbon emissions by at least 60% by 2050 with a 1.5% annual milestone in relation to 2008 emission levels". The resolution also recognised "that energy derived from renewable energy sources, including nuclear energy as a transitional form of energy, must be increased significantly, while energy derived from fossil fuels must be decreased substantially". The nations also agreed that "mitigation is primarily the responsibility of developed nations and emerging economies, while adaptation to climate change must be the priority for less developed countries and island states". The resolution called for a new Global Adaptation Fund to support developing countries and island states adapt to a changing climate and a a new Forest Conservation Fund to manage the protect all forests.

To view the final resolution in full click here.

Following international negotiations (and a generous lunch!), students heard an introduction to the afternoon session by Cllr Vivian Pengelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council and a short talk from Plymouth's climate change officer, Jackie Young on some of the local challenges posed by climate change.

Students then divided into groups to discuss how Plymouth can respond to the challenges posed by climate change in five different areas: energy and energy efficiency, transport, waste, food and the built environment. Among many interesting ideas put forward by students were subsidising buses to make them cheaper, paid for through a congestion charge for cars entering the city or increased parking charges; city schools using only locally produced food in their canteens; not allowing any building on park land - Plymouth should operate a ‘greenbelt’ principle and build upwards rather than outwards; and subsidising the set up costs of micro energy generation, e.g. wind turbines, solar panels and other forms of renewable power.

For full details of the 'Students’ Local Resolutions' click here.

Feedback from students was extremely positive, but also constructively critical, which will help future Model UN Assemblies. It is clear that overall students felt they benefited from the experience.

Students had a chance to experience at first hand what it is like to take part in international negotiations at the United Nations and the difficulties of balancing national interests with the needs of the international community. They also had good opportunities to experience teamwork and group cooperation, conflict resolution, negotiation and consensus-building.

Click here to see a summary of the students evaluation.

Andrew Bell, who co-ordinated the event and took on the role of Secretary General said of the Plymouth Model UN Assembly:

"The delegates conducted themselves in a very diplomatic way and represented their countries extremely accurately, staying in role throughout. This reflected the hard work and detailed research that must have taken place beforehand.

"I thought the speeches, debate, questions and interventions were of exceptionally high quality and I am sure councillors, who normally debate in this chamber, would have been quite amazed to hear the high level discussions that took place.

"It was also encouraging to see the wide range of ideas students had for reducing the carbon footprint of Plymouth and making the city a more sustainable place. If some of these ideas were implemented we really could usher in a more sustainable, equitable and fair society".

Preparation is key to a successful Model UN Assembly. For details provided to help students prepare for the day and further details of the Plymouth Model UN assembly click here
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