Position Paper

Committee: ECOSOC

Country: Australia

Climate change does not respect border; it does not respect who you are - rich and poor, small
and big. Therefore, this is what we call 'global challenges,' which require global solidarity.

- Ban Ki-moon

Assessing the impact of climate change is, at best, an extremely complex exercise with
uncertainty about both the degree of future global warming and the subsequent impact on global
activity. There are clearly some benefits as well as costs as the planet warms. There is also the
unknown of how technological progress will respond and potentially alter the path of global
warming.

Any assessment also involves taking a very long-run view, well beyond that normally used by
financial market participants.

However, increasing awareness of the issue means there is a growing demand for a view from
shareholders who are either concerned about how the companies they own impact the
environment, worried about the effect of climate change on the value chain of those companies,
or a combination of both.

In December last year the Australia ratified the Kyoto protocol. We are determined to be a part
of the solution on climate change. We have acted to begin the process of developing the world’s
most comprehensive emissions trading carbon pollution reduction scheme to bring down co2
emissions over time.

We will also implement a national energy efficiency strategy. As well as renewable energy
strategy. Developing and deploying new tech will also be a part of our response to climate
change.

The Australian government has decided to establish a global center to drive the demonstration
and commercialization of carbon capture and storage technology.

This project-building on existing national and regional initiatives-will bring together the best
researchers in the world to develop the best technology.
As the world at present is planning to generate 45% of its electricity from coal in 2030, we can
no longer afford any delay.

Delegates, Australia invites all governments and corporations of good will to participate in this
global carbon capture and storage program.

The delegate of Australia would like to suggest a few solutions on the issue of climate change-

 First, plant trees and other vegetation to halt deforestation. You can also donate to
charities that plant trees. For example, Eden Reforestation hires local residents to plant
trees in Madagascar and Africa for $0.10 a tree. It also gives the very poor people an
income, rehabilitates their habitat, and saves species from mass extinction.
 Second, become carbon neutral. The average American emits 16 tons of CO2 a year.
According to Arbor Environmental Alliance, 100 mangrove trees can absorb 2.18 metric
tons of CO2 annually. The average American would need to plant 734 mangrove trees to
offset one year’s worth of CO2. At $0.10 a tree, that would cost $73.
 Avoid products using palm oil. Most of its production comes from Malaysia and
Indonesia. Tropical forests and carbon-rich swamps are cleared for its plantations. Avoid
products with generic vegetable oil as an ingredient.
 Pressure corporations to disclose and act on their climate-related risks. Since 1988, 100
companies are responsible for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The worst are
ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron. These four companies contribute 6.49% alone.
 Reduce food waste. It was estimated that 26.2 gigatons of CO2 emissions would be
avoided if food waste was reduced by 50%.
 Cut fossil-fuel use. Where available, use more mass transit, biking, and electric vehicles.
Or keep your car but maintain it. Keep the tires inflated, change the air filter, and drive
under 60 miles per hour.
 Hold the government accountable. Each year, $2 trillion is invested in building new
energy infrastructure. The International Energy Administration said that governments
control 70% of that.