★ABOUT ECOSOC★
The Economic and Social Council (聯合國經濟及社會理事會) is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
★TOPIC INTRO★
Topic A : Climate Change in Least Developed Countries
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With unpredictable weather patterns and severe floods and droughts, millions of people in LDCs have suffered from poverty, hunger and disease. Besides, the rising sea level has threatened eight countries of the LDCs, which are also the members of Small Islands Developing States, causing more and more environmental refugees. Since LDCs exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, they are least able to recover from climate stresses, and their economic growth is highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors. Therefore, climate change threatens to undo decades of progress towards reducing poverty and puts the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk.
Although several adaptation initiatives are being undertaken by LDCs, including the help and aids from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is important that more adaptation actions should be required. The United Nations should not only strengthen the LDCs’ ability to withstand and overcome the effects of climate change, but also build the resilience of the LDCs to mitigate their adverse effects. All in all, ECOSOC should find a practical and feasible solution to help the Least Developed Countries to reduce the effects of climate change and enhance their sustainable growth.
Although several adaptation initiatives are being undertaken by LDCs, including the help and aids from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is important that more adaptation actions should be required. The United Nations should not only strengthen the LDCs’ ability to withstand and overcome the effects of climate change, but also build the resilience of the LDCs to mitigate their adverse effects. All in all, ECOSOC should find a practical and feasible solution to help the Least Developed Countries to reduce the effects of climate change and enhance their sustainable growth.
Topic B : Migrant Labor around the Mediterranean Sea
Unprecedented numbers of workers from the Middle East countries are taking dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean to reach European countries. Increased international attention has recently been paid to this escalating matter, as the death toll has increased due to a series of shipwreck disasters. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), between 2000 and 2014, 22,400 people died in the Mediterranean Sea, trying to migrate to the EU. Day by day, the situation is getting worse and worse, as the number of migrant workers and of deaths is not decreasing.
The numbers of Mediterranean migrant workers have fluctuated over the years due to various factors, including conditions in countries of origin and transit, geopolitical developments, and EU policies. With the complexity of these migration flows, Europe is struggling to develop a comprehensive solution that balances efforts to assist workers in need with efforts to protect its borders. All in all, the urgent problem of Mediterranean migrant workers would be their rights and the migratory management, while in the long term, this committee should find out ways to set up a new policy on legal migration and border management.
The numbers of Mediterranean migrant workers have fluctuated over the years due to various factors, including conditions in countries of origin and transit, geopolitical developments, and EU policies. With the complexity of these migration flows, Europe is struggling to develop a comprehensive solution that balances efforts to assist workers in need with efforts to protect its borders. All in all, the urgent problem of Mediterranean migrant workers would be their rights and the migratory management, while in the long term, this committee should find out ways to set up a new policy on legal migration and border management.