Intense Debates on Sea Level Rise and Glacier Melt in UNEP

By Johanna Rai, Chief reporter of UNEP, TES NEWS

10 September 2024

The final day of the final session for The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) under TESMUN 2024 started with The General Speakers’ List (GSL) on the final topic "Global Impact on Sea Level Rise, Thermal Expansion, and Coastal Communities Due to Glacier Melt in the Himalayan Range." The first GSL of the day started with the delegate of South Africa (Marcus Thapa), followed by the delegate of Iran (Niken Maharjan), Pakistan (Sanskar Maharjan), and went on to the delegate of Ukraine (Prasiddha Thapa), Canada (Ron Shah), India (Sagun Dura), Iraq (Samrat Upadhyaya Luitel), and many others with a lot of questioning, answering, and clarifying.

 While the GSL was ongoing, the delegate of Ukraine (Prasiddha Thapa) secured a good point: “Ukraine is not the only country that borders the Black Sea. Russia also borders the Black Sea, and let’s not forget that Ukraine was also a part of Russia in the Soviet Union. So, Russia is mainly the one who is at fault for the sea level rise in the Black Sea," replied to the accusation raised by the Russian delegate (Riva Mainali).In addition, the plaque cards of the delegates were raised most of the time, signaling that they were putting no pause on this heated questioning and answering moment. This made the atmosphere of UNEP livelier and more delightful to look at for the visitors and the Dias panel. 

Of course, the delegate of Norway (Saugat Neupane) presented an excellent performance today. He was able to get the first “good research” by the panel with his remarkable and logical questions. Getting over the GSL was difficult for the delegates of UNEP today. The delegates kept on elongating the time when the estimated time would collapse eventually.  After the ending of GSL for all the delegates, a moderated caucus on the topic “The Impacts of Sea Level Rise, Flooding, and Sinking on Vulnerable Coastal Communities” was raised by the delegate of France (Aryana Ranjeet), which was passed by a majority of votes. 

Moreover, the delegate of France (Aryana Ranjeet) achieved a point to be noted, stating that “the melting at Dovrefjell has not been addressed by the Norwegian government but the ancient artifacts have. Does this signify that Norway does not care about the glacier melt but rather is giving priority to the new hidden artifacts in hopes of internally developing the country?” against the delegate of Norway (Saugat Neupane). Following an unmoderated caucus, the final day of the final session under TESMUN 2024 came to an end in UNEP.