Name: Kevin Montrone Delegation: New Providence High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Afghanistan Part I - Country information: Afghanistan, whose official name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan lis a third-world country located in the middle east. Because Afghanistan has been the epicenter of war for decades, it is one of the poorest nations in the entire world. As of 2008, approximately 35% of the nation's population is unemployed and as of 2009, 42% of the population lives on less than one USD per day. In Afghanistan, there is a lot of military conflict with terror groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The USA and other countries linked with NATO along with the Afghan National Army are deployed throughout the country to combat the terror organization. However, in doing so, they have caused the Afghan economy to suffer. In recent years, as troops have been taken out of Afghanistan and financial aid has been provided, the economy has begun to grow. With the proper support from other nations, Afghanistan's economy has the potential to grow exponentially. Part II – Topics Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure In Afghanistan, 100% of main electricity sources in the electrical grid of the nation depend on fossil fuels. However, only 35.4% of total energy capacity is from fossil fuels. 64.4% of the installed capacity is from hydroelectric plants, meaning that there is a lot of potential for renewable energy. Many other types of renewable resources are being utilized throughout the nation. These sources include biomass, wind energy, and solar energy. In recent years, many more plants have been built to sustain the supply of electricity. Due to its relatively small size and population, Afghanistan has a rather small carbon footprint. Also, only 43% of the population has access to electricity, so there is possible improvements that can be made when it comes to the implementation of renewable energy. Due to its geography, Afghanistan has a lot of potential in hydro-powered plants because there is 677,900 square kilometers of water catchment area in rivers. The Naghlu Dam, a 110m tall structure that spans 280m across the Kabul River, is a large producer of hydroelectric energy in Afghanistan. It is the largest source of renewable energy in the country and it uses Francis-Type turbines to supply energy. The dam currently stores about 75MW of energy and has a full capacity of 100MW. With proper

funding, other areas like the Naghlu Dam could be built throughout other parts of Afghanistan and supply much more clean energy as a result. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Being an arid region, Afghanistan has virtually 0 acres, of deforested land. However, Afghanistan still leaves a negative impact on the environment and harms biodiversity in the area. The WWF, or World Wildlife Fund, has classified 70% of the biome in Afghanistan "globally endangered" and 26% as "very vulnerable". A total of eight subspecies and 39 species are on IUCN's (The World Conservation Union) Red List. On this list, they are classified as globally threatened with extinction. In Afghanistan, there is very little information about biodiversity, and there have been no studies conducted or observations made about the environment in decades. Because of the extremely dry arid conditions, there are very few wetlands in Afghanistan. However, the few that exist are enriched with wildlife and immensely contribute to the biodiversity of the nation. While there are a few reserves, parks, and sanctuaries throughout Afghanistan, there are no officially protected areas. This means that all of the wildlife there is in danger of extinction by human interference, without any protected land. There are a few priority actions that can be taken to improve the safety and well-being of wildlife in Afghanistan. These include; legally recognize wildlife areas as protected zones, develop a protected-areas system that would protect areas of high biodiversity, scan wetlands and other areas of biodiversity for data to include in the protected-areas system, create a national official Red Listing program with IUCN, develop a comprehensive flora database of Afghanistan, protect the remaining monsoon forests of eastern Afghanistan, preserve and recover remaining pistachio and juniper forests in northern Afghanistan, develop a conservation program of farmlands, and develop a biodiversity strategy. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Despite the arid climate of Afghanistan, 23.5% of the country's GDP is made up of agricultural profit. The most important crops are wheat, potatoes, rice, and nuts. Fruits are also a very important export, however, with the proper funding the fruit and nut exports could exponentially rise. It is predicted that they would rise to $800 mil per year from the current $113 mil USAID has helped the Afghan agricultural industry a lot and, in 2010, gave $30 mil in grants to Afghan farmers. This program also opened up about 276,000 agricultural jobs, thus creating more employment for the Afghan people. Before USAID, the farming industry in Afghanistan shrunk and became very nominal due to war, neglect, drought, and disease. A non-governmental group called Roots of Peace (aka. CHAMP Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program) is working with the Afghan farmers to further agricultural development.

Since 2010, USAID has provided at least $20 mil more in grants and the Afghan agriculture is becoming increasingly lucrative. 70-80% of Afghans depend on the agricultural business as a source of their main livelihood. Prior to the war conflict, Afghanistan's agricultural industry was world-renowned for being profitable and very successful. With the support that the US has provided and will continue to provide, the Afghan agricultural industry is projected to return to it's former success and thus heal the wounded nation. Sources: @usaid. "AGRICULTURE." U.S. Agency for International Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/fact-sheets/agriculture>. @usaid. "USAID Grants $30 Million to Champion Afghan Farmers." U.S. Agency for International Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/news-information/press-releases/usaid-grants-30-million-champion-afghan-farmers>. Lamport, William H. "Department of Agriculture." (1874): n. pag. Scms.usa.gov. Web. <https://scms.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1871/08%20FINAL%20Sector%20Fact%20Sheet%20OAG%20July%202016.pdf>. "Afghanistan." OEC - Afghanistan (AFG) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/afg/>. "The World Factbook: AFGHANISTAN." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html>. "Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan." (2008): 6-20. Unep.org. Web. <http://www.unep.org/dgef/Portals/43/publications/afg_biodiv_ncsa_document.pdf>.

Name: Christopher Muth Delegation: Devon Prep Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Argentina Part I- Country Description Argentina is a Federal Republic in the southern part of South America and it is officially known as the Argentine Republic. With an area of about 1.1 million square miles it is the second largest country in South America and eighth largest country in the world. It is divided into provinces, 23 of them, and the capital of the country is Buenos Aires. Argentina has a population of 41.5 million people. The government of Argentina is a Federal Constitutional Republic and a Representative Democracy, led by President Mauricio Macri. Argentina's economy benefits from a prosperous export based agricultural industry and rich natural resources, the Argentine economy is considered a middle emerging economy. Argentina is not only influenced by spanish culture but Italian and British as well. Part II- Positions on Topics: Environment and Technology B Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Argentina has the third largest power market in Latin America, 87% of the energy in Argentina is fossil fuel, the remaining energy is generated by renewable resources. Argentina is increasing their share in renewable energy. In 2015 they called to have more of their energy generated by wind, solar and hydro-electric plants and they hope to have 8% of energy generated by renewable resources by 2017. By 2025 they want to have 20% of their energy generated by renewable sources. This lead to the Argentine government's $2 billion investment in the RenovAr program, which is the program devoted to increasing the renewable energy in Argentina, Argentina believes the best way to promote renewable energy is through the promotion by the government. Therefore Argentina would ask the UN for support in helping to

promote the benefits of renewable energy to other countries who want to start to develope their energy programs. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Argentina is a very biodiverse country, in fact it is one of the most biodiverse countries of the world. One of Argentina's biggest challenges in maintaining its biodiversity is the deforestation of its forests. Along with pollution of water and the continued threat to many species native to Argentina. This has caused the Argentine government to become very concerned with preservation of their country. Argentina would support the idea that all countries should strengthen the preservation of their countries. Argentina calls upon the UN to form a subcouncil dedicated solely to the preservation of our countries. Argentina believes all countries should take preservation of biodiversity more seriously. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Agriculture is one of the most vital pieces of the Argentine economy, it accounts for 7% of the employment in Argentina. Half of Argentina's foreign exchange is made up of agricultural goods, but 10-15% of Argentina's farm land is foreign owned. In 2011 about a fourth of exports from Argentina of about $86 billion were agricultural goods mostly wheat, soybeans, and corn. But unfortunately according to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in 2014 they found that there is a lot of child and forced labor in the agriculture industry in Argentina. Since Argentina has a very successful agricultural industry and other countries do not, Argentina would like to focus on helping those countries that do not through importing and exporting. Complementarity will be important, Argentina being rich in agricultural products and export that to countries who can in exchange give them something they have that Argentina does have. Therefore Argentina along with the help of the UN

would like to help other countries who do not have good agricultural means, by trading and importing and exporting. Work Cited: "Argentina to Generate 8% of Electricity from Renewable Sources by 2017." Climate Publishers Network. Guardian News and Media, 02 Nov. 2015. Web. 28 Dec. 2016. "Electricity Sector in Argentina." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2016. "Environment of Argentina." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2016. "Environmental Sustainability Issues in Argentina." Environmental Sustainability Issues in Argentina. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2016. "Renewable Energy in Latin America: Argentina." Global Law Firm Norton Rose Fulbright. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2016. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2016.

Name: Patrick Fox Delegation: Trenton High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Bangladesh Part I –Country Information Bangladesh has good potential for harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, wind, and mini-hydropower. The country has been experiencing a gradual shift towards exploring renewable energy resources as a driving force for rural development. A few public sector and non-government organizations have started to develop renewable energy technology (RET) projects in rural areas. The lessons learnt from different demonstrations of RET projects reveal that with careful forward planning renewable energy can provide far-reaching economic, environmental, and social benefits to people living in remote rural areas in Bangladesh. In managed landscapes, tree-dominated habitats often show promise for biodiversity conservation. In Bangladesh where natural forest cover is less than 10 percent, homegardens, which are maintained by at least 20 millions households, represent one possible strategy for biodiversity conservation. This study investigated the floristic and structural diversity of 402 homegardens from six regions across southwestern Bangladesh. All plants were censused, totaling 419 species (59% native), including six IUCN Red Listed. The median home garden (800 m2) contained a mean of 34 species. Each region contained a mean of 293 species in a mean of 67 homegardens. A total of 49,478 individuals (107 per homegarden and 1003 per hectare) of trees and shrubs were counted from 45.2 ha total sampled area. Thus, significant botanical richness was exhibited in the homegardens across southwestern Bangladesh. However, most species were rare: 82 percent of all species including 189 native were found in 50 or fewer homegardens, and 63 species (36 native) were found in only one or two homegardens. Sixty percent of all tree and shrub species had 50 or fewer individuals each. Thus, whereas richness across the landscape was high, serious effort must be made to increase the populations of most species. We propose three main conservation activities: awareness building; protection of existing individuals of rare species; and propagation. Overlaying all of these activities is the inclusion of local communities in the process, who were the ones to retain these species in homegardens in the first place, and the stakeholders who will determine whether homegardens indeed act as long-term repositories to biodiversity conservation.

Like many other Asian countries, the causal relationship between agricultural productivity and the incidence of rural poverty has been a widely debated subject in Bangladesh. A number of studies argued that the real agricultural wage rate was declining during the period when the country had experienced overall agricultural growth. This paper contributes to this debate in two ways: i) it re-examines the methodological aspects of past studies and presents alternative estimates; and ii) analyzes dynamics of agricultural wage and rice price using the most recent data. Multivariate cointegration techniques are used to examine the long and short-run relationships among agricultural wage rate, rice price, urban wage rate, and other prices. The results show that agricultural wage and rice price maintained strong co-integrating relationships during the periods 1949/50 -1979/80; and the elasticities of agricultural wage rate with respect to rice price are substantially higher than what past studies had reported. Analyses of post-famine data (1976/77-1998/99) suggest that rice price, which was strongly co-integrated with agricultural wage rate until the early 80s, is no longer a significant determinant of wage formation in Bangladesh.

Name: Roy Kim Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Bolivia Part I- Country Description Bolivia is a country in Central South America, southwest of Brazil and is a little less than three times the size of montana. With a population of approximately 11 million people, they can be divided into mainly mestizo, indigenous, white, and cholo/chola ethnic groups. Bolivia is also largely a Roman Catholic dominated nation. Bolivia is governed by a presidential republic with civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and indigenous law. Bolivia is a resource rich country with strong growth attributed to captive markets for natural gas exports - to Brazil and Argentina. Gas accounts for roughly 50% of Bolivia's total exports and will fund more than half of its 2015 budget. However, the country remains one of the least developed countries in Latin America because of state-oriented policies that deter investment and growth. Topic One: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Bolivia has been on board with the creation of a renewable infrastructure since 2005. Starting 2005, Bolivia began its fiscal incentivization of renewable energy on a case-by-case basis or with regional and time limited scope. For example, Law 3279 and Law 31525 of 2005 provided 5 years of Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duty exemptions for renewable energy equipment in the Departments of Beni and Pando respectively. Decree 280 of 2009 provided import duty exemption for solar and small-scale wind power equipment from the EU Euro-Solar cooperation project. In 2009 Bolivia adopted a new Constitution which explicitly states that the state will develop and promote alternative energy in an environmentally sound way1 . The Patriotic Agenda (Agenda Patriotica) to the year 2025 also establishes objectives which are linked to renewable energy development. The generation, transport and distribution of energy is defined as an exclusive faculty of the State, allowing for participation of the private sector. The new Constitution decentralizes many competencies. In the case of renewable energy, competencies are distributed at the federal level (e.g. national grid, hydro resources, bio-resources and public service policies); regional level (e.g. rural electrification, department-level renewable energy projects) and municipal level (e.g. local level renewable energy projects and permitting). Jurisprudence is still being built on distribution of responsibilities in areas of overlap The goal of Bolivia is to increase support for the production of a renewable infrastructure from other nations. One method would be to model what Bolivia has done and create a fiscal incentive of using renewable energy. The flipside would be to

introduce a fiscal disadvantage of using nonrenewable energy such as adding a heavier natural gas tax. One of the biggest allies in the battle for a renewable infrastructure is Uganda. Uganda has been a big advocate for nuclear energy and has started their creation of a nuclear power plant. According to the National Development Plan 2010-2015 and Vision 2040, Uganda intends to use its uranium reserves to generate electricity using nuclear power stations. However, for Uganda may not become a renewable energy producer. Like in the case of Namibia the Government of Uganda 'could' decide to mine, mill and export uranium concentrate (or yellowcake) that would ultimately be processed and used for power generation in other countries. Once the uranium ore is mined and milled, the government could decide to send it overseas for processing into finished fuel and then bring it back for power generation in Uganda. Although this would mean Uganda losing out on some of the value addition it would avoid the need for financing significant upfront investment in expensive and highly technical processing facilities and skills development while allowing the government to focus on mining/milling and power generation only. In this very likely scenario, Uganda becomes a renewable energy dependent country however their sole objective would be to mine uranium ores rather than investing in researching future development of renewable energy processing. Topic Two: Preservation of Biodiversity As rich as Bolivia is in terms of biodiversity, culture and natural resources, economic development in the country has lagged behind. That's why the Conservancy has been working in Bolivia since 1986, supporting the Bolivian government to implement projects specifically designed to conserve the country's wild beauty, manage its natural resources, and promote socioeconomic development all at the same time. Bolivia's constitution reflects their dedication to preserving biodiversity. In 2003, the Conservancy, the Bolivian government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) together launched the BOLFOR II sustainable forestry management project to protect both dry and tropical lowland Bolivian forests and give communities a way to earn sustainable and profitable incomes at the same time. Furthermore, by terminating logging rights on 1.6 million acres of lands and making them part of neighboring Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, the Conservancy is supporting the Bolivian government in preventing the release of 5.8 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere over the next 30 years through the Noel Kempff Climate Action Project. This is a significant step forward in the fight against global climate change and in addition to helping protect the park's rich forests, local communities are receiving training in alternative, sustainable livelihoods. The goal of this meeting would be to sit down with all the nations and set targets or goals that we wish to meet and outline plans and regulations that would help reach those goals. There are several targets that Bolivia itself has in mind for this session. By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland

freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. They would also like to ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development. Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. And finally, promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed. Up to this point, one of our greatest supporters was the United States of America. As mentioned previously, it was theUnited States Agency for International Developmentthat aided Bolivia's first step towards wildlife protection. Overall there seems to be a consensus from all the member states that the threat to biodiversity is linked to the negative impact that this situation has on food security, nutrition, access to water, health of the rural poor and people worldwide and must be stopped. Topic Three: Agricultural Productivity Agricultural productivity is an area Bolivia would like to improve on.About two-fifths of the population is engaged in agriculture, but the deterioration and fragmentation of land, climate change, lack of adequate technologies, poor natural resource management and limited rural infrastructure are serious challenges facing the sector. Bolivia's agricultural potential may be the key to its future prosperity, but if subsistence farmers are to build modern, competitive, productive and sustainable enterprises, the development of the transportation, storage and communications infrastructure will be vital. With poverty alleviation at the top of the agenda, environmental concerns have tended to take second place. However prosperity will continue in the long term only by responsible exploitation and protection of Bolivia's natural and agricultural resources. 'Win-win' technologies which both increase production while also improving the natural resource base could be the answer in trying to tackle the growing problems of deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, and loss of biodiversity. Because Bolivia has more urgent issues pushing down the priority of agricultural productivity, Bolivia has no set up their own target goals for the issue. Bolivia is essentially here to listen to what other nations have to offer and will support any feasible idea that could help increase agricultural productivity without harming Bolivia's biodiversity and the economy.

There are not many nations who are against the push for more productive agriculture especially some of the biggest and most prosperous nations have such strong emphasis on it. For example, the United States of America has a lot of fiscal protection for their farmers. There is a fiscal advantage of contributing to agricultural production. Similarly in the United Kingdom's, farmers have access to a department of agriculture funding to help aid their " rural development projects." Works Cited "Biodiversity and Ecosystems .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform."United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/biodiversityandecosystems>. "Forests, Desertification and Biodiversity - United Nations Sustainable Development."United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. <http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/>. "New Agriculturist."New Agriculturist: Country Profile - Bolivia. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=3155>. "The Options for a Ugandan Nuclear Energy Programme Oil In Uganda."Oil In Uganda. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.oilinuganda.org/features/infrastructure/the-options-for-a-ugandan-nuclear-energy-programme.html>. "Places We Protect."Protect Bolivia Natural Preservation The Nature Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/southamerica/bolivia/placesweprotect/>.

"Renewable Energy-Energy Efficiency, Policy and the Environment."Renewable Energy13.2 (1998): 275-76. Web. <https://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_RE_Latin_America_Policies_2015_Country_Bolivia.pdf>. "The World Factbook: BOLIVIA."Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/bl.html>.

Name: Nikhil Kalyanraman Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Brazil Part I - Country Description The Federative Republic of Brazil is a vast South American country, which occupies 8,515,767.049 square kilometers(3,287,956 square mi), including 55,460 square kilometers(21,410 square miles) of water. This makes it the biggest country in South America, occupying about half of the continent. Brazil is also the fifth-biggest country in the world, based on area. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. One of the main features of Brazil is its Amazon biome. The Amazon Rainforest, spanning 6.7 million square kilometers, is the largest in the world. The Amazon River flows for more than 6,00 kilometers, and contains the largest number of freshwater fish species in the world. This doesn't include the unfathomable numbers of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles found across the biome.Out of its 200.4 million person population, however, only 30 million people live in the rainforest, and 92.6% are literate. 64.6% of Brazilians are Roman Catholic, 22.2% are Protestant, 8% have none, and 4.2% of Brazilians are affiliated with another religion. 47.7% of Brazilian are white, 43.1% are mixed (white and black), 7.6% are black, 1.1% are Asian, and 0.4% are indigenous to Brazil, while there are over 6 million tourists that come to Brazil each year. One of the main reasons for tourism includes the fact that Brazil temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). The tourism, along with well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and other service sectors, and a rapidly expanding middle class along with economic blocks (Aladi, Mercosur, G-20) have lead to a GDP of 2.246trillion USD dollars (7.69 trillion Brazlian real), with a GNI of 2.956trillion PPP dollars. Before the 1500s, Brazil was populated with tribes who had crossed over the Bering Land Bridge, and traveled south to the Brazilian area 16,000-30,000 years ago. At around 1500 AD, a Portuguese adventurer, Pedro Cabral began the colonial period. Unlike other places, most settlers in Brazil were impoverished and poor. they sought after a new life, so the natives were not harmed at first. However, when sugar came to Brazil, so did imported slaves. Due to interracial marriages between Indians, Africans, and Brazilian settlers, most Brazilians possess some combination of European, African, Amerindian, Asian, and Middle Eastern lineage, and this multiplicity of cultural legacies is a notable feature of current Brazilian culture. In 1822, Prince Dom Pedro declared Brazil's independence from Portugal. This new government along with a coffee boom lead the wealthy coffee magnates to back a military coup, which delayed a democratic election to 1989. Now, Brazil is a democratic federal republic, lead by its president,

Michel Temer. It is part of many political blocks, including the OEA, Unasur, CELAC, and BRICS. Overall, Brazil is a developing country with a diverse ecosystem stuck in the middle of its economic growth. Topic 1: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Brazil supports the use of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. In fact, 81.3% of the energy that Brazil produces is through renewable sources. They rank in the top 35 for all categories relating to renewable energy production, but only rank 196th in the world when it comes to fossil fuel production! If our current fossil fuel production and use remains constant, we will run out of fossil fuels very soon. In addition, fossil fuel drilling and usage has lead to an extinction rate of around 5000 times the natural rate. Brazil has a beautiful display of biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest which it would like to keep. Brazil would like to see the Committee on Environment and Technology encourage the use of renewable energy and the limitation, if not eradication, of fossil fuel use. To address the problems of fossil fuels on a global scale, Brazil would like to join its partners on the Committee on Environment and Technology to invest in many renewable energy plants, wherever most effective. Some plants will include solar energy plants in the barren Saharan desert and hydroelectricity plants near the major rivers of the world. These power plants should replace most, if not all, the power coming from fossil fuels. We must also economically sanction countries that do not wish to make a positive change in the environment by replacing most of their fossil fuel production with renewable energy production. Many other countries are supporting the production of renewables to replace fossil fuels. In 2015, Sweden has started their race in becoming one of the first countries to go 100% fossil fuel-free. In 2015, 99% of Costa Rica's energy came from renewable sources. Even major energy players in the industry are making the change to renewables. China has committed to phasing out coal and cleaning up its polluted air. In fact, it is leading wind energy capacity and is 2nd when it comes to solar-energy capacity. The United States, installs a new solar energy system every 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Clearly, we must support the use of renewable energy.

Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Brazil supports increasing funding for those without clean water and adequate sanitation. Brazil supports increased funding for the 2.5 billion people without adequate sanitation, the 1.3 billion without vital utilities and the 783 million without clean water. Brazil has given the poorest families earning less than R$1,600 (410) a month housing for as little as 5% of the families' monthly income. In February, for instance, the government announced that 7,000 homes had been delivered in 11 days, while last November the cities minister, Aguinaldo Ribeiro, reported that 7,620 households gave an average satisfaction score of 8.8 out of 10 for the homes in the scheme. Brazil clearly support more money for better infrastructure. Brazil supports a plan in which countries take a significant portion of their funds of their war on drugs and use it to provide proper infrastructure. Most growers and distributors, especially in South America resort to the drug business because they cannot do anything else. After all, when people have nothing to lose, they'll resort to illegal means. Brazil believes that getting the poor out of slums and into proper homes will discourage drug production, which will mean less drugs getting exported. This would be a win-win solution. Many countries also feel that we must economically support the development among the poor. In 2015, the United States set aside 31.08 billion dollars for developmental aid. The European Union also gave 87.64 billion dollars for developmental aid. Japan also gave 9.32 billion to the cause. This shows that the big players are willing to donate. Brazil believes that once they see the effects of more funding on the war of drugs, they will be encouraged to fund more. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

Brazil supports funding for farmers to increase agricultural productivity.Brazil's government vowed on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, to free up as much as 21 billion reais ($5.8 billion) in additional credit for farmers and cattle ranchers. We feel that increased funding for farmers across the world will help economies throughout the world, and help mititgate the problem of world hunger. We also feel that this increased funding will help in the future, when the world will be so populated, that the current amount of farmland will not be capable of feeding the world. Brazil feels that we must help out farmers by funding them. Brazil encourages all of its partners at the Committee on Environment and Technology to fund the farmers of the world. We suggest a World Farmers Fund, in which we make a coalition with many others countries and create a fund to supply the farmers in each of the countries. For now, we can feed the hungry.Eventually, when the world needs food, these countries can supply each others as there will be more crops. Brazil feels this is a great solution to the problems of overpopulation and world hunger. Many other countries support the farmers that produce the food that the world needs. In fact, the United StatesFSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank. In addition, theUSDA provides homeownership opportunities to lowand moderate-income rural Americans through several loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs. In the United Kingdom, farmers have access to the Γé¼5.2bn (4bn) pot of funding that has been allocated to the UK for rural development projects over the period 2014-2020, including Γé¼2.3bn that has been transferred from the BPS to the UK rural development programmes. Clealy, many major countries are funding their farmers, so we, at theCommittee on Environment and Technology, must support our farmers Works Cited "The World Factbook: BRAZIL."Central Intelligence Agency. Central IntelligenceAgency, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html>.

"About the Amazon."WWF Conserves Our Planet, Habitats, & Species like the Panda & Tiger. WWF Global, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/>. "Follow the Leader: How 11 Countries Are Shifting to Renewable Energy Climate Reality."Follow the Leader: How 11 Countries Are Shifting to RenewableEnergy Climate Reality. Climate Reality Project, 3 Feb. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. <https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/follow-leader-how-11-countries-are-shifting-renewable-energy>. Selvanayagam, Ruban. "No Better than the Slums? What Went Wrong with Brazil's Social Housing."The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. <https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/mar/26/brazil-social-housing-favelas-slums>. Oecd. "Development Aid in 2015 Continues to Grow despite Costs for In-donor Refugees."OECD - Paris, 13 April 2016 Development Aid in 2015 Continues to Grow despite Costs for In-donor Refugees(n.d.): n. pag. OECD. Web. <http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ODA-2015-detailed-summary.pdf>. "UPDATE 1-Brazil to Help Free up $5.8 Bln in Funding for Farmers." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 31 May 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Grants and Loans USDA." Grants and Loans USDA. USDA, 12 Aug. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GRANTS_LOANS>. Gosden, Emily. "What Would Brexit Mean for Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy?" The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 20 June 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/13/what-would-brexit-mean-for-farmers-and-the-common-agricultural-p/>.

Name: Emma Anderson Delegation: North Hunterdon High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Cameroon Cameroon is a country located in Africa and is a little bit bigger than California. Its government is unitary republic with an executive president as head of state and a unicameral house of assembly. Cameroon's bordering countries are Central African Republic, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Yaounde. The population is 24,360,803 and the country consists of 31% Cameroon Highlanders, 19% Equatorial Bantu, 11% Kirdi , 10% Fulani , 8%Northwestern Bantu , 7% Eastern Nigritic , 13% other African , less than 1% non-African. Cameroon's currency is Central African Francs. Agriculture is a critical part of their economy. Biodiversity is extremely important to Cameroon's economy. Cameroon is one of the most richly biodiverse countries in the world. It has more than 900 different types of birds and 300 different kinds of mammals. The country of Cameroon has an abundance of rare plants and animals that are located no where else in Africa. Forest Elephants and fruit eating primates distribute seeds thus helping the plants to propagate. Unfortunately, the populations of these elephants and primates are nearing extinction. Further, a Chinese company is building a new railroad to connect to ore mines in central Africa with a new deep water port in southwest Cameroon. This could lead to the decrease of plants and animal population, since the ground is being paved over and the habitats of these animals is being demolished. The country of Cameroon is at a crossroad because the industrial growth could boost its economy, but it would also decrease its biodiversity. Cameroon is partnering with their own universities as well as other international organizations and universities, such as UCLA, to develop a solution to the problem. It is participating in the REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) program through the United Nations. The REDD program successfully accomplished getting the Cameroon government to set aside 4 million acres of protected land including the DJA Biosphere Reserve and its surrounding land, but it needs financial support to maintain the program. As part of the REDD program, the country of Cameroon is looking for investors to fund repopulation of flora and fauna. The poaching is also responsible for the decrease in the primate population. Hunters in Cameroon are illegally hunting primates, and then are going to Nigeria to sell their game for a better price. It would be beneficial if Nigeria would not only enforce the illegality of selling poached goods, but also incarcerate those offenders who carry out the illegal activity. The United Nations created the REDD program and therefore are on Cameroon's side. Many of other Central African countries would be interested in this program being successful because if it is successful in Cameroon, then it could be successful in their

countries as well. Cameroon also needs support from Nigeria to stop poaching. This plan would not benefit the poachers that are selling the illegal game in Nigeria. The Nigerian government would be for the plan to stop poaching because it is illegal there however, the citizens who depend on the meat for protein in diets would be against this plan. Other Central African countries would be happy that Cameroon is trying to preserve the rare plants and animals that live there. Cameroon desires increasing its reliance on renewable energy. It presently has an energy shortage. Only 18% of Cameroon people were able to use oil, gas, hydropower, and solar energy in 2013. Cameroon needs new energy grids for rural areas in order to bring energy to the more rural area of Cameroon. More than 70% of the population lives in the remote countryside. A solution to this energy scarcity would be using garbage from the numerous landfills throughout the country to create renewable energy. Cameroon needs international financial assistance to make this possible. Also, Cameroon has instituted the Energy Sector Development Plan. This plan states that they want to have a 75% electrification rate by 2030. Funds for this plan were provided by Sefa ($777,000 grant) and the African Development Bank. Additional monies will help them build and maintain a renewable IPP ("energy independent power producer"). The IPP is a 72 megawatt solar power plant. This will make green energy readily available for the public for a fee. This will benefit Cameroon's trading partners that buy agricultural products because with more access to electricity, the producers of the crops will have lower costs since they will be able to farm more efficiently. Also this will help to create less greenhouse gasses which will benefit Cameroon's neighboring countries. Many countries would support using waste to create energy. By using this source of energy, Cameroon would be using less fossil fuels, which are hard to come by. Agriculture is the primary trade for Cameroon. Some of the country's main exports are cocoa, fish, and oil. The places they trade the most with are in the European Union. The agricultural commodities that Cameroon trades are palm oil, coffee, rubber, cocoa, and cotton although growing crops has become more and more challenging. Farmers work with soil that is a lot less fertile than it once was. This is mainly due to farmers using the slash-and-burn method. This method involves burning forests down and using and reusing the land for crops until the soil is spent. The farmers then vacate the crop lands hoping a new forest will take over and replenish the soil. This is not good for the soil. There is an ongoing challenge for Cameroon to meet the needs of its population from feeding its citizens, creating new jobs, and exporting more goods. Another pressing issue is the fluctuation of global prices for Cameroon's commodities. An example of the fluctuation is the huge drop of world rubber prices. The World Bank is one of the NGO's (non government organizations) that is starting resource protection plans to help preserve the natural resources of Cameroon .

Cameroon needs more funding for projects like this. Also, it is concerned about the large reduction in the prices for its main exports. For example, up until 2012, rubber was sold at 2500 to 3000 FCfa. Since then, the price of rubber is only between 700 to 800 FCfa . To help deal with the lowered price for rubber, agriculturalists are hoping to create new commodities to export. If they want to start producing a different crop such as corn or sorghum, they are going to have to use some of the land they are currently using for other exported crops. By decreasing the supply of their main exports such as cocoa, it will be necessary to increase the price of the export since demand will be higher than supply. Cameroon would need assistance in learning how to farm these new crops. Conversely, the farmers are attempting to lower their cost for producing their exported products supported by a grant from the World Bank This project is called the Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project. Additional funds are needed for this program as well. The countries that trade with Cameroon might not benefit from the decrease of production because the prices of the products would increase. Cameroon trades with Spain, China, India, Netherlands, Italy, Nigeria, France, US, and Thailand. The Netherlands is going to be affected by this because they import close to a half a billion dollars a year of cocoa beans and this price increase has the potential of vastly increasing its import costs. None of these countries are really going to benefit from the decrease production of Cameroon's main exports. However, if the cost of the production went down, then the overall price for the item would go down. This would benefit the countries with whom they trade. New crops being grown in Cameroon such as maize and sorghum would benefit neighboring countries that use those commodities because it would give them a local supplier. Smith, Thomas. "Cameroon's Rich Biodiversity Is under Threat." UCLA Newsroom, UCLA, 28 Aug. 2013, newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/preserving-camaroon-s-treasures-248074. Salisbury, Claire. "Eavesdropping on Cameroon's Poachers to Save Endangered Primates." Conservation News, Article Published by Glenn Scherer on 2016-04-20., 21 Apr. 2016, news.mongabay.com/2016/04/eavesdropping-cameroons-poachers-save-endangered-primates/.

Foundation, Thomson Reuters. "Cameroon Aims to Boost Reliance on Renewable Energy."News.trust.org, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 1 May 2015, news.trust.org//item/20150430150919-ugbd2. Kellner, Freeimages.com/Elisa. "How Solar Energy Is Helping Cameroon Tackle Poverty - Discourse." Discourse, Discourse Media Inc. , 25 Nov. 2016, discoursemedia.org/power-struggle/solar-energy-helping-cameroon-tackle-poverty. "Find Agriculture Expertise in Cameroon." Commonwealthofnations.org, Nexus Strategic Partnerships Limited, www.commonwealthofnations.org/sectors-cameroon/business/agriculture/. Business in Cameroon, Economie, Banking, Energy, Comms, Media, Law, Insurance, Public management, Tourism. "The New Agricultural Policy - Business in Cameroon." Business in Cameroon, Stratline Limited, www.businessincameroon.com/business/1804-3752-the-new-agricultural-policy. Business in Cameroon, Economie, Banking, Energy, Comms, Media, Law, Insurance, Public management, Tourism. "Sud Cameroun Hevea Drawn to Growing Fruit Trees, Rice, Maize and Palm Oil - Business in Cameroon." Business in Cameroon, Stratline Limited, www.businessincameroon.com/agro-industry/2710-6633-sud-cameroun-hevea-drawn-to-growing-fruit-trees-rice-maize-and-palm-oil. Simoes , Alexander. "Products That the Netherlands Imports from Cameroon (2014)." The Observatory of Economic Complexity, atlas.media.mit.edu/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/import/nld/cmr/show/2014/. "Facts On File." Facts On File, www.fofweb.com/WGCO/FactsFigsGeo.aspx?Page=35&Subject=Geography&iPin=M0019708.

Name: Hannah Goldstein Delegation: New Providence High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Canada Part I – Country Information About 15,000 years ago, the first humans came to Canada by way of a land bridge from Asia, with their descendents being known as Indians. The ancestors of the Inuit, called the Eskimos, came around 1,000 years ago. In 1497, John Cabot discovered rich fishing grounds in Canada, leading to its European exploration. France took an interest in exploring and selling furs to Canada, leading to a strong French presence in Canada. In 1763, many British immigrants came over to Canada, leading to British control of the dominion. Canada gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1931, and has worked hard to prosper economically since. Today, Canada is a leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley, and a major producer of crude oil, electricity, and natural gas. Canada has a conservative government with many branches to ensure avoiding a monarchy, despite the struggles the Diefenbaker government faced in the 1960s due to a low economy. As a federation, Canada uses the cabinet system, with the Prime Minister and most members of the House of Commons being from the Cabinet. The Prime Minister directs the government, and the members of the House of Commons are elected by the people. The official head of Canada is Britain's monarch, with governor generals acting to represent them; however, the governor generals only perform certain formal and symbolic tasks, as Canada is an independent, self-governing nation. Part II - Topics Infrastructure consists of the necessary structural elements required to maintain the reliable function of modern society. By implementing sustainable infrastructure, humans would be maintaining these elements without infringing upon the sanctity of the environment, the economic prosperity of citizens, or the rights of its beneficiaries. In Canada, an agency, Environment Canada, has been established to control and keep track of environmental protection, monitoring, and research within the government of Canada. Environment Canada also recently came up with the Green Plan, with goals including sustainable development of renewable resources. Energy can also come from a large variety of sources, including water, wind, solar, ocean, and geothermal. Each country has specific natural resources which they have a plethora of, and the key to sustainable energy is identifying the energy source, learning how to use it, and making sure to not over-use it, as all countries rely upon having energy to use. In Canada, there are many large areas with excellent wind resources, leading to an excellent potential for wind-generated energy. Bioenergy is also a great option for

sustainability, which is simply making energy from used mass, such as wood or even sugar. Since Canada has many large forest areas, biomass is the second greatest form of renewable energy in Canada. Throughout Canada's history, wood has been very important to provide energy for water and space heating as well as cooking. Even today, 4.6% of Canadian households use bioenergy as their primary energy source, with industrial wood waste from the pulp and paper industry being the primary provider of biomass. Biofuels, fuels from renewable waste, are another growing source of bionergy in Canada. While biofuels differ in every country they are used in, Canada uses ethanol - a substitute for gasoline - and biodiesel - a substitude for diesel. Agricultural production of corn, barley, and wheat produce ethanol for biofuels while the major production and exports of these grains help farmers. Vegetable oils and non-edible waste grasses produce biodiesel energy. Biodiversity is "the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems." More simply, biodiversity is the intricate variety and balance, or interactions, of various ecosystems, including marine and subterranean communities. Due to an increase technology, which certainly exists in Canada, there has been less focus on biodiversity, and a lesser chance for organisms to adapt on their own. Human advancement is therefore responsible for the destruction of the equilibriums in the environment; however, we have an opportunity to fix this. The government in Canada also wants to let every nation decide how to manage the environment on its own however, and Canada has recently been accused of having objections to new legislations to purposely slow negotiations. Canada feels that all negotiations should be based on mutually agreed terms so that individual agreements can be reached between users and providers of a genetic resource on how benefits should be shared. They want to allow for flexibility for each situation and every set of needs. Canada and many other industrialized countries have been criticised by developing countries and local communities for catering to the needs of private companies, which leads to the misappropriation of the earth's resources and traditional knowledge. This could involve the unlicensed and uncompensated collection of indigenous plants, animals, microorganisms, genes or traditional knowledge for patenting by corporations and researchers. These actions, although they may be beneficial for the economy and for leading corporations, are harmful for the goal and protection of biodiversity as a whole. However, Canada does recognize that preservation of biodiversity must be a group effort, so the non-government organization the Biodiversity Advisory Group was established, consisting of many businesses, private property owners, conservation organizations, research institutions, and foundations. Together, they created a strategy, based on the idea that government cannot act alone, which recognizes that Canadians live in a global community, that co-operation with other countries is required to conserve biodiversity and sustainably use biological resources, and that Canada has an important role to play in cooperating with other countries, especially developing

countries, to implement the Convention, despite other priorities of businesses. Even though Canada does not want to force anything, the most efficient way for conservation is likely achieving sustainable development and encouraging avoiding over-use. Even though it is hard to manage ecology while maintaining a successful economy, Canada still sees it as important to take some steps to provide incentives for businesses to care about biodiversity and only use as much as can reasonably be reproduced and replaced of any part of the environment. The most necessary element to maintain life is food and sustenance, the availability of which directly correlates to agriculture productivity. With more people starving due to a rapidly growing world-wide population, agricultural productivity has become a greater priority, especially due to the need to overcome poor farming techniques, drastic climate change, and poor public policy for the environmental sector. Despite the obstacles to improvement, through the improved use and management of agricultural biodiversity resources such as seeds, pollination, and beneficial fauna, higher yields can ultimately be achieved for farmers. Canada is the world's leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley. These grains are made mostly made on family farms, both managed and operated by the owners. Farms can range from one acre to four-hundred acres, often run with little hired help outside the family. Farmers who rent land often pay cash for the rent, while other farmers in Canada give a dividend of the crops to the landlord. In Canada, agriculture is fairly efficient, with lower prices for food than in many other countries. Less restrictions on international trade have also increased productivity in agriculture and has contributed to the international competitiveness. It has also led to considerable exports of Canadian oilseeds, grains, pork, beef and livestock. Consequently, there is a positive net balance of trade in agri-food products between Canada and the rest of the world. Canadian agri-food imports include fruit and vegetables, beverages and processed foods. In addition, recently, due to a growing population, there is a tendency towards incorporation of farms for greater profits, while these farms are still family-owned. Recently, however, there has also been an increase in agricultural prices due to relatively slow increases in production of major crops, increasing demands for improved diets in growing middle class countries, increasing use of crops for biofuels, and lower grain stock reserves. The public has become increasing concerned about the environment, sustainability, climate change, food safety, and animal welfare. Canada currently faces few of these problems due to their thriving economy, but this is largely based off of exports. This success in exports is based off of geographic proximity to the United States, low arable land population density, technological developments, a global reputation for high-quality goods, and a stable financial system. However, Canada also faces many challenges, as they have a relatively small population and geographic size. In order to eliminate these risks, Canada should look for expanded markets. Significant growth in exports will help the future of the country. However, there will always be problems due to the limited amount of land available for production, the scale of

production available to Canadian businesses, commitment to self-sufficiency of many other nations, and the risk of a higher Canadian dollar. Works Cited "About Renewable Energy." Natural Resources Canada, 29 June 2016, www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/renewable-electricity/7295. Accessed 25 Nov. 2016. Bercuson, David Jay. "Canada, History of." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. "CANADA: SLOWING BIODIVERSITY PROTOCOL'S PROGRESS." Interpress Service, 20 July 2010. Global Issues in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/gic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=News&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=GIC&search_within_results=&p=GIC%3AOVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CA232192054&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=new27591&jsid=ade3c41e46fbaf83c5f87f3bda36d2ed. Accessed 26 Nov. 2016. "Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food in the Global Economy 2013-2014." Farm Credit Canada, www.fcc-fac.ca/fcc/about-fcc/corporate-profile/reports/cage-report/cage-report-2013.pdf. Accessed 26 Nov. 2016. "Canadian Biodiversity Strategy." Natural Resources Canada, 3 July 2016, www.biodivcanada.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=560ED58E-1. Accessed 24 Nov. 2016.

Docherty, David C. "Canada, Government of." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2016. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. "Farm management." Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 19 Sep. 2016. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/111029. Accessed 26 Nov. 2016. Freedman, Bill. "Environment Canada." Environmental Encyclopedia, edited by Marci Bortman, et al., 3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2003, pp. 469-470. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=new27591&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CCX3404800520&it=r&asid=02b39ae1a4d1e2b0199e0dd1a6a048e2. Accessed 26 Nov. 2016. Veeman, Terrence, and Michelle Veeman. "Agriculture and Food." Historica Canada, 26 Mar. 2009, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/agriculture-and-food/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016.

Name: Sophia Hsueh Delegation: Freehold Boro Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Chile Part I - Country Information Due to its placement along the West coast of South America, the Republic of Chile has a very diverse climate. These areas are classified under five sections: Far North, Near North, Central Chile, South, and Far South. At the most northern part of Chile is the driest place in South America, the Atacama Desert. Below this is the Near North area with a semi-arid climate. In Central Chile, the area is temperate, and the South is lacustrine, holds several lakes. In the Far South, temperatures are especially cold with snow-capped mountains and constant winds from the Southern Pacific Ocean. Chile has an area of 756,102 square kilometers but ninety percent of the 17.6 million Chileans live around the capital of Santiago. This area has the best climate and is at the heart of the country. The majority of Chileans are Roman Catholic and 99.5% speak Spanish, which was kept even after its War of Independence against Spain. Some of the other languages include English and Quechua (the Incan language). This is due to the brief era of Inca rule in central Chile. Part II - Positions on Topics: Environment and Technology B Topic One: Preservation of Biodiversity In Chile, biodiversity is very prominent due to its diverse climates and ecosystems. At least half of the animals in Chile are endemic to it and there are a 145 endangered species at the moment. Working to fix this and understanding the importance of preserving the unique Chilean environmental communities, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked with Chile's Environment Superintendency and Ministry of Environment to develop guidelines for judges on environment-related cases, training inspectors on inspections and enforcements of preservation laws, and adopting policies and protocols for the people to follow. These include the inspection of liquid wastes, procedures at thermoelectric plants, and planning procedures, as well as other general enforcement procedures. Chile is also a founding member of the South American Environment Enforcement Network and developed its NEPAssist, a tool that facilitates the environmental review process and project planning in relation to environmental considerations. Chile also works to institute the public in its efforts to preserve its biodiversity. Through work with the EPA, over sixty Chilean representatives were taught to get the public

involved in environmental decision making and over a hundred government and non-government representatives have been trained so far. So, while Chile still faces several problems such as overfishing, many efforts have been made by the government to amend them. Topic Two: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Chile currently relies on hydroelectricity and other renewable resources for approximately 37.9% of its electricity. The rest is from fossil fuels. However, Chile has very little natural gas, as of 2012 does not rely on any nuclear fuels, and plans to install the world's largest unsubsidized solar farm in the Atacama desert, located in the north of Chile. Thus, Chile is working towards relying solely on renewable resources. Chile's main natural resources are copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, and tons of water from the coast. Venezuela, also located in South America, also relies mainly on hydroelectricity due to its location near a large water source. Topic Three: Agricultural Productivity Only 21.2% of Chile's land is used for agriculture, primary exports including fruits such as pears, apples, and peaches. This is because only 1.7% of the land is arable, or plowable. Since World War II, there have also been severe food deficits in Chile. Additionally, agriculture is not as important as it is in neighboring countries. This is due to the environmental effects of the mountainous terrain and diverse climate. Only a portion of the land is able to be used for crops, however there has been an increase in vineyards, horticultural, and fruits in recent years. Sources: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/southamerica/chile/index.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ci.html https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/epa-collaboration-chile https://mun1.ymcace.org/assignments/ga-subcommittees/environment-and-technology/

https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cl/cl-nbsap-01-en.doc http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Chile-AGRICULTURE.htm

Name: Anna Thrush Delegation: Notre Dame Prep Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: China Part I- Country Information China, or the People's Republic of China, is the most populous country in the world today, with 1.3 billion citizens inhabiting all 9,596,960 square kilometers of its land. Compared to the United States, China is slightly smaller, but still very large. Many natural resources come from China, including coal, iron ore, and mercury. About 54.7% of China's land is used for agricultural purposes, making it a powerhouse of cultivated goods. It is a world leader in the production of rice, wheat, potatoes, and many more goods. China is also very industrialized. One of its biggest industries is its coal industry. However, the coal industry poses a big problem of pollution to the country and to the world. China's economy is very dependent upon its agriculture and upon its industry. China's economy has replaced Japan as the second largest economy in the world, ranked after the United States. China's economy is very large, but also contains many flaws. China's urban population takes up over half of its entire population. The two major urban areas are Shanghai and Beijing, the capital of China. Population is a very big issue in China and because of a constantly increasing population, the government only allows each family to have two children. The government in China is communist and has been communist since 1949. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The current chief of state is President Xi Jinping ad the current head of government is Premier LI Keqiang. The main political party in China is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and it is headed by Xi Jinping. There are many other smaller denominations in China, but they are all ultimately controlled by the CCP. The military in China is called the People's Liberation Army and it has many branches that come off of the main branch, including the Air Force (PLAAF) and the Navy (PLAN). China is a country known for constant change. China's beginnings involve dynasties. The many dynasties of China were the Shang, the Zhou, the Qin, the Han, the Tang, the Song, the Yuan, the Ming, and the Qing. All of these dynasties followed the dynastic cycle, where as one dynasty became too focused on power and began to weaken, another dynasty would take over. In between the Zhou and the Qin dynasties, there was a period known as the warring states. It was during this time that leadership in China was in shambles and there was the introduction of the three philosophies: Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. These three philosophies had a great impact on the way of life in China. After the warring states, the Qin dynasty came to power. China received its name from the Qin dynasty, as Qin is pronounced like "chin". After the Qin dynasty, the Han dynasty took over. The Han dynasty was the most successful dynasty, with the creation of the Silk Road. After the Han came the Tang and the Song. After the Song came the Yuan dynasty, or the Mongols. The Mongols were focused on trying to make the Chinese adopt the Yuan culture. Famous leaders during the reign of the Yuan

dynasty were Genghis Kahn and Kublai Kahn. After the Yuan came the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the Qing dynasty, Japan attacks China, weakening China drastically. Europe seizes the opportunity for more land and carves out things called "spheres of influence". In 1900, China fights back with the Boxer Rebellion. They wanted to get rid of foreign influence. The result was an independent China, but also $33 million debt to Europe for damages. In the 20th century, China is a mess as a result of weak leaders and foreign influence, which open the door for revolution. Two main ideas come to the forefront, vying for power. One is nationalism, led by Sun Yat-Sen and Kai-Shek Kuomintang. The other is communism, created by Karl Marx, led by Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong gained control in 1949, and the nationalist party retreated to Taiwan. Mao Zedong started a cultural revolution in China to get rid of "impure elements". In 1976, Deng Xiaoping takes over and makes China democratic, but still communist. Deng Xiaoping's rule does not allow for any political freedom. He also tried to improve relations with the United States. In 1989, many students and other citizens participate in the Tiananmen Square Protest for Civil Liberties, one of the most monumental events in China's history. China is now ruled by Xi Jinping and its government is still communist. Part II- Position on Topics Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity How can nations promote a transition toward renewable sources of energy, despite it being a relatively large investment? Nations can promote a transition toward renewable sources of energy through the exciting expansion of technology. Our world is constantly creating new technology for every task in life. Why not use this technology to help preserve earth? For example, mist cannons that disperse smog particles (Gutske). Not only can we use the growing technology, but we can use small scale inventors. Many people who work privately come up with extremely superb ideas that could be used in the fight for earth preservation. This option could also be much cheaper, depending on if the inventors would want to be paid or not. How can nations incentivize private businesses and organizations to comply to environmental regulations and understand the necessity of protecting the Earth's wildlife? Nation can incentivize private businesses and organizations by creating taxes. For example, if certain businesses dispose of their waste improperly into the environment, tax them heavily. This way, the businesses are being punished for harming the environment and learning that if they simply just dispose of waste properly, for example, they will not have to pay a hefty tax.

How can nations improve already existing incentives and regulations, especially with potential coalitions with other nations? Nations can improve existing incentives and regulations by attributing more of the nation's budget to them. Yes, not many nations have enough money for even the most basic things, but the environment isn't something temporary. The environment will be around forever and if it goes away then so do we. If we attribute more money to incentives, then it also means we are paying more attention to the incentives because that is where our money is going. If we draw more attention and more money to regulations, they will be able to be supported more and will become more well-known. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure How will countries synthesize the immense economic burden of providing universal access to clean utilities? Countries will synthesize the immense economic burden of providing universal access to clean utilities in the investment in new technology. Lots of the new technology in the world is extremely beneficial, but not at all cheap. Investment in expensive technology can result in the debt of a nation. Debt leads to a weaker economy, which can then lead to more taxes and higher rates of unemployment and homelessness. When these rates go down, the nation itself begins to suffer and then the nation is no longer able to support to technology it is using to provide clean utilities, so it will eventually have to abandon the cause. Therefore, the economic burden is created through investments in expensive technology with money that the nation does not already have. How will countries improve existing infrastructure systems to achieve and succeed the UN Millennial goals for sustainability? One way countries can improve existing infrastructure systems is through the conservation of created energy. In the solar panel business, it is sometimes hard to obtain rays of sun to power certain machines or other items. But, energy can be obtained with the help of batteries and with the help of preservation. Countries should attempt to use whatever energy they create sparingly, so that they are able to use it in more than just one place. The energy should be monitored and contained to be sure that it is being used properly and efficiently. This way, energy is not being wasted and neither is the money invested into obtaining said energy.

How could countries incentivize the private sectors to invest in green technology and reduce their carbon footprint? Countries could incentivize the private sectors to invest in green technology and reduce their carbon footprint through the creation of an easier way to make their private sector more environmentally friendly. For example, if a private sector wanted to try to use natural power from a windmill, they would most likely need permission to build one. However, they might be dissuaded by the tedious and possibly slow process that comes with the want to establish said windmill. Maybe if the nation was able to somehow expedite the process of granting permission, etc., then more private sectors would be open to doing so. Also, if the nation did not charge private sectors for building something on a piece of land if it was for environmental purposes could help, but further taxing them if they did not use the equipment built on the land that is supposed to reduce their carbon footprint. Bribery involving money will not usually be a great way to persuade sectors to reduce their carbon footprint, as it could put the country in debt and worsen the economy. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity How will nations incentivize poor farmers to stay on their farms in lieu of rapid urbanization and attractive economic opportunities in cities? Nations can incentivize poor farmers to stay on their farms depending on the economic stability of the nation. If the nation's economy is rather stable, they can create certain taxes that help to support farm owners so that they can keep their farms afloat. If they are a nation that does not have money to give, they could decreases certain general taxes that people must pay, but only for farmers so that they can preserve their money, to then preserve their farm, and further preserve the world economy. In what ways can nations increase agricultural output per acre to feed a rapidly growing world population and counteract the effects of global climate change? Nations can increase agricultural output per acre by expediting the process of growing food. This could be done in a few ways. Nations could provide more workers for certain farms through community service. If someone commits a crime, they could have to serve community serve on a farm in order to gives the farms more hands. Nations could also protective elements on farms, such as industrial fences, signs, and other measure in

order to keep other living things from touching the food. This prevents possible damage to the crops and allows for all the food that can be used to be saved. Nations could also look into more natural or home-remedy like ways to keep pests away from crops, but that are also strong. Pesticides can be useful when trying to keep the amount of crops bountiful, but pesticides also have harsh effects and should not be used religiously. What preventative measures can nations take in reducing the continuously declining fertility of the soil from excessive use, as well as herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers? Nations can monitor who is responsible for the runoff of pesticides into soil. In doing so, nations would be able to penalize specific companies or industries for ruining soil. Nations can also monitor the sources that farms and other agricultural industries from which they are getting their water. If companies are watering their plants with contaminated water, that water then seeps into the soil and further contaminates the soil. Mainly, the initial step is acting against this dilemma is looking into more of the details about how these farms and agricultural industries work. Works Cited Abelvik-Lawson, Helle. "Three Problems with Transitioning to Renewable Energy (and How to Fix Them) - Energydesk." Energydesk. 2015. Web. 01 May 2016. "East and Southeast Asia:: China."The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 10 Nov. 2016, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ geos/ch.html. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. Gustke, Constance. "Pollution Crisis is Choking the Chinese Economy."CNBC. CNBC, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/11/ pollution-crisis-is-choking-the-chinese-economy.html>.

Name: Eric Rote Delegation: Marple Newtown Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Costa Rica Costa Rica is a decently sized country in Central America. Its infrastructure is heavily renewable, with them reaching an average of 90% of their electricity daily being renewable. At the end of last year, they achieved 99% carbon free energy. This is helping the country set the standard for larger countries that they can go nearly carbon free or all the way. Costa Rica is an important nation in the sugar cane trade. Because of the warm climate and nutrient rich soil, sugar is a very important exporter.Various multinational companies have come to Costa Rica to maximize produciton under various free economy zones. This gives Costa Rica an important role in the global sugar trade. Costa Rice, while being a small country (about .06% of the planets surface), it contains 100 times more percentage of the worlds biodiversity (6%). Since Costa Rica is also located between North and South America,large amounts of species come through every year and are native there. As such, Costa Rica has signed over 40 treaties internationally,with protecting the species that go through and passing countless bills protecting them nationally. This has ranked Costa Rica as one of the best countries with the preservation of biodiversity.

Name: Brianna Vyzas Delegation: New Providence High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Cuba Name: Brianna Vyzas Delegation: New Providence Country: Cuba Committee: Environment and Technology B Part I: Country Information: Cuba is a tropical island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The terrain consists of mostly flat land and rolling plains, with hills and mountains in the southeast. Natural resources in Cuba include, cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, and fertile land. About 60.3% of Cuba's land is used for agriculture. Cuba's agricultural products include, sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans, and livestock. Some of Cuba's industries are petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, and sugar. Cuba's east coast experiences occasional hurricanes from August to November and droughts occur often. Cuba faces the environmental issues of air and water pollution, a loss of biodiversity, and deforestation. About 94.9% of Cuba's population has access to clean drinking water. About 93.2% of Cuba's population has access to sanitation facilities. Cuba has a population of 11,179,995 people. Large populated areas are found throughout the country in larger towns and cities, particularly Cuba's capital of Havana. 77.1% of total population resides in urban areas. The official language is Spanish and the majority of the population is Roman Catholic. 12.8% of GDP is spent on education, and 99.8% of Cuba's population can read and write. Cuba is a republic under communist rule. Cuba exports petroleum, nickel, medical products, sugar, tobacco, fish, citrus, and coffee. Its main export partners are Canada, Venezuela, China, Netherlands, Spain, and Belize. Cuba imports petroleum, food, machinery, equipment, and chemicals from Venezuela, China, Spain, and Brazil. Cuba is subject to sex trafficking, forced labor, and drug related crimes. Part II: Positions on Topics Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Cuba is largely dependent on fossil fuels as the nation's primary source of energy and electricity. Cuba is an exporter of petroleum. The country's use of thermal power plants is due to the accessibility of petroleum products. Cuba's power grid or system of producers and consumers of electricity is filthy and inadequate. 96% of Cuba's energy comes from fossil fuels. This is because of years of neglecting to care for the environment and a communist centrally planned economy, where the government decides what to produce, how to produce it and who to produce it for. The US and

environmental sustainability supporters from all different countries see potential in developing Cuba once relations with the United States dissolved this year. Cuba is suffering economically due to the fact that most of these fuels are imported. The reliance on oil from Venezuela has increased the public debt to about 40% of GDP. Cuba's usage of fossil fuels is not only negatively affecting its economy, but is also negatively affecting the environment. Only 4% of Cuba's energy comes from renewable resources. Therefore, Cuba requests help from nations that do not struggle with the creation and implementation of renewable infrastructure. Cuba is interested in working with other nations that share a similar dependence on fossil fuels so that they can create and implement renewable infrastructure together. Indonesia, Chad, and Egypt are heavily dependent on fossil fuels and are exporters of petroleum. Cuba also requests help from nations that do not struggle with renewable infrastructure, which includes, Ethiopia, DR Congo, and Iceland. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Cuba holds a neutral stance on preserving biodiversity. Cuba is one of the most important biodiverse habitats in the world, as it is biologically dense. Cuba focuses on facing its own specific challenges that are keeping the nation from achieving preservation. Cuba has around 40 ecosystems and 20 landscapes, so the country has a great variety of wildlife. Cuba has some of the most pristine beaches, densest forests, and healthiest reefs. Recently, Cuba has faced challenges against preserving its biodiversity. These challenges include, mining, overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Cuba has been successful in preventing deforestation and desertification. Cuba has been especially successful with reforestation. For example, Cuba has gained 125,000 hectares of forest land as a result of these efforts. Cuba may be quite successful in preserving biodiversity, but the country has 297 endangered species. Cuba is also facing challenges against preserving the wildlife of the nation. Therefore, Cuba requests help from nations that do not struggle with preserving biodiversity. Since Cuba is mostly successful in preserving its very diverse wildlife, it is open to assisting nations that struggle with this. Cuba requests assistance from nations with few endangered species. This would include Poland, Chad, Greenland, and Iceland. Cuba offers their assistance to nations who struggle with preserving their biodiversity. For example, Brazil's environment suffers from deforestation and Cuba has been very successful with reforestation. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Cuba has mostly subsistence and independent farms. Its agricultural sector is not very developed. Agriculture is 5% of Cuba's GDP. Most small independent farmers face problems that have to be solved in order to maintain the economy and the future population. Due to Cuba's communist form of government, the people have suffered

from shortages of food. Cuba relies on food that is imported from other countries because most farms in Cuba are small and owned by the government. Sugarcane and tobacco are Cuba's leading exports. The Cereal Yield from 2011 to 2015 was 2,787 kg/hectare. Cuba needs assistance from other nations, as Cuba relies on imported food, and people have experienced food shortages. Only 5% of Cuba's GDP is from agriculture, so Cuba needs to expand and develop its agricultural sector. Cuba needs help from countries that are successful in agricultural productivity. Australia, Brazil, and Colombia are major exporters of agricultural products. Therefore, they could help Cuba successfully expand its agriculture. Works Cited "Cuba's Biodiversity Offers Hope for Caribbean Ecosystem Conservation." Conservation Finance Network. N.p., 31 Oct. 2016. Web. 20 Nov. 2016. "The World Factbook: CUBA." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2016. @Worldwatch. "How Will Cuba's Reopening Affect the Country's Energy Future? PART I: The Energy Revolution." Worldwatch Institute Blog. N.p., 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.

Name: Nolan Banfitch Delegation: St. Joseph High School Metuchen Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Denmark Name: Nolan Banfitch Delegation: Saint Joseph Country: Kingdom of Denmark Committee: Environment and Technology B Part 1: Country Description The Kingdom of Denmark is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe on a peninsula north of Germany bordered by the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen. Of it's population of 5,593,785, 80% are Evangelical Lutheran, 4% are Muslim, and 16% are other. Denmark's main exports are food, oil, and gas, but it's manufacturing industry and the country as a whole have a high dependence on imports and foreign trade. Despite being a member of the EU, Denmark has negotiated with the EU and has not been required to adopt the euro; Denmark still uses the Danish kroner. 43.1% of Denmark's electricity comes from renewable energies, making it the leading country for it's percentage dependance on renewable energies other than hydroelectric, which includes wind, solar, geothermal, and many more energies. Only 56.8% of Denmark's energy comes from fossil fuels. Part 2: Positions on Topics - Environment and Technology B Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity The Danish government published a book in 2014 called Danish Nature Policy, which outlines the government's views on the protection of the environment, and the importance of ecosystems for biodiversity. In this publication, the Danish government describes their plans to protect endangered and rare species, and to protect all of biodiversity as a whole. This policy of Denmark's biodiversity strategy follows the UN's and the EU's target goals by 2020 to protect the environment. Denmark has also agreed to the Paris Agreement, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent climate change, which in turn also protects biodiversity which is threatened by rising temperatures and pollution. Denmark would like the committee to encourage other countries to protect biodiversity and the environment so that it can be fully enjoyed by people in both the present and the future. In the delicate balance of ecosystems, every organism has a role to fill, and

without biodiversity, ecosystems will likely begin to deteriorate, causing issues with obtaining many of the natural resources modern society is dependent on, such as food and medicines. Biodiversity is also important for agriculture, as having a larger variety of plant species means there will be a larger variety of crops which can be grown, which is important for agricultural productivity and a sustainable food supply. There are also very complex food webs within ecosystems, and by protecting biodiversity, many of the organisms which humans are more directly dependent on are also being protected. Denmark expects that Germany and the US will agree to preserve biodiversity, as they have also signed the Paris Agreement, which will protect the environment and in turn also protect biodiversity. Germany is also considered a very green country, and recycles a lot in order to reduce waste and to protect the environment and biodiversity. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Denmark believes in creating a system that can be sustained in order to maintain a stable economy, society, and environment. In 2014, the The Danish National Strategy for Sustainable Development described that Denmark would work to build on the three pillars of sustainability: financial sustainability, social sustainability, and green sustainability. The strategy contains a total of 23 objectives it strives to achieve in order to uphold the three pillars, and also contains an additional objective pertaining to sustainability in the international sense. Denmark is the leading country on the dependence of renewable energies other than hydroelectric energy, as 43.1% of it's electricity comes from these sustainable and renewable energy sources such as wind energy and solar energy. Thus, Denmark would like the committee to encourage other countries to make the transition to more renewable energies. This would decrease the reliance many countries have on the trade of fossil fuels with other countries. Not only would the implementation of sustainable energy infrastructures benefit countries financially by decreasing the need to purchase fossil fuels, a finite resource with an increasing price tag, but it would also decrease global CO2 emissions and decrease the rate at which the climate is changing. According to research done by the IPCC, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, only an aggressive mitigation scenario would be able to keep temperatures from rising 2C. This prevention of climate change through the use of sustainable energy would also protect biodiversity, which is otherwise threatened by rising temperatures. Denmark expects countries such as, and including, Germany and France to participate in the effort to implement more sustainable energy infrastructure. Denmark anticipates this because these two countries have low fossil fuel dependence; only 20.3% of France's energy comes from fossil fuels. Germany and France have also both signed the Paris Agreement in order to reduce their CO2 emissions and to prevent climate change.

Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Denmark is ranked as the 11th country in the world for agricultural productivity, with a value of 45,482 US Dollars attributed to each worker. Denmark's agricultural industry is also one of the most efficient in the world, despite facing famines in the mid 1800's. Denmark remedied this issue by generating more infrastructure and transportation, and by putting more emphasis on education. The introduction of new crops and new agricultural technologies also helped increase Denmark's agricultural productivity. Denmark also utilizes this incredible agricultural productivity to make economic gains through the export of their products, most notable is their exportation of dairy products, fish, meat, and meat products. Therefore, Denmark would like the committee to encourage other countries to help each other to obtain higher levels agricultural activity by sharing crops, and farming techniques and technologies. This would require only small investments from countries and would benefit other countries and the planet as a whole. Sharing farming techniques would not only increase food production, but it would also put less strain on the environment and decrease issues such as the soil erosion and degradation which is often caused by human factors such as deforestation, overgrazing, and the use of harsh agricultural chemicals. Denmark anticipates that France, Norway, Finland, and Belgium will also join this initiative to increase agricultural productivity in other countries. Denmark expects these countries to agree on this subject because they also have high agricultural value per worker, and are also very efficient. Works Cited (Type Works Cited here in MLA format) "From Famine to Food Mecca." From Famine to Food Mecca -The Official Website of Denmark. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Agriculture Productivity by Country, around the World TheGlobalEconomy.com." TheGlobalEconomy.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Danish Nature Policy." Convention on Biological Diversity. CBD, Oct. 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Soil Erosion and Degradation." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "Sustainability." Sustainability The Danish EPA. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

"The World Factbook: DENMARK." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "Paris Agreement - Status of Ratification." Paris Agreement - Status of Ratification. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Name: Jordyn-Paige Plair Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Dominican Republic Part I- The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean on the island of Hispaniola next to Haiti and between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Santo Domingo is their capital and their population is 10.6 million with a population growth of 1.204 percent. Racial groups include white (16 percent of the population), black (11 percent of the population), and mixed (73 percent of the population). Ninety-five percent of the population is Roman Catholic and Spanish is their official language. Their type of government is a Democratic Republic. The Chief of State and Head of Government is President Danilo Medina and the Vice President is Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez. The Dominican Republic has had 38 constitutions since their country's independence in 1844 from Haiti, which are more constitutions than any other country. The government includes three branches: the executive, the judicial, and the legislative. In the executive branch, the president, elected by a majority vote through a two-round system, serves for four years. Voters can vote at age 18 or when they are married at any age. Members of the armed forces and national police are not allowed to vote. In the judicial branch, the Supreme Court judges serve seven-year terms and Constitutional Court Judges that serve nine-year terms elected by the national council of the judiciary. In the legislative branch, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies serve four-year terms elected through an open-list proportional representation system. Their top three trade partners are the United States, China, and Haiti, and their top three exported goods are Precious Stones & Metals, Precision Instruments, and Tobacco. There is a high risk of catching an infectious disease in the Dominican Republic. The diseases include bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and dengue fever. Food, water, or insects transmit each disease. The Zika virus has also been found in this country as of August 2016. The Dominican Republic is a full participant in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification (Particularly in Africa), the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the London Convention, the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas, the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (1973), and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed, but not ratified.

Part II- Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity Biodiversity is very important to the economy of the Dominican Republic because of its tourists, who contribute around 4.4 billion US dollars annually and 8.4 percent to the GDP. But the amount of biodiversity is still decreasing. The ecosystems are mostly destroyed by "habitat destruction for the most part, influenced by the expansion of agricultural and livestock production, tourism development (mostly beach) and mining." Fishing is managed well, but the illegal collecting of sea urchins and sea cucumbers negatively impacts their populations. To manage their biodiversity, the Dominican Republic must control the use of land chemicals (agrochemicals), the expansion of infrastructure, and the exploitation of illegal fishing. They must also develop management plans for the environment when natural disasters occur, such as landslides, which ruin the landscape. Last, they must create plans to manage watersheds and biodiversity. The Dominican Republic can improve greatly to compete with other countries. In the area of biodiversity, the Dominican Republic is not the best. Some biologically diverse areas, such as Santo Domingo contain biological reserves, but overall, this country must improve on their efforts for biodiversity. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Currently, the Dominican Republic is using sustainability to significantly reduce their use of energy. As of 2015, the country depended on fossil fuels for 86 percent of its electricy, had high pollution, and rising healthcare costs. It spent about 1 billion US dollars in 2011 to make the electricity rates more affordable. The Dominican Republic recognized these problems and has begun using sustainable energy since 2010 with the launching of the Worldwatch Roadmap directed by Alexander Ochs, Director of Climate and Energy at Worldwatch. By using Roadmap, the country can use renewable energy to power 85 percent of the country's electricity. Although the initial amount is pricey, at a whopping 78 billion US dollars, the outcome is saving 25 billion US dollars by 2030.

They are resolving the problem by "installing efficient lighting controls in new commercial buildings, switching from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs and investing in more-efficient electronics in the commercial and residential sectors, and replacing fuel oil plants with natural gas-fired plants." They will also use solar, wind, hydropower, and bagasse sustainable energy systems. Roof top solar systems will be the most beneficial to the Dominican Republic's communities, as it will provide and additional privilege to the 4 percent of Dominicans who do not have access to power. Forty-two countries have also attended the meetings for Roadmap, including the United States, so the country will receive support from other countries. Many countries are focusing on the effects of global warming and non-sustainable energy and this important issue will not damage the Dominican Republic's relationship with them. Topic 3- Agricultural Productivity Along with biodiversity, the Dominican Republic must improve on managing their agriculture. The foods grown in the Dominican Republic contribute a lot to other countries, and it is important that they recognize the effects natural disasters have on their crops and economy. Sugar cane and rice alone represented 11 percent of the GDP and contributes to nearly 15 percent of employment in the country. But the public expenditure for natural disasters dramatically increases when the event affects agriculture. For example, in 2004 the public expenditure reached 1.6 percent when their Hurricane Jeanne hit. To improve on the protection of their agriculture, the Dominican Republic must act on natural disasters and try to prevent them from happening. This prevention could include shortening a hill to prevent a landslide or placing farms away from hills to avoid risk. Concerning other countries, the Dominican Republic works closely with the United States when it comes to agriculture. Studies show that approximately 1.3 billion dollars in food was bought by the United States in 2014, 13 percent up from the previous year. But the Dominican Republic must improve the natural disaster rebound to reduce the chance of ruining the crops. Works Cited http://www.worldwatch.org/new-report-unveils-pathway-affordable-sustainable-energy-dominican-republic-0 http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/dr.html http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Dominican-Republic-AGRICULTURE.html http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/04/26/Agricultura-Republica-Dominicana-desastres-naturales https://www.fas.usda.gov/regions/dominican-republic

Name: James Tommasi Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: DR Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country located in Central Africa with population of about 81,331,050. The DRC is bordered by Angola, Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Rwanda, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. Periodic Droughts and heavy rain separate parts of the Country into deserts and rainforests. River floods are common in the rainforest area, and periods of rain hit parts of the country heavily. The official language is French, but the two main native languages are Lingala and Kingwana. The main religion is Roman Catholic with small percentages of Muslim and Protestant. Only a very small percentage of residing individuals practice the native religions. The DR Congo tends to have a very high unemployment rate compared to first world nations. The percentage is around 44% now, but in the last 20 years, the rate has jumped to more than 60%. The creation of a renewable infrastructure will be able to positively affect the country. Everything about building and running these facilities will be beneficial to the progression of the country. Since the DRC is isolated from majority of manufacturing centers, these facilities will be able to power the country and move it in the right direction. Only 6% percent of the population has access to electricity and the implementation of a renewable energy infrastructure will allow more people in the DRC to receive basic amounts of electricity. The DRC has the one of the most potential in hydropower seen in the last 50 years. The amount of power that the DRC has no used in renewable energy has enough to power a whole US city. The problem is that the government will have trouble affording huge hydropower projects, some costing up to 80 billion USD. The government is part of a very few African countries with the potential of The Congo, but the government lacks the funding to fuel these needs. Even though hydropower is the main source of renewable energy in The Congo, other more affordable renewable energy sources are available at a large scale. Wind, solar, and biomass are the three most available at large scale. Wind and solar power offshore can represent more energy than nonrenewable used in The Congo. SInce very little

energy is used at all, and majority is used in concentrated areas, renewable energy can easily cover the majority of the country's needs, and more. Countries who would most likely support the Congo's plan include, Egypt, Uganda , Sudan, Ethopia, and Rwanda. The nile river can lead to heavy amounts of hydropower. Countries like Sweden, Iceland, Argentina and Russia can benefit from large open plains and large amounts of available hydropower. Poverty ridden countries like Peru, Burundi, India and Mongolia can get huge benefits from Wind and solar power, with little connection to clean water. The Congo is a country where many different biomes thrive in. From rainforests to The Savanna, the DRC has a wide range of biodiversity, where many different species live. Majority of the the country is rainforest, and majority of the rainforest is primal, and not touched by humans, based on how hard it is to get in the rainforest, and the difficulty of living. Majority of the problems were based around the plains and the savanna. Since the main farming place for ivory is in Africa(based on amount and lack of enforcement), the congo gets hit with many poachers, especially elephant poachers. On their national parks, the congo deals with elephant poachers, even with enforcement around. BBC made a report on following the DRC's military, on their expedition on finding elephant poachers on their national park system. The DRC has one of the largest ivory illegal import black market in Africa, and the government is having trouble in finding and tracking down these systems. The DRC has numerous law enforcement systems defending the animals against poachers but are coming up unsuccessful in majority of attempts in solving large scale poachings. Ways to fix these issues is to make gates around the park to have all vehicles searched for weapons and poachers. By doing this, you can increase the difficulty of poaching to happen on national parks and to help preserve the biodiversity of the DRC. Majority of African Savanna countries like, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chad, Mozambique, and South Africa have high amounts of elephant poaching on national reserves. Countries including Russia, Thailand, and China see mass amounts of Tiger poaching/exportation. The Congo is a very large country, with very little urbanization in the country. With majority of the space inside the borders are rural, large areas, farming and agricultural productivity flourishes, but some parts of it puts the country in a disadvantage. With such a large amount of space, the country has a lot of potential in mass scale farming.

The problem is that the country lacks the resources and the technology to make large scale farming a national ability. The DRC is a third world country, with majority of its profits coming from agricultural exports, so there is room for more productivity in the field of farming. By the government obtaining technology about farming and new strategies, productivity can flourish in the congo. With unused lang being a large amount of land in the Congo, there is room for expansion in the amount of exportation the country can do through its ports. Most farmers in the Congo have very little technology and farm in a way that was passed down from generations, no machines at all. With little technology used in the farming in the DRC, many farms and agricultural aspects of the country are done in small scale, only spreading throughout the local towns and markets. Larger private companies, are cutting down the rainforest to leave new space open for that company to swoop in and take precious land, just for profit. If the government can take the unused space, get jobs for the people and maximize the capital of the country, The congo can become a powerhouse in agriculture. Countries with the highest dependency on agriculture like Burundi, Niue, Ethopia, Uganda, Tonga, Rwanda, Cyprus and Paraguay, will benefit from increased funds on agriculture exportation and efficieny, while maintaining an consistient economic reliance. Works Cited "Democratic Republic of The Cong." CIA-The World Factbook. CIA World Factbook, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html. Accessed 6 Nov. 2016. Leithead, Alastair. "Hunting elephant poachers in the Democratic republic of the congo." BBC News, BBC, 15 Mar. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35815277. Accessed 6 Nov. 2016. Mdone, Erskine. "Alternative Energy's Massive Potential in Congo." InternationalRivers.org Blog, International Rivers, 30 Nov. 2015, www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/430-9.

Name: Will Jeffrey Delegation: St. Joseph High School Metuchen Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Egypt Country Description TheArab Republic of Egypt, is atranscontinental countryspanning thenortheast corner of Africaandsouthwest corner of Asiaby aland bridgeformed by theSinai Peninsula. Egypt is aMediterranean countrybordered by theGaza StripandIsraelto the northeast, theGulf of Aqabato the east, theRed Seato the east and south,Sudanto the south, andLibyato the west. Across the Gulf of Aqaba liesJordan, and across from the Sinai Peninsula liesSaudi Arabia. Egypt is the most populous country inNorth Africaand theArab world, with a population of about 92 million. It isthe third-most populous in Africa (afterNigeriaandEthiopia), and the fifteenth-most populous in the world. The great majority of its people live near the banks of theNileRiver, an area of about 15,000sqmi, where the onlyarable landis found. The large regions of theSaharadesert, which constitute most of Egypt's territory, are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greaterCairo,Alexandriaand other major cities in theNile Delta.Egypt is a Unitary semi-presidential republic, meaning thatapresidentexists alongside aprime ministerand a cabinet, with the latter two being responsible to the legislature of astate. Egypt is also agoverned as a single power in which thecentral governmentis ultimately supreme and anyadministrative divisions exercise only powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The currency is Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. Egypt's GDP is $3,740 per capita, which ranks 115 among all nations.The economy is highly dependent on oil exports, which is its major source of foreign income together with tourism receipts and US financial and military aid.Egypt produces 630,600 barrels of oil a day, and exports 155,200 barrels per day, approximately. However, the country has huge oil reserves, 37 billion barrels proven and potentially more in uncharted areas, which can act as fuel for the economy for coming decades.EU and the US are the biggest exporting markets for Egyptian oil and other products. Italy has the largest share of the Egyptian export pie, accounting for 9.4% of the total volume. It is followed by the US (7.1%), India (6.2%), Spain (6.1%), Syria (5.5%), Saudia Arabia (4.6%), Japan (4.5%) and Germany (4.5%).Food, commodities, equipment and wood products are the major items of import for Egypt. The US is Egypt'slargest import partner. It accounts for more than 10% of the total imports, followedby China (9.9%), Italy (7.3%), Germany (6.8%) and Saudi Arabia (4.9%).Egypt is considered to be aregionalandmiddle power, with significant cultural, political, and military influence inNorth Africa, theMiddle Eastand theMuslim world.Egypt's economy isone of the largest and most diversifiedin the Middle East, and is projected to becomeone of the largestin the 21st century. Egypt is a member of theUnited Nations,Non-Aligned Movement,Arab League,African Union, andOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Topic I:Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Once an exporter of oil and gas, Egypt is now struggling to meet its own energy needs. Whilst Egypt has proven oil reserves of 4.4 billion barrels and proven natural gas reserves of 78 trillion cubic feet, an ever increasing percentage of its daily production is being used to meet the country's growing energy needs.Egypt's demand for electricity is growing rapidly and the need to develop alternative power resources is becoming ever more urgent. It is estimated that demand is increasing at a rate of 1,500 to 2,000MWa year, as a result of rapid urbanisation and economic growth. Egypt has been suffering severe power shortages and rolling blackouts over the past years, necessitating the requirement to look to alternative energy options to help meet increasing demand. In terms of wind energy,Egypt is recognized as having some of the world's best wind resources, especially in the Gulf of Suez area, with significant additional potential along the east and west banks of the Nile. According to the Egypt Wind Energy Association, 700 square kilometres have been set aside for new wind projects in the Gebel el-Zayt area which has wind speeds of 11 metres a second.Hydroelectricity has played a role in electricity generation in Egypt for decades. Projects such as the Aswan Dam produce 15,300GWha year, or roughly five to ten per cent of Egypt's annual energy needs. As 85 per cent of Egypt's hydropower potential has already been developed, this is not regarded as a premier growth sector and the Government's focus has been directed more towards the wind and solar energy sectors.Egypt is recognised as having vast potential for solar energy application, but the investment cost of solar power plants is currently very high in comparison with oil and gas fired power plants and it is envisaged that Egypt's strategy for developing its renewable energy capacity will be mainly directed at the wind sector.Egypt is making good progress towards becoming a significant player in the renewable energy industry. Renewable energy projects already enjoy priority of dispatch and Egypt's central bank guarantees all financial obligations of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company under thePPAs. The Government recognises that reforms are necessary to attract private sector investment and the new electricity law is making serious attempts to address private sector concerns. Egypt would be supportive of any measures that moves towards greener, moreefficient resources of global energy. This includes but is not limited to wind, solar and hydroelectric sources of power rand energy. Egypt cannor sustain itself on oil resources alone and therefore would support efforts to fund research and modes to make alternative forms of renewable energy possible. Topic II : Preservation of Biodeversity Egypt is home to a large diversity of land habitats. It houses at least 800 species of non-flowering plants and 2,302 flowering species and sub-species (62 endemic and 2 endangered).The loss of biological diversity in Egypt is directly or indirectly related to the impact of human activities. The main causes are excessive hunting, industrial pollution and human settlements. Excessive hunting is endangering several species of

resident and migratory birds and a considerable number of ungulates, such as gazelles and antelopes. Contaminants in the air, water and soil (especially in rural areas) are threatening a large number of plants and animals and causing a serious impact on environmental equilibrium. This is leading directly to the loss of certain elements of biological diversity while producing a substantial increase in other harmful, exotic elements such as certain species of rat and bird, as well as red spiders and cotton worms.Egypt aims to set up a network of protected areas representing and conserving all species and habitats of interest. A multi-disciplinary committee (comprising various ministries, research centersand non-governmental organizations) has drawn up a schedule for achieving the objectives laid down in the National Strategy for Conservation of Biodiversity. Attention has focused on the reduction of the main threats to diversity. This includes the strengthening and expansion of the network of protected areas. Egypt would support any research or resolution that deals with the human aspect and impact of humans on the ecosystem. Egypt wouldtentitavely support any international law that strengthens or increases harshness of laws in regards to pollution and overhunting/poaching. This is of great importance to Egypt as these laws would hopefully help to preserve our ecosystem consisting of plants that start the food chain. In the long-term, this would create more places to live in Egypt besides just the Delta plainand therefore decrease pollution in the bigger cities and increase population in urban areas. Topic III: Agricultural Productivity The agriculture sector in Egypt is dominated by small farms which use traditional practices that do not comply with internationally recognized standards. For example, farmers tend to overuse and misuse agricultural chemicals and use outdated technologies and tools for land preparation, irrigation, and harvesting. As a result, farmers experience increased production costs, reduced yields, decreased soil fertility, and limited marketing opportunities. They are further constrained by lack of cold storage infrastructure, transportation systems, and market information.Transporting produce to market is challenging due to a lack of cold storage infrastructure in Upper Egypt. Farmers need to ship their produce several hundred milesto Cairo in temperatures often reaching above 100degrees Fahrenheit. The USA provides refrigerated trucks to qualified vegetable producer organizations to aid transport of produce from farm to pack house, and from pack house to markets, airports, and warehouses. In this way, farmers can receive higher prices for their crops.Agriculture is a major component of the Egyptian economy, contributing up to 14.5 percent of GDP and 28 percent of all jobs. Agriculture employs almost 45 percent of all women in the workforce. SInce agriculture makes up over a 1/4th of all jobs in Egypt, Egypt would support any suggestions or resolutions on how to best preserve products in such a arid and hot

climate. Egypt would like to look into a universal artificial way to grow plants outside of a normal climate,along the lines of a greenhouse.Egypt would also be interested in research regarding how to best cultivate plants and renew soil especially in soil with the potential to be fertile such as the Nile delta plain. Works Cited "Consular Services."Arab Republic of Egypt - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Egypt and International Organizations. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <http://www.mfa.gov.eg/English/EgyptianForeignPolicy/InternationalOrgRelation/Pages/default.aspx>. "Egypt - Biodiversity Conservation Data Med-O-Med."MedOMed RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <http://medomed.org/2010/egypt-biodiversity-conservation-data/>. "Egypt Trade, Exports and Imports."Egypt Trade, Exports and Imports Economy Watch. N.p., 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/egypt/export-import.html>. "Renewable Energy in Egypt: Hydro, Solar and Wind."Norton Rose Fulbright. N.p., Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/knowledge/publications/74735/renewable-energy-in-egypt-hydro-solar-and-wind>. "Agriculture and Food Security Egypt U.S. Agency for International Development."Egypt U.S. Agency for International Development. N.p., 2 Nov. 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/egypt/agriculture-and-food-security>.

Name: Angelica Chin Delegation: North Hunterdon High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: El Salvador El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America by land area. El Salvador has a population of 6,156,670 people as of July 2016, of which 86.3% are mestizo (mixed race), 12.7% are white, 0.2% are American Indian, and 0.1% are black. This makes it the most densely populated country in Central America. It is located between Honduras and Guatemala in the Caribbean, and also borders the North Pacific Ocean. El Salvador is the only country in Central America that doesn't border the Caribbean. It is about the same size as New Jersey. El Salvador is a presidential republic, with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The president and vice-president are elected by absolute majority popular vote, in two rounds if needed, for a five-year term. The current president and vice-president are Sanchez Ceren and Oscar Ortiz. They were elected on February 2, 2014 and inaugurated on June 1, 2014. El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region, but GDP has been low after the global recession in 2009 and a slight recovery in 2015. GDP was 52.95 billion US dollars as of 2015. 70% of exports are to five countries (US 39.4%, Guatemala 9.6%, China 8.1%, Mexico 7.4%, Honduras 5.7%). El Salvador is the only country in Central America that doesn't border the Caribbean Sea. This brings up unique biodiversity concerns. Unfortunately, the country's agricultural sector is pushing back on biodiversity. 14,000 hectares of forest were cleared in 1990-2010, and 69 species are endangered. El Salvador is the second most deforested country after Haiti. The government is starting to realize the importance of preserving biodiversity. The country faces soil erosion, deadly landslides and mudslides, wildfires, and many more environmental concerns. Overall, there is a lack of will on the government's end to change the situation in El Salvador. The main cause of deforestation is the expansion of agriculture. Subsistence farming, commercial agriculture, and pasture land for livestock have all been reasons for deforestation. The country has chosen to support this area more, as it is a substantial part of the economy. However, El Salvador's first Biodiversity Strategy in 2000 included goals for conservation efforts, and the new Biodiversity Strategy, introduced in 2013, was a moderate effort to change this previously neutral stance. It called attention toward climate change and the restoration and conservation of the nation's ecosystems and wildlife. There are a few countries in similar situations as El Salvador in regards to agriculture taking over biodiversity. Examples include Germany, and Israel. Both have prominent agricultural sectors that risking their biodiversity. These countries would favor similar plans as El Salvador would because of similar challenges with agriculture. Countries that would most likely disagree with El Salvador are those that have no desire to protect their biodiversity, and are driving species to extinction. Venezuela is a typical example.

El Salvador is a big proponent of renewable energy and has already made a great transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 36% of energy comes from fossil fuels, and 64% comes from renewable energy, with no nuclear used. Many projects, such as a 150 MW renewable energy auction, put El Salvador on track for over 70% in 2018. However, only about 83% of the population has access to power because energy is harder to obtain in rural areas. El Salvador is the leading producer of geothermal energy in Latin America. Hydroelectric plants also produce 36% off all energy produced in the country. El Salvador would like to increase the number of citizens that have access to energy by investing in more renewable infrastructure, thereby creating jobs and making it easier for rural areas to obtain energy. Along with the "Northern Triangle," (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), the country has attributed the lack of energy as a reason for citizens to emigrate to the United States. Rural parts of the country are harder to get imported fossil fuels to, and building infrastructure such as solar panels would be a cheaper way to bring energy to these parts of El Salvador. The already sustainable energy-dependent country is also looking to expand it resources in renewable energy, with one goal set in 2013 to reach 70% dependency by 2018, a goal that is almost eclipsed. Many Latin American countries, such as Honduras and Costa Rica, are on board with El Salvador when it comes to sustainable energy. Honduras, like El Salvador, has great energy disparities; only about 69% of citizens have access to utilities. Costa Rica is one of the most sustainable countries on the planet, with goals to become 100% carbon neutral by 2021. Countries such as these share El Salvador's goal to invest in more renewable infrastructure and decrease dependency on fossil fuels so more citizens can have access to energy. However, countries who are leading oil producers and exporters would object to greater reliance on renewable infrastructure. Notable examples are Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Both are huge producers of oil and are completely dependent on fossil fuels. Neither country has shown any desire to start using renewable energy. El Salvador has a large agricultural sector: agriculture comprises of 11.4% of El Salvador's GDP. However, in 1987 that figure was nearly 25%. Most of the farms are large-scale or self-sufficient. Coffee is El Salvador's major export at 30%, but production declined in the 1980s (mostly due to civil war). The nation's ministry of the economy has placed significant subsidies on the crop in order to incentivize growth in this sector. The coffee industry generates 82,000 jobs for Salvadorans. Agriculture isn't as big in El Salvador as it used to be, but is continuing to expand. The country is also open to switching from chemical to organic agriculture, especially after large numbers of deaths by renal failure was blamed on chemicals from sugarcane.

Agriculture in El Salvador is growing as most of the country lives on farms, growing crops such as corn and beans, with subsistence farmers that are hard to convince to use organic rather than synthetic. One group, the Association for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES) has been especially active in educating farmers of the dangers of synthetic fertilizers. El Salvador is working to get all its farmers to switch over to organic methods to benefit their health. It would also benefit the country to give the country education about climate change. During one drought, the government told the farmers not toplant crops that year. However, they many farmers did anyway because it was what they had always done. They lost 95% of their crops that year. This represents a lack of education about what could harm their crops. Countries that would support El Salvador's ideas are those that see the benefits of organic agriculture and educating the farmers in general about using new methods and technology when farming. There are not too many who would disagree with these ideas. Every country wants what's best for their farmers because of their importance growing food for the rest of the country. However, some might not see the benefits in investing in more expensive organic agriculture, or trying to educate farmers about it. Works Cited "EnvirotechMatrixPreservingBiodiversityYMUN2016-2017.pdf." Google Docs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "EnvirotechMatrixAgriculturalProductivityYMUN2016-2017.pdf." Google Docs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "EnvirotechMatrixRenewableInfrastructureYMUN2016-2017.pdf." Google Docs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "El Salvador to Hit 70% Renewable Energy within Five Years." Power Engineering International. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "Experiences in El Salvador: Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development."Experiences in El Salvador: Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development - AgriCultures Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "El Salvador - Agriculture." Agriculture - El Salvador - Export, Product, Area, Crops, Annual. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "El Salvador - Country Profile." Convention on Biological Diversity. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "The Fight for Sustainable Agriculture in El Salvador." Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Name: Mason Snyder Delegation: Voorhees Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Ethiopia The Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia, commonly known as Ethiopia, is a nation of approximately 102,000,000 people in northern Africa. Ethiopia borders Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Due to Ethiopia lying on the Great Rift Valley, there are many earthquakes, as well as active volcanoes that cause frequent evacuations of populated areas. Ethiopia is a federal parliamentary republic which is a republic that commands power based upon the parliament. The most recent constitution of Ethiopia, drafted in 1995, declares that they have nine states, each with the power of self-determination. They have a two house parliament, in which the council of People's Representatives has the highest say. The Federal government is led by a president and an executive Prime Minister, as well as each state has their own president. Ethiopia also has a completely separate Judicial Branch. The majority of Ethiopia is comprised of two major ethnic groups, 34.4%, of the citizens are Oromo, and 27% of the people are Amhara. The rest of the population is composed of people from Somali, Tigray, Sidama, Gurage, Welaita, Hadiya, Afar, Gamo, Gedeo, Silte, Kefficho, and other places. Due to the wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, there are many political parties in Ethiopia, each with different beliefs. The main source of revenue for Ethiopia is their coffee exportation. The government has been trying to expand the economy by trading gold, amongst other things, and is making slow progress. Ethiopia's other main source of revenue is farming. However, due to Ethiopia's long and frequent periods of drought, farming is a highly unstable source of revenue. The future looks bright for bringing Ethiopia out of poverty, as seen by the fact that Ethiopia has the fifth fastest growing economy out of all the countries in the International Monetary Fund. Due to the geographical location of Ethiopia, it is a very biodiverse country. Due to the extreme biodiversity, Ethiopia is known as one of the twelve "Vavilov centers of primary plant domestication in the world." The diverse types of soil as well as the indigenous people of Ethiopia have allowed the biodiversity to thrive, and has led new offspring of plants to grow and cultivate. It is highly important that biodiversity is maintained in Ethiopia for the well being of the people. Due to the poverty of many Ethiopians, medicine is very hard to afford. In order to get necessary medicines for free, they rely on the many plants that thrive in Ethiopia to make herbal remedies for everyday ailments as well as more serious diseases. Not only does it benefit the people, some crops and animals have genetic markers that can not be found in organisms anywhere else in the world, due to most life originating in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a cornerstone of global biodiversity. In order to ensure global biodiversity is maintained, I believe that the twelve Vavilov centers should be given funding to protect the organisms. The funding could be used for a variety of things, ranging from buying natural fertilizers to help the plants grow, to

creating shelters to protect the plants and animals. Not only these things, but we need to create an initiative to go around to countries, not only Ethiopia, but all countries, to inform the people of the horrific circumstance of endangered animals. If we can also create shelters where we can house endangered animals as an alternative way to educate the masses. Seeing the organisms in person could make them feel remorse for their actions that are causing the animals to die, and could make the masses change their ways so that the animals can prosper. In order to achieve these goals, Ethiopia could collaborate with any of the nations located in one of Vavilov's twelve centers. Some nations who would be located in these areas and would be likely to support these actions include Eritrea, Somalia, Mexico and India. However, the list of countries who could help are not limited to these select few, because any of the countries who are located within one of Vavilov's centers of development would benefit from the resolution. Some of these countries would include Brazil, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Some countries who may be opposed to this resolution are countries who are not allied with Ethiopia, and are not classified as being in one of Vavilov's centers of development, such as Sweden. A sustainable energy infrastructure is extremely important in Ethiopia, due to the biodiversity as well as the poverty. The majority of Ethiopians do not have necessary funds to pay for gas energy, which is why they produce a lot of their own energy through water power. It is also important to the Ethiopians that they maintain a sustainable energy infrastructure so that they do not damage the plants and animals. Due to the fact that Ethiopia has relatively few people with access to energy, it would be very easy to create an infrastructure that uses sustainable energy. If Ethiopia can create the infrastructure before everyone has the money to buy energy, then they can have a highly efficient and sustainable infrastructure for the future. I believe that all nations should redo their current infrastructure plans and make them more eco friendly. This way, there are not nations producing harmful emissions while other nations are completely eco friendly.. If we impose fines upon countries who do not have an eco friendly infrastructure, then we can give an incentive for them to change their ways. We can use the money from the fines to help other countries kickstart their sustainable energy infrastructures. We can also give nations who have already established their plans even more money than the ones developing their plans, so their is a reason for the nations to establish their plans in a quick and timely manner. Countries who would pursue this bill to be passed would likely have a sustainable infrastructure in place, be creating a sustainable infrastructure, or have an infrastructure that could be easily converted. Countries who would support this resolution would include Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand. The bill could also gain support from poor African nations who could create a sustainable infrastructure easily and with little change to their people. These poor African nations would then benefit from this deal by making a lot of money. Some countries who could

object to this include Yemen, Ukraine, and Vietnam, who currently do not use sustainable energy and only use few sources of energy. All of these nations also have many people reliant on these unsustainable energy sources, so they would have to put forth a great deal of effort in order to make this change. Farming is very important to the well being of Ethiopia. Due to the poverty, many people rely on their own farms to sustain themselves, and then they sell their excess crops in order to make money to buy goods. The vast majority of Ethiopians are too poor to afford chemical fertilizers, so they are very good at using natural fertilizers. They also know how to keep their land in good shape so it is always farmable. However, Ethiopian farmers have to deal with long droughts that devastate their crops and their productivity. Agricultural productivity is highly important to the people of Ethiopia. In order to help the farmers produce more food, all governments should lower the tax on food importation, exportation, and sales. Governments should also pay the farmers, or significantly lower the taxes of farmers, who produce a certain amount of food each year. If the governments of the world can encourage farming, we can get food to poor areas and save children from starvation. On top of all of this, the farmers should be taught good practices, such as using organic fertilizers, or preserving their land so that they do not over farm, drain the soil nutrients, and ruin the land. This bill could be supported by nations who have many people who are starving. Some of these countries would include Eritrea, Sudan, Chad, Zambia and many more. Many nations who have increasing populations, such as India and China, might also be inclined to support this bill due to their farming income as well as the need to support the exponential population growth. This bill would likely be opposed by nations who produce a lot of crops and export them and/or have a slow increase in population rate, such as the United States, however, countries who would oppose this bill believe strongly in human rights, which may make them think differently and in turn support the bill. Work Cited: http://et.chm-cbd.net/biodiversity/biodiversity-ethiopia "Biodiversity of Ethiopia." CBD Clearing House Mechanism of Ethiopia. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. <http://et.chm-cbd.net/biodiversity/biodiversity-ethiopia>. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/30/ethiopia-renewable-energy-project

"Ethiopia's Renewable Energy Revolution Shouldn't Fail to Empower Its Poor." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jan/30/ethiopia-renewable-energy-project>. http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/sustainable-development/overview.html "Sustainable Development." UNDP. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. <http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/sustainable-development/overview.html> https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/energy/decisions "Energy .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/energy/decisions>. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html "The World Factbook: ETHIOPIA." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html>.

Name: Victoria Napolitano Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Finland Name: Victoria Napolitano Delegation: Westfield Country: Finland Committee: EnviroTech B Part I - Country Information Finland is located in the Northern region of Europe and is apart of the E.U. It's capital city is Helinski, and it has a population of 5,498,211 people. The Finnish economy is primarily focused on industrial, free-market trade that maintains self-sufficiency through the production and exportation of its main products: wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, fish, and dairy. The government type is a parliamentary republic with an executive, judicial, and legislative branch lead by the Chief of State, President Sauli Niinisto, and Head of Government, Prime Minister Juha Sipila. Finland has a very stable government, and its GDP in purchasing power is up to $225 billion. Furthermore, the major religions in Finland are Lutheran (73.8%), Orthodox (1.1%), and other/one (25.1%). Part II - Positions on Topics: Environment and Technology B Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity Biodiversity is the intricate variety and balance of various ecosystems, including marine and subterranean communities. Normally, species of plants and animals would grow to adapt to various environmental changes through evolutionary means, such as natural selection, but with the drastically different conditions that are being introduced by human civilization, many species cannot adapt and instead die off. This means that the human population is directly influencing the destruction of the Earth's natural equilibrium and we have the ability and responsibility to prevent any more damage. Countries should reduce greenhouse gases, redesign international business

infrastructure, increase financial aid to developing countries, and reduce dependency on nonrenewable fossil fuels. This topic applies greatly to Finland because it is slowly cutting down on the usage of energy that is very harmful to the environment, such as fossil fuels. The breakdown for Finland's use of energy is as follows: 30% fossil fuel energy, 33% nuclear energy, and 37% renewable energy. However, Finland has a national strategy and action plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, entitled "Saving Nature for People", that was approved by a government resolution in December 2012. The main objective of the strategy is to halt biodiversity loss in Finland by 2020. The strategy's five objectives focus on the mainstreaming of environmental issues across society, the introduction of new participants in the work to advance environmental causes, a decision-making process based on robust research data, and Finland's responsibility, as a member of the international community, for the global environment.Furthermore, the plant and animal life in Finland would be directly affected by an increase in renewable fossil fuels, as seen through the example of the palsa forestry. The extent of palsa has lessened greatly during the past few decades. The defrosting of palsa and the diminishing of water moulds increases the coverage of vegetation but reduces the populations of birds and insect groups that benefit from the palsa mires. Overall, the total number of species living in Finland is more likely to increase than decrease as a consequence of climate change. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Infrastructure consists of the necessary structural elements required to maintain the reliable function of modern society. By implementing sustainable infrastructure, humans would be maintaining these elements without infringing upon the sanctity of the environment, the economic prosperity of citizens, or the rights of its beneficiaries. Unfortunately, government subsidized projects around the world have continued to aggressively pursue urban/industrial expansion without regard for potential impacts upon the environment. This classic cost-benefit analysis dilemma should push countries to pursue economically feasible policies with an emphasis on environmental compatibility. Immense investment and capital is required to jumpstart construction and gentrification programs, which may have an adverse effect upon the economy. Public sector funds are also vulnerable to mismanagement, and historically speaking many projects will be indefinitely delayed or cancelled as a result. Thus, greener alternative systems, including sanitation, transportation, energy, communications, shelter, and sustenance, should be proposed to reduce environmental impact. Transportation efficiency proves to be a large problem in Finland; however, it has two solutions that are underway. The first project is ten blue minibuses that have shuttled around inner districts of Helsinki since October 2012 as part of Kutsuplus, a pilot scheme that aims to complement bus and taxi services. The scheme is the first in the world where vehicle routes are automatically changed to respond optimally to demand in real

time, using a complex computer program to update drivers' instructions! The pilot scheme already has more than 4,300 registered users, who load funds into their personal virtual "trip wallets" to pay fares priced between taxi and bus fares. The fares are based on distances, which equates to fair prices for trips-what a successful project! In addition, another scheme pioneered in Helsinki focuses on car-sharing, where the manager noticed how many of the cars clogging up the motorway into Helsinki during rush-hour had only one person in them. About 100 companies have signed up so far. Nokia's headquarters in Espoo, just west of Helsinki, forms one location where green-riding has proven popular. The best parking spots are reserved for GreenRiders as an incentive. The manager reckons that as more companies join, GreenRiders will significantly reduce peak traffic congestion and emissions. If other countries consider these solutions, pollution in the environment would significantly decrease, funding for gas stations would decrease, and a sense of community and environmental change would increase. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Agriculture improves food security, increases employment, and provides 'environmental services' that protect or enhance the environment such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and coastal protection. With global issues such as food price volatility, climate change, increased poverty, and an increasing trend towards urbanization, increasing agricultural productivity proves to be a challenge. Preventing market failures and fostering a favorable investment environment are also essential to increasing output. Market failures have slowed agricultural investment and growth and left many farmers and their households living in poverty. An effective way to counteract this measure is by implementing government subsidies on inputs such as fertilizer to keep the market stable. In addition, countries that produce GMO's can produce more food for their population, ultimately benefiting them in the long run. Genetically modified crops have not yet become a topic in Finland, neither in research nor commercially. Basically, this is due to the lack of GM crops suitable for the Finnish climate. Another area of research on genetically modified plants, however, is the Finnish domain: forestry. The climatic zone suitable for boreal vegetation is expected to move 150-550 km farther north during this century. However, boreal vegetation cannot migrate at such a rapid pace, at least not naturally, because the natural rate of migration for trees is only 20-200 km a century. The GMO forestry will definitely be effective because the hybrid aspens and silver birches genetically modified will allow scientists to possible direct and indirect ecological effects of transgenes by means of "secondary metabolomics and metabolite profiling". This means biochemical studies of substances produced by the plant, which are not essential for growth and proliferation. The scientists also analyze whether changes in these substances cause changes in the tree's resistance to diseases or in symbiotic interactions with fungi. This strategy will be very beneficial, as Finland is so dependent on its forestry.

Works Cited "About Finland." Embassy of Finland, 20 Sept. 2016, www.finland.org/public/default.aspx?nodeid=46116&contentlan=2&culture=en-US. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016. Bayar, Tildy. "Finland Looks to the Future of Bioenergy." Renewable Energy World, 23 July 2013, www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/print/volume-16/issue-4/bioenergy/finland-looks-to-the-future-of-bioenergy.html. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016. "Biodiversity Finland." Finland Agriculture and Horticulure, www.climatechangepost.com/finland/biodiversity/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016. "Finland - Government." Nations Encyclopedia, 2011, www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Finland-GOVERNMENT.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016. "GM Trees- a Finnish Expertise." GMO Compass, 2016, www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/country_reports/266.gm_trees_finnish_expertise.html. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016. Heikkinen, Ilkka. "Strategy mainstreams environmental work." Ministry of the Environment, 9 Jan. 2015, www.ym.fi/en-us/Nature/Biodiversity/Strategy_and_action_plan_for_biodiversity. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016. Siniloo, Gert. "Legal Sources on Renewable Energy: Finland." RES Legal, 7 Jan. 2016, www.res-legal.eu/search-by-country/finland/summary/c/finland/s/res-e/sum/128/lpid/127/. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016.

Name: Anders Myhre Delegation: Cranford Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: France Part I - Country Description Located in Europe, France shares borders with Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Spain. In addition to these bordering countries France also contains four coastlines, the North Sea, English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, which amounts to a total of 3427 km of coastline. Behind Russia and Ukraine, France is the third largest country in Europe covering 551,695km2. Both central and eastern France call for a Continental climate, cold winters and hot summers, opposing to southern France which allows a Mediterranean Climate, warm and dry summers, large amount of rainfall from October to April, with sunshine year round. France is the second largest country by population in Europe and 20th in the world inhabiting just over sixty-six million people. In 2004, it was estimated that 85% of the population of Metropolitan France was white or of European origin, with 10% from North Africa, 3.5% Black and 1.5% Asian. The 2007 CIA World Factbook listed the religion of France as Roman Catholic 83-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%. France is expected to see its population grow by another 9 million people over the next 40 years, which allows the population to grow to 72 million by the year 2050. France has a natural increase rate of 3.46, with a crude birth rate of 12.4 and a natural death rate of 8.4 (all per 1,000 people). Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure France is considered a nation that is making the transition to renewable energy. France is transitioning to renewable energy usage, and they have committed numerous resources in or to diversify their energy platforms. As of now, France is still dependent on fossil fuels for energy for its population but also have use green power plants. Electricite de France is a national corporation that holds a monopoly on the distribution of energy in France, and is one of the largest producers of energy in the European Union. Nuclear energy is the predominant source of electricity for France, hydroelectric second, and thermal third. There is not a significant amount of or solar energy in France. France's Fossil Fuel Dependence (Percentage) is approximately 8%, and its utilization of renewable energy(excluding nuclear power) is at 18%. In pursuit of the creation and implementation of renewable infrastructure, France would like to address this conflicting issue within UN countries by promoting and

advocating the development of renewable energy to sustain clean energy development within France itself, and other countries. France would like to see resolutions that are willing to aid other countries in their development in the transition to renewable infrastructure. In addition to this, France would also like to countries in the developmental stages to pursue over 50% of domestic energy production stemming from sustainable sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, or geothermal power plants like countries such as Norway, Italy, and Peru To help achieve these solutions, France would have to collaborate with countries who utilize renewable energy such as Norway, Peru, New Zealand, and Switzerland to show the upsides of using renewable energy and how it benefits their society. With the effort of these powerful countries the UN would be able to pass resolutions that aid in the use of renewable energy throughout UN countries. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity France is a country that maintains a moderate perspective on the preservation of biodiversity. France remains relatively neutral on preserving biodiversity and focus on facing their own, unique challenges toward achieving preservation. Although France recognizes the importance of preserving biodiversity around the world,and is currently doing what it can to preserve biodiversity within its own borders. As a result, France has created numerous national parks and hectares of forest reservations in addition to improvements in policies concerning land control and protection. From 1990-2010 france has gained 202,00 hectares of forest, but contains 126 endangered species, as of 2009. France believes that the most efficient way to deal with preservation of biodiversity is by punishing countries who have large numbers of deforestation. In recent years, France has created more than 200,000 hectares of forest within its borders. Not all countries are as cautious when it comes to the preservation of biodiversity with vast deforestation numbers, and an extremely high number of endangered species. France urges surrounding countries to follow the lead and invest more resources into preserving more land around them. In addition, the problem of enforcing consequences for pirates needs to be addressed. Many pirates are captured, but are not sufficiently or efficiently punished. France implores surrounding countries to impose new, harsher penalties against deforestation within their borders. In addition to this, France also encourages countries to impose a new law enforcing the number of trees cut down and requiring these same companies to replant trees in order to limit deforestation. Many countries currently dealing with the preservation of biodiversity, including Russia, Sweden and Norway, would agree with France that measures against deforestation must be taken immediately in order to prevent further spread. The biggest argument,

made by mainly undeveloped countries, is that the destruction of biodiversity is essential towards the economic setting in their nation. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity France is considered to be a nation with primarily large scale market-oriented farming or self-sufficiency. France has very strong agricultural sectors, and generally support the usage of industrial farming, utilizing scientific research and management. France has historically been a dominant force in European agriculture, being the largest producer excluding the Russian Federation. Techniques are mechanized and rely heavily upon computer analysis and automation. French wines, champagnes, and other specialty products are sought around the world. In addition to this France's agriculture as percent of GDP only reaching 1.70%, and its cereal yield (Kg/hectare) was 5,829, from 2011-2015. Since France is an extremely developed and affluent country we are not in need of developing our own cereal yield,France would like to center its focus on improving the agricultural productivity in developing nations. France would like to focus its attention on a breakthrough in seeds that do not require a topsoil needed for most plants. The research needed in order to develope this may be expensive, but this solution will increase agricultural productivity worldwide, and especially non developed countries agriculturally. This will ultimately lead to inexpensive food for all countries, and with the help of the UN to pass this resolution this goal is obtainable. Therefore, developed countries with the resources to fund this project would have to come together. In addition to this, countries in need of the agricultural breakthrough would have to cooperate and accept the help of other nations.

Name: Harrison Hepding Delegation: Ocean City High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Germany Part I-Country Description The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic in central western Europe. Germany borders 9 countries: Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Germany is not landlocked and has borders on the North and Baltic Seas. Its system of a federal parliamentary republic consists of a president, chancellor, a bicameral legislature, and the Federal Constitution Court. Germany is the most populous EU member state with a population of 82 million. It also receives the second most immigrants behind the United States. Germany is a great power on a global scale with the fourth largest economy by nominal GDP. Being a prominent power it is a member of many different organizations and blocks like the European Union, United Nations, NATO, OECD, G8, G20, World Bank, and IMF. Part 2-Positions of Topics: Environment and Technology Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Germany is the sixth largest energy consumer in the world. Power generation in 2014 was over 50% fossil fuels, 26% renewable energy, and 16% nuclear energy. Its current energy sector is still mainly fossil fuels but Germany has enacted to transition to renewable energy in a plan known as Energiewende. Energiewende outlines a plan to create energy primarily through renewable resources, reduce carbon emissions, and phase out nuclear energy by 2022. The goal for 2050 is 60% renewable energy and green house gas reductions of 80-95% compared to 1990. One way Germany is doing this is through the German Renewable Resource Act. This act encourages the use and creation of renewable energy.Germany would like to pursue a common goal on the reduced carbon emissions through the creation of a common incentive for transition to renewable energy. This could be in the form of a quota for the annual percentage of renewable energy created. Germany would also like to remove the use of nuclear energy by creating a nuclear power elimination plan to reward countries that transition off of nuclear with tools to create renewable energy. Lastly Germany would like to cut the overall use of energy by reducing energy overproduction and increasing efficiency.To create the ideal energy generation goals, Germany will have to ally itself with other transitioning countries like Argentina and Finland who want to transition away from fossil fuel reliance as well as countries with a energy sector dominated by renewable resources like Brazil, Costa Rica, and Canada who want to see a fully renewable energy sector in the future. Countries like Bolivia, El Salvador, and Honduras

will also support increased renewable energy projects because that gives them more opportunities to cover the grid and diminish energy disparities. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Germany has a land area of 357,138 square kilometers.More than half of the country's areais currently used for agriculture. About 31% of the land areais covered by forest. Since 1993, there has been continuous growth in the land use categories of buildings and traffic infrastructure on the one hand and a continuous growth of recreational areas on the other hand. The total distance covered by all streams and rivers in Germany adds up to 400,000 km, including minor streams and rivers. Over the past 30 years, the quality of the water in many rivers and streams has distinctly improved. For example, the pollution in the Rhine and the Elbe has been reduced so considerably that nearly all fish species have returned, even the salmon. According to the 2009 Red List 28%of the evaluated animal species are threatened and 8% of species are extinct or lost. Intensive farming and forestry has hurt German biodiversity, as well as the urban sprawl.The German Government adopted the National Strategy on Biological Diversity in 2007. The Strategy formulates visions and establishes objectives and targets for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity for Germany and the world. Germany would take action to fix this by advocating for plans to enrich and protect biodiversity through decreased polution, land reserves, and species protection. Germany will work with countries that share this common goal like Poland, Switzerland, and Canada. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Agriculture is a small sector of the German economy, making up 1.6% of West Germany's GDP in 1990.Since the 1960s, German agricultural policy has not been made in Germany but in theEC. All agricultural laws and regulations are written inBrussels, often after difficult negotiations between food-producing and food-consuming states. The main objective of those negotiations is to obtain high incomes for the farmers while keeping market prices low enough to avoid consumer protests. Farmland accounts for over half of Germanies land area. Before the reunification of Germany in 1990 farms in West Germany were on a decline and farms in East Germany were collectivized by the socialist government. Farms have declined in numbers but increased in productivity. The amount of people a farm can feed has increase do to more efficient production methods. Germany produces a lot of cereals and sugar beets in the north, as well as potatoes and beer. Germany would like to make policies that benefit farmers and make farming a larger part of the economic sector. Germany is on good footing with their agriculture, so they will work with countries that also have good agricultural success like France and Denmark, who work with Germany in the EU on agricultural policies.

Name: Charles Ma Delegation: Montgomery Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Greece Name: Charles Ma Delegation: Montgomery Nation: Greece Committee: Environment and Technology B Country Description The Hellenic Republic, or Greece is an averagely sized nation that lies between Albania(northwest) and Turkey(northeast), and also shares northern borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria. Greece's only southern borders are water masses, bordering the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean seas. MIt has a total area of 131,957 sq km, and has a total land area of 130,647 sq km. Compared to the rest of the world, it sits at the 97th largest country. Greece has a temperate, mild climate, and is extremely hot and dry in the summer. It is a parliamentary republic, with a president elected by Parliament every five years, who is head of state. The Prime minister is the Head of Government, while the Ministerial Council, comprising of the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers without portfolio, is the collective governing body that composes the Government of Greece. Although the President does have limited power, the President has the power to formally appoint the Prime Minister, who appoints or dismisses other members of the government based on the President's recommendation. The Prime Minister represents the State in its relations to other States, proclaims referendums etc. General elections are usually held every four years unless the Parliament is dissolved earlier. Greece's civil legal system is based on Roman law, and citizens can vote at the start of 18 years of age. Although Greece's economy averaged a growth of about 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. As a result, Greece began to accumulate massive amounts of debt, and by 2013 the economy had contracted 26%. In the past decade Greece has received several bailouts, including the largest bailout ever assembled, which Greece exchanged for combined spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40 billion over 3 years. However, Greece struggled to meet the targets set up by the EU and IMF, and revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. Soon after, European leaders and the IMF

agreed to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. In 2014, the Greek economy started to take a turn of events, and experience a GDP growth of 0.7% for the first time since 2007. As of today, Greece's estimated GDP is 286 Billion US Dollars, and has an estimated growth rate of -0.2%. About 80% of Greece's economy is based off of services, but has an unemployment rate of 25%. Since the debt crisis in 2010, most international banks and foreign investors have sold their Greek bonds and holdings, so they are no longer affected to what happens in Greece. Generally, Greece's economy has been struggling to come back from the recession it experienced, and continues to have large of amounts of citizens below the poverty line. Unfortunately, Greece's inability to generate an adequate economy may lead to numerous future bailouts and a growing number of unemployed and destitute citizens. Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Energy Infrastructure Today, oil is perhaps one of the most, if the not the most important commodity traded today. For 2016, the International Energy Agency forecasts worldwide average demand of nearly 96 million barrels of oil and liquid fuels per day - more than 35 billion barrels a year, with each barrel costing nearly 50$. Clearly, oil plays a huge role in energy consumption and the global economy, but according to USA today, at the current production rates, the world has 53.3 years of oil left. This greatly increases the need for a renewable energy source, especially because much of the world relies on non-renewable sources. Greece receives roughly 70% of its total electricity from fossil fuels - a clear cause for air pollution in Greece; a problem that must be solved for the welfare of the citizens. Because the majority of Greece's energy comes from fossil fuels, the switch to sustainable energy will be extremely difficult and time-consuming. Taking into account Greece's economic state, this task would prove to be almost unachievable without the proper funding. As a result, Greece would support international laws that would help countries relying on non-renewable energy sources to switch to renewable energy sources. Additionally, Greece stresses the importance of giving developing countries or countries that have the most amount of non-renewable energy attention first; to minimize environmental damage during the transition. In unison with these solutions, Greece highlights the necessity to donate to underfunded countries to have a cleaner, more efficient Earth.

To help achieve these solutions, Greece would like to work jointly with many of its allies who support the cause, including France and Sweden. Although some Middle-Eastern countries rely on their exports of oil and petroleum, there are numerous countries, Denmark for one, who have chosen to make the switch to renewable energy. In the early 1970s, like some Middle-Eastern countries, Denmark heavily relied on imported, supplying 92% of Denmark's energy. However, it has proved that the switch is entirely possible. Today, 40% of Denmark's electric grid is renewably powered. Greece looks to follow in the footsteps of Denmark, and look to the future of energy use. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Greece is home to thousands of different forms of nature, and is often referred to as the "hotspot" for biodiversity in Europe with more than 6,200 endemic species, or species being unique to a defined geographic location. It is also especially proud to have an especially high number of wild fauna and flora, and other genetic resources related to agriculture and food products.Although Greece has experienced a slow decline in bird species, it supports preserving Biodiversity, not just because of its beauty, but also because of the environmental stability that it provides. Approximately half of the area of Greece used for agricultural purposes has a High Nature Value(HNV). 51% of the total area is total agricultural and forest land, of which 18% are forests, 15% is forest land used for grazing and 18% is cultivated land. Greece's mass amount of non-renewable energy use has caused Recognizing that many other nations may not have a Preservation of Biodiversity as a priority, Greece would like to offer any assistance with countries that are willing to begin improving their ecosystems. On the other hand, Greece would immediately oppose ideas that refer to harming, putting in danger, or destroying preservation of the environment. Greece would also like to encourage biotechnology that benefits the preservation of the environment, and would love to take part in the future of Biodiversity preservation. Bringing together nations with the same mindset would definitely contribute toward preserving biodiversity throughout the world, as it is a goal that must be achieved through the work of many nations. Several countries are opposed to preserving biodiversity, but at the same time, there are plenty who are willing to support the cause, but do not have the money or resources. Also, Greece would be obliged to convince and persuade countries who choose to stay neutral on the topic to support the cause. Greece encourages funding and resources toward countries that are willing to preserve biodiversity, but cannot due

to their economic or environmental state. In summary, Greece would support persuading countries to preserve biodiversity, and to help countries that are willing to take action, but cannot due to their state as a country. If not addressed, a lack of biodiversity can ruin environmental stability, and will cause a downfall in a variety of species as well as agricultural economy. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Greece is a nation where only about 30% of the land is cultivable, and it supports over half of the population. As one would expect, because of this lack of cultivable land, agriculture does not play a large role in Greece's economy. Although agriculture accounts for 20% of the work force, its role in the economy has declined, only accounting for 9% of GDP, down from 25% in the 1950s. This has caused hundreds of thousands of young Greeks, instead of working to develop creative ideas to attain a better future, are waiting for European subsidies to materialize. Perhaps the largest harm inflicted on Greece by the EU is that it has maintained such a large agricultural sector. In Europe, Greece has the most farmers per capita after Romania, definitely a larger than number than what is needed, or what the market would sustain. Greek farmers hardly pay any taxes, one reason being that they must finance the roads they are blockading(an ongoing protest against social security reform proposals). Greece's economy cannot support a large agricultural workforce, and must focus its priorities toward stabilizing a ruined economic system. Disposing of farms will actually cause a regrowth in the forests and rivers that once occupied Greece's farmland. Although Agricultural Productivity is something Greece would like to enhance, it simply is not a subject that would benefit Greece at the present time period. Since Greece's situation is a special case, Greece would like to encourage agricultural productivity in countries that are in a stronger economic state. Greece urges countries that are experienced in farming to aid countries that are slowly growing their agriculture, such as countries that have a long farming history like France. Funding and providing technology toward agriculturally underdeveloped countries will strengthen agricultural productivity across the globe while maintaining a clean environment. Like many other countries, Greece believes that increased agriculture output should not come at the price of the environment. The US, for example, is the leading agriculture producer, yet it's hundreds of factories and machinery cause large methane and CO2 emissions, which further harm the environment. However, countries with little to no agriculture whatsoever should definitely plan to incorporate agriculture into their

economy and their future. Greece would be happy to aid in the creation of agriculture in underdeveloped countries. Works Cited Central Intelligence Agency. 18 Nov. 2016, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016. Do Something. www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-factory-farms-and-environment. Ekathimerini. www.ekathimerini.com/205795/article/ekathimerini/business/farmers-blockades-could-cost-exporters-308-mln-euros-a-day. European Environment Agency. www.eea.europa.eu/soer-2015/countries/greece. Hellenic Republic Greece in the USA. www.mfa.gr/usa/en/about-greece/government-and-politics/. International Energy Agency. www.iea.org/about/faqs/oil/. International Model United Nations Association. www.imuna.org/resources/country-profiles/greece. Nations Encyclopedia. www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Greece-AGRICULTURE.html. The Nature Education. www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/biodiversity-and-ecosystem-stability-17059965. New York Times. www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/business/international/greece-debt-crisis-euro.html?_r=0. USA Today. www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/06/28/the-world-was-533-years-of-oil-left/11528999/. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemism. WTRG Economics. www.wtrg.com/daily/crudeoilprice.html. Zoolmuseum. old.biol.uoa.gr/zoolmuseum/biodiven.htm.

Name: Ethan Bandelli Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Greenland Name: Ethan Bandelli Delegation: Westfield Country: Greenland Committee: Environment and Technology Part I - Country Information Greenland is a huge island near North America that belongs to Denmark. The island is about 836,300 square miles and only has a population of 56,483. Which is not many people in such a huge piece of land. In fact, the population density is about .069 people per square mile, a ridiculous number. Greenland can be found just of the coast of Canada, in between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Greenland happens to be one of the coldest islands in the world; the average temperature is around -20 degrees C in February. The country is supplied with the newest technologies and is responsible for the ice sheets used to produce ice and water. Part II - Positions on Topics: General Assembly A Topic 1: Biodiversity The Biodiversity in Greenland is not as advance as that of many other regions on the earth. In fact, the country does not have that many different creatures on their island because the temperature there is so cold. The ridiculously cold weather there hurts them a lot when it comes to the issues of biodiversity. Although the biodiversity is not quite up to where it should be the country has a very healthy ecosystem that is very beneficial of their economy. Since the nation is an island the country does have a lot of interesting fish and other sea creatures swimming on the coasts of the land. Greenland's main goal in the future to advance their biodiversity is plant more trees and other parts of nature so that animals will come along. This will not be easy though. A lot of the population doubts that the country will be able to get it done because of the cold temperatures in the nation. The cold temperature does help the bio diversity a little bit though because there is many animals that are cold blooded that live on parts of the land. Just there are not that many cold-blooded animals compared to warm-blooded animals. Overall the nation could use some help with this issue and the cold weather is not making it any easier for the island.

Other countries in this world would not really care about the biodiversity adjustments that Greenland is making. In fact, Greenland is separated from every country other than Denmark (its owner) when it comes to biodiversity. They are more focused on themselves rather than the other nations when it comes to this issue. Denmark tries to help the island create more biodiversity, but it has not worked to well. Overall Greenland needs to improve their biodiversity because the country needs more of a variety of animals so that help the country advance in many different ways. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure In Greenland the Sustainable Energy Infrastructure are the exact same as those in Denmark, since the island belongs to them. The Sustainable Energy Infrastructure in Denmark is mainly made up of fossil fuels and there are much great architecture made in both beautiful pieces of land. In Greenland there is the Nuuk Correctional Facility Building, which is a beautiful building in Greenland that is surrounded by a snowy setting. Like most other places in the world there are roads and other infrastructures. Although there are some great buildings and roads in Greenland there should be a lot more than there are. The country of Denmark would like for more buildings and roads to be built in the island of Greenland. And this is important for Greenland, there needs to be more infrastructures on the island. The island does not have enough of a city, which would need more roads and buildings to increase on. It would also help move power throughout the entire island if they did this. Greenland's desire to build more buildings and a great city in their cold nation seems like it would be beneficial to other countries so there would be no reason for other countries to be against it. Denmark will most likely help them with the building of more buildings and the creation of a city and other infrastructures will be very beneficial for both Greenland and Denmark. Leading to more countries wanting to align with them. In fact, it would definitely make the island become more powerful which would attract countries into aligning with both Greenland and Denmark. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Greenland is not very successful when it comes to farming mainly because of the cold weather that it faces all year long. This is an issue for Greenland because Agriculture is widely viewed as a powerful tool for reducing global poverty. So there is a lot of poverty on that island creating an imbalance between social classes. Also there is much more of a focus on manufacturing than farming in Greenland, creating even more of an

unbalance. There cannot be so much unbalance on an island like Greenland. This is something that Denmark must fix even though it will be very difficult. Although the weather will make it very difficult for Greenland farmers to be more successful, there must be an emphasis on fixing the lack of agricultural production. The production when it comes to hunting is above average, but there must be more success when it comes to farming and growing crops. The country must at least try to farm during the warmest time of the year because it is impossible at all other times. Overall, it maybe very hard for the island to farm successfully because of the awful weather, but that is no excuse to not try to increase the farming production. Almost all countries are much more successful than Greenland when it comes to farming, mainly because of the cold climate. If Greenland was able to grow crops at a more successful rate it would help the whole world. More trade would involve Greenland and other countries would be able to get their crops from other places. Also, Denmark and Greenland would both benefit financially and be able to advance their countries. The world was also be introduced to a new way of a successfully farming in cold weather. Overall if Denmark and Greenland was able to find a way to grow crops in a cold climate they would not only help themselves, but they would help the whole world.

Bibliography "Facts on Greenland."Facts on Greenland - Naalakkersuisut. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. "Greenland Demographics Profile 2016."Greenland Demographics Profile 2016. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. "Greenland."Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. "Facts on Greenland."Facts on Greenland - Naalakkersuisut. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016. Shah, Anup. "Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?" - Global Issues. 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 October 2016. "Soil Degradation." Land and Soil. Office of Environment and Heritage. Web. 17 October 2016. "The World Factbook: GREENLAND."Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

Name: Kirti Aplash Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Haiti Part 1 - Country Description The Republic of Haiti is a small country located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Haiti is also west of the Dominican Republic, and covers about 27,750 square kilometers. Being the first black-led republic, the population of Haiti is roughly 10 million. As for religion, Haiti consists of mainly three- 54.7% of the people are Roman Catholic, 28.5% Protestant, and 2.1% Voodoo. The tropical climate allowed the country to be a great spot for tourism, but 2010 brought a 7.0 magnitude earthquake to the capital, Port-Au-Prince. This earthquake drastically affected the population, economy, and biodiversity of Haiti in a negative way. Due to its geographic location, Haiti is prone to natural disasters. Haiti is also currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector and small-scale subsistence farming. Haiti's free-market economy mainly relies on agriculture, with low labor costs and tax-free access to US exports. However, the economy has not been able to improve because of several reasons. These include weak infrastructure, lack of electricity, vulnerability to natural disasters, poverty, corruption, and low levels of education. Topic 1: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Haiti essentially faces two major challenges when it comes to energy: relating to electricity and the dependence on charcoal. The power sector of Haiti has been the weakest in the region, with less than a quarter of the population having electricity access. However, half of these consumers were connected to the sector illegally. The existing electrical systems are extremely weak and require restoration. The national power utility, EDH, is unreliable and needs 12% of the national budget just to maintain its operations. Even with this level of energy, 75% of electricity is usually lost throughtransmission. Haiti has been increasingly dependent on charcoal imported from the Dominican Republic, to the extent of people smuggling charcoal from the Dominican

Republic and into Haiti. The relatively low residential tariffs compared to other fossil-fuel-dependent countries does not allow energy to be affordable and reliable. To improve the nationwide energy infrastructure, Haiti is in need of government funding of a subsidy of more than $200 million a year. This will allow for the reconstruction of the EDH and fix technical and managerial issues. To help the growth of the energy sector, Haiti is in support of switching to cleaner and greener energy sources. Topic 2 : Preservation of Biodiversity Despite current environmental issues, Haiti has the second most diverse flora in the Caribbean. There are two major forests, Pic Macaya and a forest separating Haiti and Dominican Republic. These homogeneous forests contain more than 80% pine trees. Haiti is striving for preservation of such species through conservation specialists who take them and reproduce them. There is increased exploitation, including coastal protection. More than half of the population works in the agricultural sector, so water and soil quality regulation is extremely significant. However, the obstacles against the preservation of biodiversity in Haiti are numerous. Poverty, population growth, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation hinder conservation. There is a lack of people educated in the biological sciences, and political instability that does not allow proper policies to be created. Preserving the biodiversity will take much time and effort from Haiti and its people. Haiti pledges its support to resolutions that will increase the education of biodiversity, including the integration of biodiversity issues into school curriculums. Haiti also wishes to develop and promote forestry specifically, because much wildlife is being negatively affected by deforestation. This will aim towards sustainable use of biodiversity components. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

Haiti's economy largely depends on subsistence farming and agricultural productivity. About one-third of Haiti's soil is considered for cultivation. From the 1970s to 185 population growth outnumbered agricultural growth and as a result the production of staple crops such as maize, beans, and rice were affected. Coffee is now the country's primary cash crop despite its relative decline. Coffee farming has environmental effects, including that it stabilizes the soil for other food sources. Sugar, rice, and beans are prominent staple crops as well, and the country has been self-sufficient when it comes to their productions. The rural environment is a difficult place was business to thrive, and the dependence on subsistence farming is limited because of several factors. These factors are environmental degradation, weak public sector capacity in agricultural services, lack of modern technology, and poor access to markets. To strengthen the agricultural productivity, Haiti is willing to focus on food security and ensure that products make it to the market. Constructing better and newer irrigation systems for flood control and farming is another possible solution. More than 40% of the Haitian population is unemployed, so more jobs need to be created in agricultural sectors for both the employment rates and agricultural productivity rates to increase.

Works Cited "The World Factbook: HAITI." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Haiti - Agriculture." Agriculture - Haiti. Nations Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. @usaid. "Agriculture and Food Security." U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. UNEP, Samsung Engineering and. "One Step to Preserve Biodiversity in Haiti - Ambassador Report - Our Actions - Tunza Eco Generation." Preserving Biodiversity in Haiti. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Haiti - Country Profile." Main Details. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Haiti." Culture of Haiti - History, People, Clothing, Traditions, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Name: Lillian Peterson Delegation: Western Family Y Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Iceland Part I-Country Description The Republic of Iceland is a small island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Considered as a European country, Iceland is northwest of Europe and consists of 100,250 square kilometers of land. The vast majority of citizens of Iceland live in urban regions, a notable portion of which live in and around Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. With 94% of its population having Nordic and Celtic roots, very little Icelandic citizens are of foreign origin. Icelanders celebrate June 17th as their national independence day, in remembrance of June 17th, 1944, in which Iceland gained independence from Denmark. While citizenship by birth in the country is not granted, residents of Iceland can gain citizenship if at least one parent is a citizen of the country. Natural resources of Iceland include hydropower, diatomite, geothermal power, and fish; the availability of these resources has a large impact on Iceland's economy. Furthermore, almost one fifth of all land in Iceland is used for agricultural purposes. With only 1.2% of the land in Iceland being used for crop production, much of Iceland's agricultural land is used for pasturing. While Iceland has very few trees, with only 0.3% of its land providing forested areas, the land does have high volcanic activity. Iceland's economy is largely based on its fishing industry, and provides a combination of a capitalist structure and a welfare system. In recent years, Iceland has focused more on manufacturing and service industries, with emphasis on software production, tourism, and biotechnology. Despite unwanted financial conditions in 2008, Iceland's current economic system is very strong, with low unemployment and an even distribution of income. Iceland focuses extensively on education, as its education expenditures contribute to 7% of the country's GDP, placing its education expenditures as the 14th highest when compared to other countries worldwide. In addition to this, Iceland's electricity from hydroelectric plants and other renewable resources is very prominent in the overall amount of electricity available. Overall, Iceland is a very stable and prosperous European country that has strong opinions on the topics of preservation of biodiversity, sustainable energy infrastructure, and agricultural productivity. Part II-Positions on Topics Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity

Modern advancements in technology have long been criticized for contributing to the endangerment of the world's natural habitat. A careless attitude of the worldly population towards the wildlife of an area can lead to depletion of the area's natural resources and extinction of various animal and plant species; not only is this possibility threatening to the environment, it is also worrisome for future prosperity of the human race. Many argue that with a less varied environment, humans will have less species to draw upon for creating new medicines and will have increasingly frequent food shortages from the damage done to the natural food chain. Iceland has moderate views in support of the preservation of biodiversity, as there is little biodiversity within the country, yet it maintains a unique native wildlife. While some nations may struggle with transitioning towards renewable options, therefore preserving biodiversity and bettering the environment, Iceland's heavy use of renewable resources provides a strong example that shows the benefits of a renewable energy system; Iceland is different from other developed countries in that none of its electricity comes from fossil fuels. For this reason, Iceland supports that other nations switch to renewable options, and supports legislation that stresses the importance of renewable energy systems. Iceland suggests that, in order to achieve a protected environment, private businesses and governments are financially incentivized, therefore compromising any claims that sustainable energy alternatives would be harmful to the economy. One example of a potential incentive for both national governments and businesses is the idea of a Subsidy Phaseout and Reform Catalyst (SPARC) bond, highlighted by Tom Hale and Pete Ogden in their article, "Investing in Reform: A New Bond Could Beat Our Addiction to Fossil Fuel Subsidies." They suggested that governments raise money from private markets with SPARC bonds, functioning just as a normal bond, yet the money paid back to the investors would have to be repaid through "the savings accrued from phasing down their fossil fuel subsidies" (170). By involving both businesses and governments in this deal, SPARC bonds force implementation of sustainable energy alternatives, a theme that Iceland believes is key to solving the energy and wildlife issues. With an overall position in mind, Iceland has several specific focuses that concern the protection of biodiversity in ways that a resolution could feasibly address. For example, because Iceland has 18 endangered species, the country supports legislation that protects endangered plants and animals from being harvested and hunted; however, the relatively small number of species on the list causes for this issue to not be a leading priority when discussing the preservation of biodiversity as a whole. Likewise, Iceland's lack of forested lands and recent increase in tree coverage in recent years causes Iceland to support, yet not have a strong opinion on, resolutions that concern the regulation of deforestation, as Iceland would not be greatly affected. However, soil erosion is a leading concern to Icelanders, and such threats to the vegetation would destabilize the economy; therefore, legislation that would prevent soil erosion would likely be supported by Iceland. On the contrary to these beliefs, Iceland would be in strong opposition to the preservation of biodiversity by other methods; for example, Iceland would not support a resolution attempting to regulate overfishing, as the

Icelandic fishing industry is crucial to the economy, with fish and fish products contributing to 40% of Iceland's exported commodities. Several other countries share Iceland's moderate beliefs; therefore, Iceland would prefer to work with these countries during future committee sessions. For example, countries such as Denmark, Turkey, and Uzbekistan both see erosion as a threat and have moderate views on the preservation of biodiversity in general. Also, there are numerous countries that have gained forest lands in recent years, and therefore would likely support deforestation regulation yet would not be heavily affected by the details of such a resolution. Some countries include Egypt, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Opposing countries would consist of any that believe overfishing should be heavily regulated. While statistics concerning this factor of biodiversity preservation are unknown, there are several countries that have strong beliefs in regulation that could support overfishing regulation, such as Bolivia, Indonesia, and New Zealand. Topic II: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Sustainable energy technology is the key to a future that includes both modern technological advancements and a healthy environment. Because the current standard for generating electricity relies heavily on fossil fuels and nonrenewable resources, many countries and companies are hesitant to make the switch to include sustainable energy alternatives for the cost of such a large jump. While this barrier prevents new technology from having a widespread beneficial effect on the environment, there also lies a problem in that a large percentage of the world's population does not have proper sanitation or access to electricity. With both of these threats to the well-being of a planet, it is the responsibility of the countries of the world and the Model United Nations to address each problem in a cohesive and adequate manner. Iceland is in strong support of sustainable energy for all countries, as a leading country on the elimination of fossil fuels; Iceland relies heavily on the geothermal energy sources provided by the volcanic activity in and around the area. Because Iceland finds success in this environmentally friendly system, the country urges other nations to switch to sustainable alternatives and supports the notion of aiding developing countries in order to achieve worldwide access to utilities. For these reasons, Iceland urges the committee to rethink and re-address current systems for fixing this problem. In order to best ensure that universal access to clean utilities is provided, these problems must be recognized by countries as a global issue, not a burden for the few countries that are hardest hit by the consequences of poor sustainable energy infrastructure. In order to both improve current systems and incentivize companies to "go green" with more sustainable alternatives, countries should invest in new research labs and ideas. With proper attention to this background, scientists will have the funding to make the switch to sustainable alternatives much

cheaper and more efficient than they would be as of now. If companies are notified that switching to clean energy would not hurt the business, many more associations would be open to the thought of green technology. Iceland would strongly support any resolution that institutes a requirement or an incentive for countries to invest in these potentially groundbreaking research facilities. Iceland's point of view on the best way to improve renewable energy infrastructure would likely be supported by other developed countries that are highly independent from fossil fuels. This is because these countries have proven their dedication to sustainable energy implementation, and would be the strongest supporters of expansion of sustainable energy use; furthermore, their status as developed countries makes them more likely to have research areas that could make such a resolution that relies on these facilities feasible. Countries from this perspective include Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway. However, there are other countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels and have shown little interest in investing in reform. Some of these countries opposing are Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Topic III- Agricultural Productivity One indication of independence that is a constant throughout all countries is crop yield. If a country produces a sufficient amount of crops, it will not rely heavily on imported goods and will have a healthier, more stable economy as a result. For this reason, it is a universal goal for countries to establish a minimum amount of crops yielded, as determined by the population of that country. This way, countries can increase their independence; furthermore, nations may have the opportunity to qualify as "developed" if this goal is reached. Iceland firmly believes that the United Nations should support countries with low crop yields and help them achieve agricultural independence, especially because Iceland suffers from low crop yield and dependence on imported foods. Although developed, Iceland has little arable land, and much of the land that can be used for crop production is not utilized for this purpose. This is shown in that less than 7% of Iceland's GDP originates from agricultural production. Because Iceland, like many other countries, has to work around this unfortunate situation, it should be an international goal to fix the problem. Given the complexity of the issue, there are several specific ways in which the United Nations can tackle agricultural underproduction in various countries. One way that nations can incentivize poor farmers to stay on their farms as opposed to migrating to cities for other economic opportunities is to again invest in research and development. As one article from the United States government reported, "In 1950, the average dairy cow produced about 5,300 pounds of milk-today the average cow produces about 22,000 pounds of milk due to improvements in cow genetics, feed formula, and management practices" (2). The article highlighted the importance of innovation and

technology in improving the efficiency of agricultural production; if these systems can be made more efficient for countries like Iceland, farmers will see the opportunities in the rural economy, and a sufficient population will continue producing agricultural products. This research and development will also help to increase the agricultural output per acre, as scientist work to genetically improve crops and combat climate change with new, innovative approaches. Likewise, research into improving the longevity of fertile soil and elimination of pesticides can help to solve the problem of excessive use of soil. More specifically, concerning pesticides and herbicides, the United Nations could regulate individual use of these products, in order to best preserve the environment and prevent further damage. Many countries that are in the same position as Iceland and that have stronger agricultural sections agree that moderate regulation and investment into research and development could resolve the problems with agricultural productivity that many countries face. For example, countries that would benefit from increased regulation include Venezuela, Norway, and Uruguay, as these nations suffer from a combination of soil erosion and infertility. Also, many countries with strong agricultural sectors have proven the beneficial effects of research and development and would likely support the spread of this technique throughout the world, such as the United States of America. On the other hand, opposing countries are likely those with ideal climates for agriculture production that generate wealth from exporting agricultural products to countries that depend on their output. These nations may consist of Brazil, a primary exporter of coffee, oranges, and sugar; Costa Rica, a nation with favorable climates, rich soil, and high amounts of exports of agricultural products; and Colombia, which exports cocoa beans, bananas, and potatoes in great quantities. References Hale, T., & Ogden, P. (2014). Investing in reform: A new bond could beat our addiction to fossil fuel subsidies. Juncture, 21(2), 169-171. doi:10.1111/j.2050-5876.2014.00800.x Huang, W., & Chen, R. (n.d.). Environment And Technology Topics YMUN 2016-2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6mAUmBJ9fbsNEpneWV5MnF1Rm8/view

Huang, W., & Chen, R. (n.d.). Envirotech Matrix Agricultural Productivity YMUN 2016-2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLc09FU2hMX0RMeW8/view Huang, W., & Chen, R. (n.d.). Envirotech Matrix Preserving Biodiversity YMUN 2016-2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLQlZwai0wWXg5Y2c/view Huang, W., & Chen, R. (n.d.). Envirotech Matrix Renewable Infrastructure YMUN 2016-2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLVWx5a2d6VERDVUU/view Strengthening Rural Communities: Lessons From a Growing Farm Economy. (2012, June). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/rural_communities_06_11_2012.p df The World Factbook: Iceland. (2016, November 10). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html

Name: Margaret Schiavone Delegation: Notre Dame Prep Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: India Name: Margaret Schiavone Country: India Delegation: Notre Dame Prep Committee: Enviro Tech B Part I - Country Information The Republic of India, otherwise known as India, is slightly larger than one-third the size of the United States (U.S.) with a population of a little over one billion people. Bordering the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, India is located in Southern Asia, neighboring Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, and Pakistan. It spreads over 2, 973, 193 square kilometers in land and 314,070 square kilometers in water. Like the U.S., India's government is Federal Republic, meaning the power is divided between a central government, or a chosen president, and individual subdivisions in which representatives are elected by the citizens. It consists of three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. India's most popular religion is Hinduism, with 79.8% of India's population practicing it. Between Hinduism and Buddhism, another largely followed religion in India, India's everyday culture and lifestyle are hugely impacted through ways of art, literature, architecture, music, and labor. For example, the influence of the Hindu people on daily life can be seen in the use of astrology and ashram. Astrology, a Hindu tradition, guides many decisions of the Hindu people such as what to name one's child, when to start a business, and whom to marry. Whereas ashrams are places where followers in search of deep study of yoga and meditation go to. India's thriving economy is very successful and places third in the world's largest after the U.S. and China. Though many workers remain in agriculture and farming, India's labor force is second largest in the world, with advanced businesses that include textiles, transportation, mining, technology, software, and medicine. Agricultural labor produces crops such as rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, tea, and sugarcane. The economy of India generates a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $7.965 trillion.

Part II - Position on Topics Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure As the world is evolving, so is the usage of renewable energy infrastructure. In the next five years, China and India alone will make up almost half of global renewable resources. In the year 2015, India generated power using hydropower, or pumped storage and mixed plants, wind, solar power, or photovoltaics (PV), and bioenergy. Yet, still more than 300 million people lack access to energy. Climate change in India play a huge role in their ability to use energy from sources other than fossil fuels, and it is continually being faced today. India's fossil fuel dependence is that of 80% which leads to some of the greenhouse gas pollution India faces. Also, coal accounts for 59% of India's electric capacity and is steadily declining, as it plays a significant role in India's fight for a better ranking in global greenhouse gas emissions. Although, India's utilization of renewable energy is a growing 17% and 3% nuclear, showing the environmental preservation efforts India is putting forth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, has put forth large investments towards implementing India's renewable infrastructure. Some of his goals include adding 10,000 megawatts of capacity to the sector of wind turbines every year, and going far beyond 20,000 megawatts of solar energy by the year 2022. Just last year, Modi met with France's President Francois Hollande and the UN Secreatary General Ban Ki-moon and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar to launch an extraordinary international solar alliance. The solar alliance hopefully creates an encouraging trend towards meeting with other nations to reach global climate agreements. Modi and Hollande invited many other solar-rich countries to assist extensive implementation of projects and infrastructure using solar energy. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity To preserve biodiversity is to protect the variety of life on the earth by ways contribution to climate stability, keeping of ecosystems, recovery from unpredictable events, protection of water resources, recycling, and pollution breakdown. To prevent the genetic problems of interbreeding wildlife, species need a variety of genes for successful survival. The number of endangered species in India is 687 as of the 2009 Red List, which depicts the amount of damage done to the environment and wildlife. Although, India is one of the countries who have placed laws down to protect biodiversity and work to stop further damage done to ecosystems. It is considered a megadiverse nation that contains almost 10% of the world's species. Its biodiversity is deeply rooted in the culture of the nation itself; that of which practices belief in the chain effect of the loss of biodiversity. India has made siginificant efforts in preserving nature by signing the Convention on Biological Affairs. India has gained 27,000 hectares

of forest land and is successfully working hard against deforestation. A problem that India runs into with protecting the nature is with solar panels. While using renewable energy from the sun, the solar panels in which Modi wants to install put flamingoes and other migratory birds at risk. Issues like these should be compromised, and priorities should be set in place. Some examples of efforts in which India has shown to preserve life on earth are The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plant (NBSAP) of 1999 and Biological Diversity Bill of 2002. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity With 180,280 hectares of agricultural area being used for permanent crops, meadows, pastures, and arable land, India's agriculture as percent of GDP is 17.8%. This identifies India's underdeveloped sectors, and also independent farmers facing issues that must be addressed to sustain economies and future population. Soil degradation and erosion play a huge role in the decline of agricultural productivity and is a problem in many areas. They are mostly a result from climate change, which is largely significant to India. India's production rate is simply not enough to feed the largely populated nation. Small business farmers comprise 60% of India's labor force, but crops are not maximized at all. The methods that the farmers use make crops wasteful, inefficient, and ineffective in solving the hunger issue of India. India produces a Cereal Yield (kg/hectare) of 2,981. This accounts for the amount of grains India produces per hectare of land. Modi said that technology will soon play a huge role in developing agricultural pattern in the country. Recently, a scientist with the European Organization for Nuclear Research saw how limited access to education and basic crop information led to the decline in productivity and increase in poverty. To fight this, he created a mobile app called SmartAgri that has almost a billion of the 1.2 billion population of India subscribed. This app interacts with underground sensors to deliver easily understandable data to farmers' mobile devices. Works Cited CIA. "The World Factbook: INDIA." The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency, Web. 21 Nov. 2016. "Country Profiles." Fao.org. Food and Agriculture Organization. Web. 01 May 2016. Dennis, Matthew, ed. "India: Culture and Lifestyle." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. The Economic Times. "Technology to Soon Play a Big Role in Agriculture: PM Narendra Modi." The Economic Times. The Economic Times, Web. 26 Nov. 2016.

"India: At-A-Glance." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. Kurian, George Thomas, ed. "India: Economy." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. "The Price of Climate-Change Related Disasters on Agriculture Is Astronomical." The Modern Farmer. 08 Dec. 2015. Web. 01 May 2016. PTI. "Solar Alliance Shows India's Leadership in Clean Energy: Experts." The Economic Times. The Economic Times, Web. 22 Nov. 2016. Ravindran, Shruti. "India's Push for Renewable Energy: Is It Enough?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 20 Sept. 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. "Reports and Papers." International Renewable Energy Agency. IRENA. Web. 1 May 2016. Shah, Anup. "Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?" - Global Issues. 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 01 May 2016. "Soil Degradation." Land and Soil. Office of Environment and Heritage. Web. 01 May 2016. "Sustainable Infrastructure." CRC Research. Web. 01 May 2016. "What Powers the World?" What Powers the World? - Gocompare.com. Web. 01 May 2016.

Name: Noah Schwartz Delegation: Caravel Academy Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Indonesia Country Description The Republic of Indonesia, a country that is slightly less than three times the size of Texas, is located in Southeastern Asia on the archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It is relatively considered as one of the largest countries in the world, for it is ranked 15th overall. It borders three countries: Timor-Leste, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. It has a tropical climate that is mostly hot and humid but becomes more moderate in the highlands. It contains many natural resources, including: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, and silver. Even though over half (51.7%) of Indonesia is covered by forests, this nation maintains one of the top five largest populations (258,316,051 people as of July, 2016) worldwide. Almost 90% of the people are Muslim. The other two main ethnic groups are Christians and Roman Catholics. This country has a presidential republic and a civil law system that is based on the Roman-Dutch model. Its current President is Joko Widodo. It has an executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. Indonesia participates in many international organizations, including: FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization), UN (United Nations), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), WCO (World Customs Organization), and WHO (World Health Organization). Indonesia's GDP is around $3 billion and is growing at around 5%. Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Indonesia is predominantly dependent on fossil fuels, for 88% of Indonesia's electricity comes from fossil fuels and only 12% of it comes from renewable sources besides nuclear power, such as hydroelectric plants. Indonesia emits a total of 442 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Over 1.3 million barrels of oil are produced everyday. Indonesia would like for the committee to not force the creation and implementation of renewable infrastructure on countries with similar sources of energy and income. However, due to water, air pollution, and sewage as some of the main environmental concerns throughout the land, Indonesia is open to the availability of more money for this specific area. It needs sponsors to support the cause of the gradually creation

implementation of more renewable energy systems, such as hydroelectric plants, to start becoming more of an eco-friendly country and therefore reduce the amount of sewage and both air and water pollution. Countries that also depend less than 90% of their energy on fossil fuels, such as Poland and China will possibly support Indonesia's resolution. Just like Indonesia, Poland needs the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to reduce the amount of runoff and environmental pollution throughout its country. China is considered one of the most environmentally polluted nations and has already begun the transition to renewable energy. On the other hand, countries that rely 100% on fossil fuels for energy, such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will most likely be in opposition to changing. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Indonesia is considered as one of the most biologically diverse countries. Some of the current environmental issues in Indonesia at the moment are: deforestation, water and air pollution in result of urban industrialized areas, sewage, and smoke and haze from forest fires. This nation has signed, but has not yet ratified for Marine Life Conservation. With over 2,909,000 hectares of deforested land and currently around 1,130 endangered species, Indonesia in complete support for the preservation of biodiversity. This country has placed strict laws and sanctions to protect biodiversity and works to stop further damage on ecosystems and wildlife, including the setting aside multiple areas of land to form its 566 national parks that house the nation's huge variety of wildlife. Countries should start allocating money to improve their biodiversity throughout their land. Countries that also have large amounts of deforested land and a high number of endangered species, such as Argentina, Bolivia, and India will most likely support the preservation of biodiversity for countries that already have the incentive to protect biodiversity, for they each contain thousands of species and are considered, like India, as some of the richest countries in biodiversity. In opposition would maybe be countries that have not recently improved their endangering biodiversity and have 0 deforested land, such as Afghanistan, Micronesia, Oman and South Africa. They would most likely want the funds to support themselves who need it rather than countries that do not need the money as much. They each contain a lot of biodiversity that is becoming damaged and needs to be quickly resolved before the effects become completely irreversible. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

Even though almost 1/3 (31.2%) of Indonesia's land is used for agriculture, only 13.4% of the country's GDP is earned from agriculture. However, agricultural production provides jobs for almost half of Indonesia's total population. Indonesian agriculture consists of the exportation of cash crops, including palm oil and tobacco. The amount of cereal crops, or grains, yielded from 2011-2015 was 5,096 kg/hectare. With prices being volatile due to a lack of ability to retain fertilizer and pesticides, Indonesia would like the committee to give the country access to the fertilizer and pesticides that it needs to make the prices of the agricultural more stable. Indonesia would also like sponsors to support the maintenance and growth of its agricultural sector. Countries that also have very strong agricultural sectors and need more money to improve their agricultural division would support this decision. These countries include: Bolivia and Germany. Haiti would also be in support of this decision, for, like Indonesia, have volatile prices for their cash crops. Countries that would not be in support for this would be countries that need the money more than the countries with already self-sustaining industrial sectors, such as Indonesia. These countries might be: Iceland, Iraq, and Zimbabwe. Those countries lack the agricultural resources that they need to address the quickly growing problems of their respective agricultural sectors. Work Cited "East and Southeast Asia: Indonesia." https://www.cia.gov. CIA, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/>.

Name: Karl Wallace Delegation: Overbrook High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Iran The are a myriad of ways to promote a transition towards renewable sources of energy. The 3 most common are wind, hydro, and solar. Each of which energy can be produced naturally, for example solar panels captures the Sun's energy to provide us the power need to turn lights on and off or work machinery. Many people are already switching over to solar panels because not only does it protect the environment, but can also save you money. Companies are also pushing forth the use of solar panels and encourage to spend the money to get them because in the long run you save money and preserve the environment. Nations can encourage businesses to switch the same way existing green energy companies do with citizens. By explaining that not only do you save money but the environment. The technology of today drastically devastates Earth's animals and plants. To promote a sustainable food system nations needs eco friendly energy. The more creative humankind gets with technology the more we destroy Earth until eventually it all crumbles. This is what businesses need to see and is how the nations will promote environmental regulations. Already existing incentives can improve from expressing the importance of the environment and to financially support them more. There are multiple ways of providing clean utilities. Most of the dirty industry is due to humankind such as the harmful chemicals released through the use of oil, our way of disposing trash, and even our way of transportation. A huge problem is dirty water. In 2003 1.6 million deaths were caused by unsanitary waters. To improve this countries can first switch to electronic cars. Instead of using gas and polluting air cars can be made to run on batteries or solar powered. Some car companies have already started to do this such as Nissan with their 2017 Leaf car that is powered by a 30 kilowatt lithium ion battery. This not only would drastically clean air but also stop the use of oil and destroying the environment. Another way to clean up is to turn waste into energy. It's estimated that the average person generates four and a half pounds of waste every day. Where does this waste go? Into landfill destroying the Earth even more. There's also the fact that 75% of all solid waste can be recycled. By stressing the importance of recycling, countries can turn the garbage into energy by burning it. Sweden is a perfect example of this, they burn waste to heat up an entire city. By burning waste it then heats up water which then make its way up to radiators which then provide heat to thousands of homes and cities. This was so efficient that Sweden borrowed waste from neighboring countries to keep up with the demand of the power plants. Countries can improve existing infrastructure systems by financially supporting the systems and to encourage other businesses to turn to eco-friendly. Just by paying more attention to infrastructure can help keep the Earth clean but also help out those in desperate need of infrastructure where poverty and insanitation rule over the lands. Countries have to start paying more attention to green technology and the importance of Earth's preservation if they ever want companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Instead of

talking about it take action, start to stress the importance of green energy and show how dangerous the route humans are taking is. Is it logical to destroy our source of food to build a grand building? No, but yet we are still taking away land and having poor farms with poor harvest which makes for poor farmers leaving. It's as simple as it can be without food you would die, so why are nations ignoring farmers and polluting the air and destroying soil. For nations to encourage farmers to stay on their farms they need to reduce deforestation. Deforestation is one of the leading causes to soil degradation. To solve this problem countries need to start by preserving lands for farming instead of destroying it for population expansion. One way is to follow the example of Paraguay which reduced the rate of deforestation by 85% simply by following the enactment of the 2004 Zero Deforestation Law. If all countries could do this it would increase agriculture tenfold and preserve the Earth once more. One way to increase agricultural is to increase the soil quality. Quality makes for a good harvest of food but as stated a lot of soil is eroded. One way to increase agricultural output and to counteract global climate is cover cropping. This counteracts the erosion of soil from wind, and overexposure to the sun by having crops planted alongside with other crops. Another way to increase agricultural output is from using wastewater for irrigation. Due to ever expanding population, countries are struggling to find ways to dispose of wastewater, or sewage. Wastewater contains most of the essential elements of fertilizer in proper amounts. So not only does this increase crop production but also cleans water and making urban civilizations healthier. Another problem with agriculture is the excessive use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. The perfect solution to reducing the use of these soil killing "fertilizers" is microdosing. Microdosing, according to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, is the application of small, affordable quantities of fertilizer with the seed at planting time. This is perfect for farmers because it's less expensive and increases the seed they want to cultivate which increases crop production.

Name: Pranav Kuruba Delegation: Monroe Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Israel Israel has an extremely diverse set of flora and fauna due to its location. The country is between the temperate and tropical zones while it has the Mediterranean Sea toe the west and desert in the east. There are over 104 species of mammals, 100 species of reptile, 7 species of amphibian, 500 species of birds, 1728 species of fish, and 2867 species of flora. Israel's rich and unique nature provides many important ecosystem services for its citizens; from existential needs such as oxygen for important, to important services such as pest control and intangible benefitssuch as relaxation- nature, and a healthy biodiversity is vital for society's survival. Israel may be small but is blessed with more than 20 distinct types of ecosystem. About half of Israel's ecosystems are in restricted areas and there are over 190 natural reserves in Israel. There have been some threats to Israel's ecosystems due to the actions of both the government and companies. Previous uses of chemicals, such as DDT have threatened certain bird and bat species. In addition, over-forestation and rapid urbanization half stripped away a lot of space for some of Israel's ecosystems. Energy is another major factor to consider when discussing the preservation of biodiversity. The use of coal and natural gases creates harmful pollution and wastes which can be detrimental to various ecosystems. Therefore, the transfer to renewable energy is a major goal for nations, Israel included. Israel's efforts to transition to renewable energy have been difficult due to increased reserves of natural gas being discovered in 2010. However, the nation still looks to convert at least a fraction of its energy to renewable sources. To shift requires a nation to focus in on the most readily available sources of renewable energy it has. Israel receives large amounts of sunlight throughout the year, so solar energy has been a main focus in the country. Also, incentives and tariffs have been used to help balance out the cost of creating renewable energy sources. Companies need to comply with regulations as well in order to help protect the economy of the country. Previous actions led to extinctions of several species of animal and plant life, which have led to modern regulations being implemented. Incentives are required to encourage companies to comply with regulations. Some more forceful regulatory measures that could be implemented are emissions standards, which would restrict the amount of certain pollutants that a company could release. Since there is a large amount of natural gas, oil, and coal usage, this measure would be vital to cutting down on pollutants. Taxes and fees could also be used to charge companies based on how much of a certain unit of pollution a company is emitting. Marketable permits are another regulatory incentive that could be utilized. Companies can buy permits which allow them to release a certain amount of pollutants.

Renewable energy in Israel is produced in solar fields, such as and from biogas (11 MW), hydroelectricity (6.6 MW) and wind power (6 MW). Despite getting more than 300 days of sunshine per year, As of 2015, Israel gets less than 2% of its electricity from renewable sources. According to the Green Energy Association of Israel, the number of solar energy companies in the country has fallen from about 130 in 2010 to 60 in 2015. Recent discoveries of large amounts of natural gas since 2009 have lowered the government's interest in renewable energy. However, the Israel government maintains it will reach its goal of attaining 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Israel has been utilizing solar technology for decades already. Due to the large amount of sunlight the nation receives, solar energy is by far the easiest for of renewable energy to obtain. The Israeli technological companies develop various solutions in all sub fields of the sector: wind, solar-thermal, PV, smart grid, energy efficiency and biofules. To date, there are 200 renewable energy companies, about 30% of which are start-ups. Israel is turning to countries around the world to propose collaboration on the transfer of information of existing technologies, the development of new technologies and the preparation of national and possibly international standardization, at a later date, in this field. The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor is responsible for implementing the government's policy of encouraging and supporting industrial research and development in Israel through the Law for the Encouragement of Industrial R&D. The OCS provides a variety of support programs that operate on an annual budget of about US $300 million which is spent on about 1,000 projects undertaken by 500 companies. These programs help increase research into renewable energy. Recently, Israel has experienced widespread urbanization. Rapid urbanization presents the issue of masses of farmers moving to cities. These farmers are simply trying to take advantage of the economic opportunities that they see, but this can be detrimental to a nation. Citizens may often treat farming as a lower tier job, but it is one of the most vital aspects of a nation. If a country does not have a certain amount of farmers, it could face severe food problems. There could be food shortages throughout the country if the all domestic farmers stop producing food. This could lead to major famine in the nation. Therefore, the country has to have contermeassures in place to make sure massive amounts fo farmers do not transtition to the city landscape. The reason for the movement of farmers is mainly due to their current low income situation. The best way to prevent them from leaving is to improve their financial situation. Certain incentives could be utilized to encourage farmers to remain where they are. Farmers could receive lower taxes or tax breaks due to their profession. The property taxes for farmers could decrease for example. Also, the government could subsidize some of the costs that farmers have to pay to maintain and operate their farming practices. These are just a

few financial countermeasures that could be used to convince farmers to not move to the cities. As the population of the country, and the world as well, continues to grow, it is important to solve the situation of food. As the population grows, agricultural productivity has to grow alongside it. Therefore, the country of Israel should look towards implementing new agricultural practices to boost productivity. It is important to begin improving output now, before the country actually faces shortages or troubles with food. The first step towards improving agricultural output is improving the use of resources by farmers. If resources are used improperly degradation of soil and wastage of water can occur. Therefore, it is important to make sure there are changes to how resources are utilized. Rather than running farms on an indivdual basis, farms shoudl work under a collaborative adaptive manament system that handles resources on larger scales. Also, the government needs to take different regions into account and tailor agricultural policies that distribute resources accurately based ont he regions. Along with the idea of farms working together, there should be an increased use of information technologies. This way, farms will be able to better cooperate and spread information amongst themselves. Also, technology itself can be used for the agricultural processes. As networks are formed through the new use of information technology, farms could have their equipment upgraded. With improved infrastructure and goverment assistance, more farms could have the opportunity to use more advanced technology and improve their crop yields. It could also be worthwhile to look into utilizing genetically modified crops, which could increase the productivity as well. Soil fertility is vital to a country having a strong agriculture. If soil quality decreases too much, production of crops can decrease heavily in the future. Soil fertility can decrease due to a variety of factors such as chemicals and erosion. The nutrients and minerals of soil also have to be maintained or else crops will not grow as effectively. Certain actions, such as over-forestation, have further exasperated soil conditions in Israel. Water erosion is one of the most prevalent causes of soil degradation. Rapid urbanization has been occurring throughout Israel in recent years. The growth of cities has to be carefully monitored so that the increased construction does not harm nearby soil. Land reclamation is a technique that could also be used to repair the soil. This process involves restoring organic matter and the soil's minerals. https://enviroliteracy.org/environment-society/economics/regulatory-policy-vs-economic-incentives/ http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/israel/natur.htm http://israelnewtech.gov.il/English/Energy/Pages/aboutus.aspx http://foodandagpolicy.org/positions/increase-agricultural-productivity-conserving-and-enhancing-soil-water-and-habitat

Name: Loughlin Claus Delegation: Immaculata High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Italy PART ONE Italy is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea located in Southern Europe, and is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the North. It is a constitutional republic with an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. The president is elected by parliament, which consists of the two houses that make up Italy's legislative branch, the chamber of deputies, and the Senate of the Republic. The Judicial branch is lead by the High Council of the Judiciary, which appoints supreme court judges. The executive branch is headed by the prime minister, whom is advised by a council of ministers. Italy has a population of approximately 60 million people, and contains several political parties, which sometimes ally together in order to have a better chance at obtaining offices. Italy's primary exports are: engineering products, production machinary, modes of transport, fabrics, and produce (food, drinks and the such). PART TWO Topic One: Italy is one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe, containing about a third of the animal species and around half of the plant species that are present in Europe. Of these species, about 31% of vertebrate species are threatened, with amphibians and cartilaginous fishes a particular cause for concern and around 18% of Italy's plant species are also threatened. Italy is currently tackling the causes of its biodiversity issues in a variety of ways. It is attempting to minimize its climate change by focusing more on producing renewable energy from fuel that does not greatly impact the environment and is promoting methods of saving energy to its populace. Italy is also attempting to better its water and air quality, while lessening environmental hazards by further developing its waste management community. The largest issue Italy is facing in regards to biodiversity is land consumption and viability, as large portions of land are built over, and other portions are highly susceptible to flooding due to its geological position. Italy would like others to similarly attempt to better the air and water quality of their regions, so that the biodiversity of the species that live in the water and the animals that breathe the air can thrive in their habitats. Italy would also like countries to combat overuse of land by using it more efficiently and productively in order to maintain the habitat of the animals that live in the wild. Italy hopes to combat the loss of biodiversity

caused by hydro-geological events by protecting certain animals and plants from the negative effects of said events and limiting the amount of the land usage by the presence of human activities. Italy hopes that most countries support its views on the preservation of biodiversity, and believes that a majority of countries will support it. Countries with low population density, like Canada and Russia, will likely oppose Italy's views, as these views are targeted towards countries with high population density. Other countries with high population density, like Vatican City and India, are more likely to support Italy's ideas of biodiversity. Sources "Population Density." indexmundi.com. Web. 11 November 2016. <http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=21000>. "Italy Judicial Branch." indexmundi.com. Web. 11 November 2016. <http://www.indexmundi.com/italy/judicial_branch.html>. "Italy Executive Branch." indexmundi.com. Web. 11 November 2016. <http://www.indexmundi.com/italy/executive_branch.html>. "What Type of Government does Italy have?" reference.com. Web. 11 November 2016. <https://www.reference.com/government-politics/kind-government-italy-72f4a42e962ed5a7#>. "Italy Trade, Exports and Imports." economywatch.com. Web. 11 November 2016. <http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/italy/export-import.html>. "Italy." EuropeanEnvironmentAgency.eu. Web. 11 November 2016. <http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer-2015/countries/italy>.

Name: Charvi Shah Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Japan Part I - Country Information In the European Union, Japan is unlike many other counties in the sense that it is primarily composed of a multitude of islands. Four of the principal being Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, due to their size and massive population. Surrounding these islands include countries such as China, Russia, and Korea; all of which proceed the Sea of Japan. The size of this country is comparable to that of Germany or California, with a population of approximately 125,000,000,000 people, all of whom living on mountainous or forest covered land. Japan is extensively known for its numerous earthquakes and volcanoes due to its location. It is in a pinpoint location where multiple tectonic plates meet and often times shift, causing these occurrences. Regarding climate, this country has an incredibly large range of weather conditions. Generally, many major cities tend to be subtropic and consist of four seasons. Although many large-scale cities are lain out in this way, you can often find outliers in the data set. For example, in January, snow is falling in Hokkaido while the mean temperature for the country is 17 degrees Celsius. Part II - Topic Description: Environment and Technology B Topic 1 - Preservation of Biodiversity How can nations promote a transition toward renewable sources of energy, despite it being a relatively large investment? Nations can promote a transition towards renewable resources through the expansion of new technologies today. Nowadays, the impact that technology has made, and will continue to make in the future is truly amazing. With these new technologies, many nations will now expand vastly nad be opened to a much larger range of people.

How can nations incentivize private businesses and organizations to comply to environmental regulations and understand the necessity of protecting the Earth's wildlife? Nations can incentivize private businesses and organizations to comply to environmental regulations and understand the necessity of protecting the Earth and wildlife by implicating stricter guidelines. With strict guidelines, come more structured regulations, and enforced repercussions (in payment). How can nations improve already existing incentives and regulations, especially with potential coalitions with other nations? Nations can improve previous incentives and regulations with a greater desire to fix the lasting problems that we have already created as humans. Not only do they need money, but a better understanding of the problem and idealized solution. They need to do this while maintaining their comprehension that this is an impact that we are creating for future generations. Topic 2 - Sustainable Energy Infrastructure How will countries synthesize the immense economic burden of providing universal access to clean utilities? Countries will synthesize the immense economic burden of providing universal access to clean utilities by money expenditure and technological advancement. Since we can not

create money that the government may not have, one of the primary forms of access would be technology. In order to provide the money adequate to provide the people with this privilege, one of the primary sources of income would be the people themselves. It would be possible to implicate a tax that could collect a certain amount from each citizen, already providing the government with millions. How will countries improve existing infrastructure systems to achieve and succeed the UN Millennial goals for sustainability? Countries will improve existing infrastructure systems to achieve and succeed the UN Millennial goals for sustainability by enforcing engineering methods for constant improvement such as Kaizen. With this constant improvement, people can incorporate many forms of natural energy into their everyday use. Although it would require money, solar panels, wind mills, etc would be excellent sources of sustainability and power. How could countries incentivize the private sectors to invest in green technology and reduce their carbon footprint? Countries could incentivize the private sectors to invest in green technology and reduce their carbon footprint by creating a "rule" or sorts that drives each facility to increase environmental friendliness. You could also provide the private sectors with a sort of prize for using a certain amount of energy or less every year. This could drive each small business to want to do more for the community and more for their futures. Topic 3 - Agricultural Productivity

How will nations incentivize poor farmers to stay on their farms in lieu of rapid urbanization and attractive economic opportunities in cities? Nations can incentivize poor farmers to stay on the farms by creating a payment that only farmers get each year that they keep their farm in business. Not only this but the government could set up a law stating that citizens must abide to certain conditions and commitments to maintain and care for their farm - tying a farmer to his land for x amount of year. (Relatively small numbers such as 3 or 5) In what ways can nations increase agricultural output per acre to feed a rapidly growing world population and counteract the effects of global climate change? Nations could increase their agricultural output in a variety of ways. With up and coming technology, there are a variety of ways in which you can create ideal irrigation systems, improving the crop condition post harvest. With the new technologies, planting can become more advanced and ideal. What preventative measures can nations take in reducing the continuously declining fertility of the soil from excessive use, as well as herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers? A nation could pass a requirement abiding all farm owners to follow a specific regimen in order to reduce the likeliness or declining the fertility of the soil. Sources:

http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1000.html http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2012/06/25/commentary/japan-commentary/liberating-japans-resources/#.WD9taRIrK8V http://www.sustainabletable.org/718/pesticides-if-this-doesn-t-convince-you-nothing-will http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/fruit-vegetable/simple-successful/healthy-soil-english/ http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

Name: David Xue Delegation: Montgomery Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Kenya Name: David Xue Delegation: Montgomery Nation: Kenya Committee: Environment and Technology Part 1 - Country Description The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial country in Africa bordering Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. On the south-east border of Kenya is the Indian Ocean. A population of nearly 47 million lives in 580 thousand square kilometers of land. Kenya contains a variety of different climates from deserts in some areas to highly successful agricultural regions elsewhere. Kenya experiences droughts and flooding as well as limited volcanic activity. In Kenya, there is a significant portion of the population do not have access to clean water, especially in rural areas. An even larger portion of the population has poor access to sanitation facilities, with rural and urban areas suffering around the same. The country also suffers from high rates of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS. The literacy rate is around 78%. Kenya was once a British colony before obtaining independence in 1963. Kenya is a presidential republic; in 2013 the position of prime minister was abolished. The current president is Uhuru Kenyatta who was elected with a majority of the votes in 2013, avoiding a runoff. Agriculture and tourism are the core of the Kenyan economy with trade also being important. Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Currently, infrastructure is one of Kenya's greatest problems. Only around 20% of the population has access to electricity. Over 40% of that power comes from fossil fuels. Kenya's goal right now is to expand its hydroelectric power generation capability. The additional electricity generated will bring power to millions of people and make it easier

for businesses to operate in Kenya, bringing greater economic growth to Kenya and increasing the wealth of the people in the country. In addition, hydroelectric power is clean and renewable so reducing the reliance on fossil fuels will help the environment. Kenya's lack of sufficient energy infrastructure is a pressing concern for the country but Kenya lacks the funds in order to improve its infrastructure. Kenya requires foreign investment in order to be able to create this new infrastructure. As a result, Kenya supports the adoption of resolutions that promote the increase of renewable infrastructure, especially in the area of hydroelectric power. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Kenya is a country with a multitude of ecosystems and possesses great biodiversity in both flora and fauna with over 35,000 species. The greatest amount of diversity is in insects. Many of the species in Kenya are found nowhere else in the world. The rapid population growth in Kenya is a large threat to Kenya's biodiversity. The expansion of human living space shrinks the habitats of the wild organisms in Kenya and leads to habitat fragmentation. The conversion of forests into mining or agricultural lands destroys the habitats that support the biodiversity. Agriculture is also a cause of environmental damage by causing soil erosion and runoff in chemicals. In addition, poaching is also a large problem in Kenya. Kenya is committed to protecting its biodiversity. Large portions of the land have been designated as protected zones which try to preserve the species which live inside them. Kenya also supports a few projects which seek to restore declining species. Kenya is aware of the issue of declining biodiversity and is committed to resolutions which will help protect and preserve biodiversity. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Agriculture is an essential portion of Kenya's economy. Around three quarters of the population is employed in agriculture. Food production is a major concern for Kenya.

Kenya's population is growing while agricultural productivity has experienced little increase. Productivity is low due to farmers lacking proper equipment or technology or financial resources. Persistent droughts often threaten Kenya's agricultural output and only around 20% of the land is suitable for farming. Increasing agricultural productivity is essential for reducing poverty in Kenya. Kenya is aiming to improve its agricultural productivity through bringing in greater resources to its farmers so that they make work more efficiently. By providing financing to farms through loans, farmers can make investments which increase their output. In addition, Kenya wishes to improve the quality of the seed and make it available to farmers so that they can grow crops with traits that allow them to deal with the climate of Kenya more effectively. An international agreement to provide financial and technological aid to countries in need of aid would be highly beneficial to Kenya and Kenya would support such efforts so that agricultural productivity may be increased.

Works Cited "Kenya."Feed the Future. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "Kenya's Infrastructure Investment 'must Continue to Maintain Growth', Says World Bank Report."Kenya's Infrastructure Investment 'must Continue to Maintain Growth', Says World Bank Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. Lusweti, Agnes M. "Biodiversity Conservation in Kenya."Institute of Economic Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. "The World Factbook: KENYA."Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Name: Kayla Flanders Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Kuwait Kuwait is a uniquely small nation, no bigger than the state of New Jersey, that remains one of the most widely discussed countries in the Middle East. It is located with Iraq and Saudi Arabia to the north, south and west while the Persian gulf borders 120 miles of coast and 9 islands to the east. Representing a population of approximately 4,050,100 people, Kuwait is home to one of the most intriguing governments in the Middle East. Although not western style democracy, Kuwait is the most democratic government in the Arab-Peninsula. The Al-Sabah family has been ruling the region since 1756 over a parliament where there are no officially recognized parties. This creates fifty individual voices, sometimes making reaching decisions very difficult. Women were given the right to vote in 2005, while over 40,000 Kuwait militants may not vote, and natural born citizens who are able to vote must be a citizen for at least 30 years! Additionally, the Al-Sabah family has the authority to dissolve Parliament when challenged and impose long periods of oppressive rule and restrictions on press. Kuwait is mainly an Islamic country with 80% of the population actively practicing muslim religion. Kuwait's only eat in their homes and pride themselves not only upon their families feasting together, but also that they are one of the few countries outlawing the drinking and sale of alcohol. Therefore entertertainment is comprised of outdoor activities,malls, and men typically congregating in "Diwaniyah, a gathering place in a house." where life, culture, sports, and uniquely politics are discussed (Nashmi). Kuwait originated from the culture of two tribes, the Bani Utub and the Al Sabahs. Yet, strong trade relationships in the desert and the size and skill of the Al Sabahs enabled the tribe to eventually control the entire trade industry. Over time, Kuwait had developed a strong tie with Great Britain and eventually became a British colony. During this time Kuwait had specialized in pearl trading, but when the artificial gathering of pearls was introduced in the 1920s, Kuwait's economy collapsed leaving it one of the poorest and weakest countries in the region until oil was discovered. In 1953 Kuwait became the largest oil exporter in the Middle East, economically prospering as it gained full control of the oil industry from Great Britain. Today Kuwait's economy is committed to increasing oil production, which has saved it from many financial crises, although the government has recently pledged to allocate $104 billion to expand its economy away from solely oil. Kuwait is a prominent member of OPEC whose influence on the world has been decreasing leaving many questions about Kuwait's future role in the world. Kuwait easily qualifies as one of the largest petroleum exporting nations with a production rate of 2.3 million barrels of oil per day. With such a valuable resource available, the government has constructed thermal power plants that use coal and has created a 100% fossil fuel dependent nation with a 0% utilization of renewable power.

Yet, a transition to renewable energy for Kuwait is much more important than seen on the surface level. The domestic energy demand has been increasing by 6-8% each year, putting substantial pressure on Kuwait's resources in the long term. Many of the issues Kuwait is also handling including population increase, weather conditions, water issues, can be solved with sun and wind for renewable energy! Kuwait would benefit from the use of renewable energy as it can "complement conventional power and assist with power generation especially during peak demand periods." (Fostering renewable energy deployment in Kuwait - Special Report). Kuwait can ensure its energy security for the future, use less of their oil at home and by making more of a profit will create new jobs, attract investments and help move Kuwait towards joining the fight against climate change and gas emissions. When Kuwait evaluates its environmental concerns, human land-use, housing expansion, and societal development are all factors contributing to their increasing need to fix the damage done and have been looking to improve their National Strategy for the environment. Solar and wind energy will play a large role in the movement to a cleaner Kuwait. In 2016, Kuwait hosted the 6th edition of the Middle East and North Africa Renewable Energy Conference with the intention for elites in the region to discuss the challenges and solutions to work towards a smooth transition into sustainable energy. Aware of the benefits of solar energy and other renewable resources, Kuwait has "adopted an ambitious vision to generate 15 percent of its total energy needs by 2030." (Fostering renewable energy deployment in Kuwait - Special Report). The country has put aside land for renewable energy projects that focus on water, electricity, and use solar and wind technologies. The first park is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. In addition to the vision Kuwait has now set for itself, the government has set into motion plans to develop a renewable energy framework with policies, laws, and regulations to protect the parks and attract more investments. The increasing interest to introduce solar and renewable energy into Kuwait's oil driven economy will attract substantial support from the nations around the world involved in the attack on climate change and greenhouse gases. Specifically, the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency from Egypt is a strong supporter of the 2016 conference held in Kuwait and in improving renewable energy in all of the Arab Region. Spain has been working closely with Kuwait on their projects and Spain's Electronica y Electricidad and Kuwait's Kharafi National are currently collaborating on a 10 MW solar PV plant. Possible opponents to Kuwait's movement to renewable energy could be some of the wealthy trade partners or oil producers within Kuwait or who work with private Kuwait businesses who depend on the high demand of oil to drive their business. Additionally, many nations, including Israel, Rwanda, Poland, Afghanistan, Chad, Cuba, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Syria and many others are in similar fossil fuel dependent situations and may or may not support Kuwait's interest in more renewable resources. Yet, overall the world and Kuwait will benefit from a turn to a cleaner nation.

Before the oil era, Kuwait had an economy based on their biological resources including "pearl oyster, fish, grazing animals, and fibre and medicine from desert plants." and their marine life of fish and shrimp made up about half of the local seafood demand ( ). Kuwait depended on livestock and wildlife species for hunting and Kuwait's natural resources were at a safe level. Yet, rapidly increasing impacts on biodiversity are threatening Kuwait's already low biodiversity heritage. From desertification to lack of conservation methods including unmonitored hunting and unrelenting consumption of natural resources, Kuwait has been losing its biodiversity. Additionally, Kuwait's industrial and oil driven economy pollutes the marine environment drastically and the Iraq invasion and war further emphasized all of these issues. The oil wealth the nation acquired and an increase in population resulted in a strain on natural resources and therefore biodiversity has been neglected as it no longer fuels the economy. Kuwait currently has 27 endangered species. And while Kuwait's oil reserves will end, the nation's natural resources such as crops and wildlife are renewable. Therefore, it is that much more important that biological resources are conserved for the future success and prosperity of Kuwait many generations from now. Facing increasing stress on the environment, Kuwait has been taking on the responsibility of reducing the current damage to the environment by updating and implementing their National Strategy for Biodiversity. The current National Strategy for Biodiversity specifies their first step; taking inventory, developing a database of all species, and monitoring these species. Yet, in regards to planning for the long term, Kuwait lacks a suitable guideline to follow: "There is presently no independent, publicly transparent and accountable procedure for the EIA process particularly for large-scale government and private projects. "(). In addition to the need for a greater understanding as to how the damage that Kuwait's water situation inflicts affects marine ecosystems, there needs to also be an emphasis to change the social attitudes of Kuwait society. Citizens have had no restrictions on any natural resources and therefore if they continue to assume they have unlimited resources, the plan will fail. Once the government has analyzed the current situation of biodiversity, they intend to introduce strict controls on landfill coastal areas, enforce penalties and remove illegal development along the coast, and require cost assessments and benefit analysis of businesses in regards to development and conservations. Additionally, Kuwait signed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 therefore acknowledging the importance of their renewable resources as an integral part of their nation that can also yield long term benefits. Kuwait is among Canada, Chad, Cameroon, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Sweden and many others who have remained relatively neutral and have been more concerned about their own biodiversity

concerns. Yet, Iran and Iraq, Kuwait's neighbors, are a majority of muslims and therefore abide by Islam. Islam "mandates that Muslims should appreciate and benefit from God's creation, and should strive towards protecting the Earth's living and nonliving resources against misuse and destruction." (). Therefore it is quite possible, Kuwait, Iran, and Iraq should all be working together with the goal of biodiversity preservation as it is required by their religion. Overall, nations at the UN conference interested in preserving Earth's resources will need to help Kuwait go into greater depth how their plan will work and assists in the understanding of how Kuwait's other needs function with their plan for national biodiversity. Kuwait, as a wealthy nation, has begun focusing on reducing the weak spots their nation suffers from in regards to dependence on food imports and furthermore, food production. Although 97% dependent on imports for food, Kuwait has the "highest level of food security among Gulf Cooperation member states...(as its) export revenues from oil and gas allow for a system of trade-based food security." (Nashmi). Yet, Kuwait's dependence on importation leaves it open to the risk of supply disruption especially with Iraq. Since Kuwait has such a dry desert climate and lacks water supplies, agricultural production is also extremely limited. With Kuwait's growing population size straining against its limited food supplies and production, food safety from importation is a substantial concern of the nation. Additionally, Kuwait is one of the largest water consumers of the world, but relies on Saudi Arabia's underwater flow, desalinated seawater, treated municipal wastewater, and other methods that aren't providing enough. Kuwait's government has recognized such issues and is attempting to address them but needs the help of other nations to make forward progress. Kuwait's current plan of action include their systems for food production. These include multiple agents ranging from The Kuwait Municipality to the Ministry of Health,the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries Resources, the Public Authority for Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the office of Consumer Protection. Working together, these organizations help regulate food-born diseases, livestock or chemical contamination, and biological contamination such as Salmonella. By addressing these problems, Kuwait can ensure that the food they do have remains edible. Kuwait is trying to make more land usable through irrigation and focus on the domestic production of poultry, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. Yet, the lack of water available for irrigation restricts such plans. Kuwait is also currently associated with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development whose goal is to ensure the quantity and quality of food for all people in a community, but to also do so at prices that work with their incomes and financial situations. Therefore, Kuwait is aware of the importance as it develops to increase their self-sufficiency and balance their production and consumption rates. It is the nation's goal to achieve self-sufficiency for food by 2040, but lack of resources, their stand still economy, and many other factors imply that this this plan is highly unachievable.

The nation of Kuwait is the 40th largest exporter in the world and therefore has developed trade partners and relationships around the world. With many nations dependent on their oil, Kuwait's dependency on imports for food has not been discussed until quite recently. Yet, the actions and discussion in place to achieve more self-sufficiency may cause many different reactions from neighboring countries and allies. Kuwait is expecting the United Nations to help educate their farmers, help maximize the use of their land, and put together a committee of volunteers from western nations. They are especially invested in trying to find ways to convert their unfarmable land. Without the support of other nations involved in the United Nations, Kuwait cannot achieve their goals. Countries who are also in need of the similar levels of help include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iceland, North Korea, Rwanda, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Specifically Syria is trying to employ similar irrigation methods as Kuwait. Iraq is lacking substantial crops and sometimes intercepts Kuwait's food supplies and Saudi Arabia lacks the water base to employ modern agricultural methods too. Additionally, "Kuwait is a significant market for Australian exports of wheat, dairy, and food products" and have worked out many trade agreements regarding food and oil with them (Kuwait Country Brief). Australia's reaction will be a significant factor in the self-sufficiency movement for Kuwait too. Works Cited Al-Batel, Maha. "Food Safety Kuwait Country Report." Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs & Fish Resources, www.rr-middleeast.oie.int/download/pdf/koweit%20pres%20countries/Kuwait_Food%20Safety_OIETraining_Kuwait.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. "Fostering renewable energy deployment in Kuwait - Special Report." Kuwait Times, 4 Apr. 2016, news.kuwaittimes.net/website/fostering-renewable-energy-deployment-kuwait/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2016. Ismail, Haweya. "Kuwait: Food and Water Security." Future Directions International, FDI Team, www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/kuwait-food-and-water-security/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2016. "Kuwait Country Brief." Australian Government, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 6 July 2016, dfat.gov.au/geo/kuwait/pages/kuwait-country-brief.aspx. Accessed 6 Nov. 2016.

"Kuwait- Economy." Global Security .org, www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/kuwait-economy.htm. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. Nashmi, Eal, editor. "Kuwait Culture." Kuwait, iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring06/eisa/culture.htm. "THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY FOR THE STATE OF KUWAIT." CBD, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), www.cbd.int/doc/world/kw/kw-nbsap-01-en.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov. 2016. Tristam, Pierre. "Kuwait's Parliamentary Democracy Explained." About News, 23 Feb. 2016, middleeast.about.com/od/kuwait/a/kuwaiti-democracy.htm. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016

Name: Zachary Neidich Delegation: New Providence High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Laos Part I - Country Description Laos is a small, Southeast Asian country located northeast of Thailand and west of Vietnam. Laos has a population of about seven million people, and most live along the Mekong River which runs through the center of the country. The capital (and largest city) of Laos is Vientiane, and the religion practiced by two-thirds of the country is Buddhism. Most of the land in Laos is made up of mountain ranges or hills too steep to live on, so the majority of the population lives on the flat land surrounding the Mekong River. The "Lao People's Democratic Republic" is the official name for the government of Laos. The current government is communist, and came after a long string of strict monarchies. Since most of the population lives along the river, it makes sense that the overwhelming majority of Laotians work as farmers and laborers. Recently, the economy of Laos has been greatly helped by foreign investments into the export of natural resources such as silver, gold, and wood. Laos is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, and most households do not have running water. However, 87% of the population has access to electricity with only 900,000 citizens living without electricity. This number has steadily been increasing, and the hope is to eventually give all citizens access to electricity and running water. Since Laos is very underdeveloped, it is being taken advantage of in many ways. Many Laotian women are subject to Thailand's sex trade, and many Laotian men and young boys are forced into labor by Thailand's fishing, agriculture, and construction industries. Overall, Laos is a very underdeveloped country and the majority of people live simple agricultural lifestyles. Topic 1 - Preservation of Biodiversity Laos has experienced rapid deforestation since the 1990s, and even though the rate of deforestation has been increasing moderately it is predicted that deforestation will increase with a more market-based economy that is developing in Laos. "Slash-and-burn agriculture, uncontrolled fires, commercial and illegal logging, and fuelwood collection resulted in the loss of 6.8 percent of the country's forests between 1990 and 2005." ("Laos"). There are many contributors to the deforestation of Laos, and the situation is only predicted to worsen over the next few decades. To help combat the problem, the government is taking some steps towards conservation including the establishment of

18 National Biodiversity Conservation Areas that will remain untouched. Another biodiversity problem in Laos is the oil and minerals gained from mining. According to the Wall Street Journal, Laos looks like a "gold mine" to foreigners because of all of the untapped natural resources. It is predicted that many foreign investors will flock to Laos to set up mining operations but there will be many negative environmental effects because of this increase in mining could release harsh chemicals that will contaminate the air and the local waterways. These chemicals will mainly affect the Mekong River, which the majority of Laos depends on for their livelihood. If the Mekong River is contaminated, it will affect not only the agriculture of Laos, but also the wildlife in Laos. Right now, deforestation and the increased interest of mining operations in Laos are the greatest threat to biodiversity. In order to preserve biodiversity, Laos would like to urge the United Nations to impress strict deforestation and mining regulations on all countries. One possible regulation could be that any entity that needs to cause deforestation also needs to take measures to replant the land they have deforested. This would allow all countries to remain forested and it would allow logging companies to continue doing their work. Laos would also like to propose a "Deforestation Prevention Movement" where the United Nations puts together a committee to prevent deforestation in all countries to preserve biodiversity for all. Finally, Laos would like to propose stricter regulations on mining, mainly the disposal of chemicals used in mining, and chemicals retrieved from mining. To prevent the pollution of all water sources, Laos urges everyone to enforce stricter regulations on the disposal of chemicals. Countries that would support the sentiments expressed are Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. These are the countries in the surrounding area and have the Mekong River running through them. The chemicals that are deposited into the Mekong River are not only affecting Laos, but are affecting the other nearby countries as well. These countries also depend on the Mekong for agriculture, and the wildlife depend on the Mekong for survival. These surrounding countries are also being affected by deforestation both because of agricultural changes and logging. Almost all of Southeast Asia used to be covered with forests, but now only about half of that land is covered with forests, and Southeast Asia as a whole is losing its remaining forests at a rate of about 1.2% each year. This poses a threat to not only Laos, but to all Southeast Asian countries, and this is why Laos is calling on their support. Topic 2 - Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Laos is a very underdeveloped country without access to many utilities necessary for comfortable living such as clean water and access to sanitation. The gap between the

rural and urban areas in Laos is very large, but is somewhat lessening. The gap between urban and rural areas when it comes to clean water was most recently 17 points and decreasing, but that still leaves many citizens without clean water. Sanitation on the other hand is still a massive issue with a quarter of the population still practicing open defecation. The United Nations predicted that access to clean water is of more importance to citizens in rural areas than access to quality sanitation and that is why access to clean water is increasing at a greater rate than access to quality sanitation. Access to electricity in Laos is also a major problem with most people in urban areas having access to electricity, but most people in rural areas having no access to electricity. The introduction of mini power grids in rural communities is bringing electricity to more and more citizens, but at a slow rate because they are being developed with renewable energy sources. Laos requests that the United Nations set provisions for small underdeveloped countries like Laos to have access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity. It is very hard to live without clean water and sanitation and some Lao people have been living without it for their whole lives. If the United Nations gets clean water and sanitations to all people in underdeveloped countries, it would be a large feat for humanity. Electricity is another issue in Laos and Laos is requesting that other underdeveloped countries start looking towards mini power grids in rural areas. These mini power grids increase the standard of living, and will give people access to health centers, schools, and communication. These power grids are 100% sustainable energy and would not contribute towards the deterioration of the environment and they bring electricity to many people who need it. Other countries that would support an increased emphasis on clean water, sanitation, and electricity are all the other countries that still don't have it. Specifically, underdeveloped countries in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand. These countries still don't have full access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity in rural areas just like Laos and could use a similar approach. If the United Nations were to use its resources to grant access to clean water and sanitation to all people in rural areas, it would be a huge feat for humanity. Getting electricity in rural areas however could pose a challenge however. Many larger countries like the United States, China, and Russia would push for sustainable energy in their countries too because they contribute to the deterioration of the environment. The push for them to switch off of exhaustible energy sources that harm the environment is greater than gaining electricity privileges for rural areas. This is the greatest challenge for smaller countries because they will be ignored in order to prevent these large countries from destroying the environment.

Topic 3 - Agricultural Productivity The main crop grown in Laos is rice, and 72% of the cultivated area of Laos is dedicated to rice and most of these farmers are subsistence farmers. These farmers grow rice, raise livestock, and cultivate other food from the land in order to survive. However, there is a large shift as lots of farmers are switching to commercialized agriculture and are selling their crops. This is good because they can expand their living options with the money they earn, but it is very hard for Laos's agriculture to compete with the agriculture of other countries. The quality of Laotian agricultural products is not on the same level of quality as its competitors so some Laotians are turning to chemical fertilizers to increase the quality and appeal. Both types of farmers live tough lives, and the urban lifestyle is becoming very appealing to many Laotians. This is causing migration from the rural areas of Laos to the urban areas of Laos, and Laos is losing its agricultural economy as farmers leave the rural areas. Laos is requesting that other countries consider Laos as another real competitor in agricultural products. Laos also recognizes that a lot of its agricultural problems are caused because of how underdeveloped it is, and the increase of problems with biodiversity. The Mekong River is being polluted, and is affecting the quality of the crops. The deforestation is also affecting the crops because it ruins the soil for agriculture. Because Laos is underdeveloped, it is not taken as seriously on the global market and has a tough time selling its crops. Laos is calling upon the United Nations to fix the issue with biodiversity so that it can increase agricultural productivity. Also, Laos realizes that many farmers are leaving because in the urban areas there is widespread access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity. These aspects of infrastructure are very appealing to farmers who feel trapped, and if provided to rural areas will cause an increased desire to stay in the rural areas. Other underdeveloped countries would also have their agricultural economies boosted by reducing the threats to biodiversity by giving rural areas access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Just like in Laos, other small countries should come together and request that the United Nations focus on fixing the infrastructure and biodiversity issues in order to increase agricultural productivity. The agricultural system in Laos is a vicious cycle. Laotians want the infrastructure benefits but cannot because they are too poor, and they are too poor to provide themselves with the infrastructure requirements. If the United Nations gives Laos and other small underdeveloped countries a small push, they will be able to break the cycle and have productive agriculture.

Works Cited "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." United Nations in Laos, www.la.one.un.org/sdgs/sdg-7-energy. "Ensure access to water and sanitation for all." United Nations in Laos, www.la.one.un.org/sdgs/sdg-6-water-and-sanitation. "The Forests of Southeast Asia." United Nations Environment Programme, www.unep.org/vitalforest/Report/VFG-15-The-forests-of-southeast-asia.pdf. "Laos." Mongabay, rainforests.mongabay.com/20laos.htm. "Laos at a glance." Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/laos/fao-in-laos/laos-at-a-glance/en/. "Laos Country Profile." National Geographic Kids, kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/laos/#laos-buddha-statues.jpg. "Southeast Asia." Encyclopedia Brittanica, www.britannica.com/place/Southeast-Asia. "The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/la.html.

Name: Cedric Noel Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Micronesia Name: Christopher Xu Delegation: Community YMCA Country: Haiti Committee: Environment and Technology Intro: Haiti is an island nation in the Caribbean that gained its independence in the Haitian revolution in 1804. Currently it is a semi-presidential democracy. Haitian history was marred by civil wars, corruption, and political turmoil. Economically, Right now, it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Γàÿ of the population live in absolute poverty while Γàù of the population are either unemployed or underemployed. Agriculture is the largest part of the Haitian economy, employing Γàö of the labor force. Because of this, Haiti has a large deforestation problem; Haitians have been deforesting since they were French colonists to make room for sugarcane plantations and to satiate their need for charcoal. In terms of environmental issues, Haiti is less affected by pollution from the manufacturing industry, because of its focus on agriculture, but more affected by the destruction of biodiversity and the environment of their country, as a result of making space for their agricultural industry. Despite all of this, Haiti maintains a large amount of biodiversity. Furthermore, Haiti could feel the affects of climate change in the form of the intense hurricanes that hit it every year and the prospect of being submerged as a result of rising sea levels. Topic1: Preservation of Biodiversity Haiti's environment and biodiversity is under threat because of the widespread deforestation occurring on the island. This massive deforestation had its beginning during Haiti's colonial days, when the French Haitians chopped forests down to make room for sugar cane plantations. Today, Haiti still chops down forests for agricultural

purposes and to acquire charcoal, a resource they rely on for heat, light, and electricity. 92% of Haitian households rely on charcoal for cooking and, overall, Haitians burn about 115 tons of charcoal per week. Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, is also the largest city without a functioning sewer system. Therefore, its waterways are frequently clogged with human waste, creating a more toxic environment. Right now, Haiti is focused on economic development and will therefore oppose any plan that may slow its already sluggish economic growth. However, Haiti, being an island that experiences the effects of climate change via flooding, hurricanes, and an increase in other types of natural disasters, it understands the importance of reducing the effects of humanity on the environment. Therefore, Haiti would only be in favor of a resolution that stops deforestation if the resolution does not pose any economic threats to Haiti; its economy is bad as it is. Topic2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Currently, Haiti's energy infrastructure is in a terrible condition. Only 25% of Haitians have access to electricity and, of those 25%, electricity availability is spotty, sometimes lasting only for 10 hours a day. Most of the on-grid electricity is reliant on the environmentally costly charcoal and, because of the poor quality of electricity utilities, many Haitian households and businesses rely on environmentally unfriendly diesel generators. These problems are mostly caused by the fact that Haiti's national electric utility, the EDH, is in need of reform. The EDH requires $200 million in government subsidies to keep running. The EDH has a lot of trouble with collecting energy bills from its customers. Additionally, in many regions, Haitians connect to EDH's grid illegally, stripping the EDH of much needed income and reducing the grid's reliability. Because of the undeveloped nature of Haiti's energy infrastructure, it is opened to green energy. Haiti has a small amount of fossil fuel-based electric generators which powers its undeveloped energy power grid. If a renewable, clean, and economically viable solution to power the other 75% of its population or improve the reliability of its electricity grid overall was available, Haiti would happily take it. On the same note, Haiti's priority is making affordable energy available to all of its residence and the only way to do that is through intense foreign investment. Therefore, Haiti would support any resolution that encourages foreign investment into its undeveloped powergrid.

Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Though sustenance agriculture makes up the largest portion of Haiti's economy, it is also lacking. Furthermore, though most Haitians partake in some sort of sustenance agriculture, Haiti faces a massive food insecurity problem. Haiti's agriculture industry suffers from threats of natural disasters, a rising rural population, and a lack of access to modern technology. Haiti's agriculture industry also suffers from a lack of government and foreign investment. All of these factors negatively affect Haiti's agriculture productivity. The agricultural and food problems in Haiti are closely tied with the environmental and economic issues in Haiti. The lack of food usually prevents people from obtaining economic security as they are too concentrated in obtaining food. Additionally, the degraded environment in Haiti, namely its watersheds and its terrain, prevents effective farming, and therefore an efficient agriculture sector. Haiti, having such large problems in agricultural productivity, would approve of any resolution that would help it dig itself out of its current situation. On the same note, they would disapprove of any resolution that would not provide it with much needed foreign investment into its degrading agriculture industry. Citations: "Agriculture and Food Security." U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID, 29 Nov.

2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/agriculture-and-food-security>. "Energy." U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID, 4 Oct. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/energy> . "Environment." U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID, 4 Oct. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/environment> . "Haiti." Feed the Future. Feed the Future, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. <https://www.feedthefuture.gov/country/haiti>. Lawless, Robert, Mudo J. MacLeod, Christian Antoine Girault, and James A. Ferguson. "Haiti." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Aug. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Haiti> . "The World Factbook: HAITI." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html>.

Name: Alexandra Shapiro Delegation: Scotch Plains Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Netherlands Alexandra Shapiro Country: Netherlands Scotch Plains- Fanwood Delegation Committee: Environment and Technology B Part I - Country Information The Netherlands, on the coast of the North Sea, is twice the size of New Jersey. The current population is over 16.8 million. The form of government is a Hierarchy Monarchy. According to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the Netherlands was the 18th largest economy of the world in 2012, while the country has only about 17 million people. Our GDP is 853.5 Billion USD (2013). The unemployment rate is 7.0%. Netherland's culture is diverse, and represents many different faiths. Roman Catholic represents 28% of the population while Protestant represents 19%. Other religions include Dutch REformed, Calvinist, Buddhist, and Orthodox. Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity Netherlands policy on nature is, "preserve and strengthen the Netherlands' natural environment. It also encompasses the national and international preservation and sustainable exploitation of biodiversity." The government aims to conserve and strengthen the natural environment in the Netherlands. The National Ecological Network and Natura 2000 are designed to protect the nature areas in the country, and consolidate them. They do this by linking them more effectively with each other and surrounding farmland. The Netherlands also has a lot of farmland in which has significant landscape value. Authorities and government preserve this land. The Netherlands also has several major aquatic ecosystems: the Waddenzee, the Southwestern Delta region, the North Sea, and many more rivers. The government wants to safeguard the future of these aquatic ecosystems. They have published an exploratory policy paper setting out a long- term vision on aquatic conservation with a view from 2050-2100.

The Netherlands would like to help countries in need of preserving biodiversity. We have strong governmental support and assistance with our preservations, and would love to share some of our laws and contracts with other nations in need of help. Some solutions may include publishing policies in which citizens have to abide by, regarding environmental regulations. Countries may react negatively to allowing the government to step in and handle the preservation of the environment however, the system in Netherlands works very swell. Countries similar to us, the United States and Canada, may agree or support our stances in one way or another. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure The Netherlands has made further progress towards an open, liberalised and advanced market economy, and today it ranks among the leading IEA member countries in terms of market integration, ease of entrepreneurship, investment and innovation. In fact, " The country made notable progress in decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic growth and is on track to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the EU Burden Sharing Agreement, thanks to emissions reductions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases. In 2012, its GHG emissions were 8.8% lower than in 1990, while gross domestic product (GDP) had increased by 50% in the same period." Looking forward, the Netherlands has to focus on the implementation of the actions for 2020 under the Energy Agreement and lay the ground for a long-term consistent energy policy framework up to 2030. Considerable challenges remain to be addressed by 2020, if the government wants to succeed in the transition towards secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy. Other countries will hopefully support our view on lying down plans for long term solutions. Allies will most likely agree while others may have mixed opinions based on the status of their economy. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

The Dutch food and agriculture are both very productive fields. Continuous adoption of innovation has permitted to reach high levels of productivity and sustained productivity growth, in particular at the farm level, in a context of increasing environmental regulatory constraints. The challenge is whether marginal improvements in current technologies and know-how will be enough to pursue current rates of productivity growth, and whether the innovation system will be able to generate the new ideas that are needed to face future challenges, including those linked to climate change. Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned on whether farmers are adopting good environmental practices. In many countries. Dutch farms have had a bad reputation. A quarter of the country lies below sea-level. The Netherlands has one of the lowest levels of biodiversity in Europe. "A result of farms becoming larger and more productive in the 1970s, without tighter environmental rules, was degradation of the land. The grim practice of carpetbombing flat fields with manure and fertilizer contaminated fields and water." While new technology is helping to improve Netherland farms, help is needed to create respect on our farms and their labels. Countries such as America and Canada will hopefully be able to help us with this resolution.

Works Cited "The Netherlands." The Netherlands. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Polder and Wiser." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 23 Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. "Policy on Nature and Biodiversity - Nature and Biodiversity - Government.nl." Ministerie Van Economische Zaken. Ministerie Van Algemene Zaken, 13 May 2014. Web. 30 Nov.

Name: Jessica Potash Delegation: Cranford Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: New Zealand Part I- Country Description: New Zealand is located in Oceania, off the coast of Australia, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean; which allows for exceptional trading. New Zealand, originally named Staten Landt, after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Discovered in 1642 after he wrongly assumed the land mass was located at the southern tip of South America, cartographers realized that he was wrong about the location. New Zealand was then renamed Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after one of the Dutch provinces. Eventually, New Zealand was taken from the Dutch and made into an English colony. New Zealand, made up of two islands, the North and South, along with many tinier islands consisting of volcanoes, is home to one of the tallest volcano peaks in the world, located in Auckland. The most popular unofficial language of New Zealand is English, but the two official languages of New Zealand are M─üori and New Zealand sign language. M─üori has been the native language since 2006 when the courts declared it to be the native language with 70,000 native borns voting that that was their first language. New Zealand sign language is only spoken by less than 0.51% of the population, and declining, it is still considered a native tongue and can be used in official settings such as in court. While each small island making up New Zealand has its own unique culture and "native languages", this data only applies for the Northern and Southern mainlands. On September 26, 1907, New Zealand gained independence from the British Empire. New Zealand's economy use to depend on international trade with prominent nations such as England, Australia, and other European Union nations. Within the 21st century, New Zealand's economy has begun to depend mainly on tourism, developed manufacturing, and their strong geothermic energy resource base. In recent years, New Zealand's economy has not been unaffected by the 2010 recession and as a result has been on a slow decline ever since. Currently the nation's GDP is at 173.75 billion USD as of 2015 with the average full time worker with a higher level of education making 45,000 per year. New Zealand is not quite a democracy, it is instead run as a unitary parliamentary representative democracy run by Prime Minister John Key. The system is technically a democracy since the people living there are able to vote, but it is also

categorized as a constitutional monarchy modelled after the British system of government. Part II- Topics Topic 1: Creation and Implements of Renewable Infrastructure Renewable infrastructure is "any energy source that is naturally replenished, like that derived from solar, wind, geothermal or hydroelectric action. Energy produced from the refining of biomass is also often classified as renewable. Coal, oil or natural gas, on the other hand, are finite sources". Having the 3rd highest percentage of renewable resources (38%), in 2013 75% of the country's electrical power came from some kind of renewable energy source. The two most used forces of clean energy in the country is geothermal energy (56%), and hydraulic energy (24%). New Zealand has extensive access to geothermic energy due to the numerous volcanic structures on the island. This country advocates for all other countries to begin to shift to clean sources of energy in order to slow down climate change due to excessive global dependence on fossil fuels. While it is not within every country's economic ability to switch to a clean source of energy, we are capable of finding a way to diffuse the costs. By having the nations in the UN agree to attempt to use less fossil fuels and more clean energy, we could teach the people who drill for oil how to build machines that can turn forces such as wind and water into energy. By teaching some of these people a new trade they could potentially make more money building/ installing devices that also help the environment, which will lead to a brighter future. Additionally, many of the developing countries may not have engineers to build the technology. With the UN's help, and the help of developed nations, we can send skilled engineers to developing nations to help in getting this off the ground. The initial cost of this project will save us from a world where we one day run out of the resources we have become so dependant on. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity In recent years, biodiversity on a global level has been at a seriou risk. From over hunting to taking over the natural environments of these animals/ plants we are being left with less and less biodiversity. In New Zealand, in order to lessen the damage done

to the ocean New Zealand has discovered a way to repurpose the plastic. It is compressed into blocks and used as building material which does not need an adhesive and also insulates. This technology is currently in its infancy and has been used in New Zealand and Hawaii to make low income housing. By finding a way to repurpose this plastic it is not killing fish or suffocating the reefs which will further end biodiversity on a global scale. Working toward renewable energy can be expensive, and with every passing day that we do not try to fix this issue we are damning mankind's future generations. The easiest way to receive support from private businesses for a project such as the one aforementioned would be to offer them profits from the project in exchange for investing in it in order for the project to reach so much as a national level. In terms of getting nations to develop better ways to stop stifling biodiversity would be to scare them with statistics of how their countries, and the entire world, will eventually perish as a result. With that kind of incentive to change, countries that are already working to improve biodiversity can provide countries that are farther behind with ways on how best to change the amount of waste that is carelessly thrown back into the environment. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity In New Zealand, there are 6 sheep for every one person living there, meaning there is a lot of land available for livestock and agriculture. But, with so much land and agriculture, as things are planted the soil loses its integrity and nutrients which allow the plants to grow at the rate we need them. As a result the productivity goes down which is extremely detrimental considering the ever expanding number of people we have living with us on earth. People are dying every day of starvation, but we have the ability to change this. With new agricultural advancements such as hydro growing which does not require soil, only water and light. With more people investing in the discovery of different ways of planting we as not only a nation, but a global community, could increase the amount of food we produce in order to end hunger in developing nations while simultaneously maintaining the earth. Additionally, if we depend less on animals as a source of protein and more on plants such as beans we could use the land that is currently being used to slaughter animals to plant more low cost plants. By doing these things we can not only potentially triple the world's agricultural productivity, we would be able to lessen the amount of greenhouse gas emissions which are contributing to climate change and the deterioration of the ozone layer.

Works Cited Apatov, Eyal. "Agricultural Productivity in New Zealand: First Estimates from the Longitudinal Business Database." Motu. Motu, 2015. Web. 03 Nov. 2016. "New Zealand." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. 2016 Index of Economic Freedom, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016. Paul. "Famous New Zealand Landmarks." Famous New Zealand Landmarks Wellington, New Zealand. 100% True New Zealand, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016. Rouse, Margaret. "What Is Renewable Energy?" Renewable Energy. WhatIs.com, Apr. 2008. Web. 03 Nov. 2016. "Where Did New Zealand Get Its Name?" Where Did New Zealand Get Its Name? LogicGoat. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.

Name: Evan Gruters Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Nigeria Name: Evan Gruters Delegation: Westfield Country: Federal Republic of Nigeria Committee: EnviroTech B Part I - Country Information The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the most populous of African nations, with an estimated population of around 188,463,000 people, located in Western Africa and bordering the nations of Benin, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. Comprised of 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory, its capital is Abuja. Nigeria is a representative secular democracy, with a federal presidential republic (modeled after the United States), and has the 20th highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world, and the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in all of Africa. The present day economy of Nigeria is dominated by the petroleum industry (12th largest producer and 8th largest export world wide) and also benefits from oversea remittances. Nigeria is a member of several blocs and international groups, including the MINT countries, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, OPEC and the United Nations. The citizens of Nigeria are religiously split halfway between Islam and Christianity. The three largest ethnic groups (out of 500) are the Hausa, the Igbo and the Yoruba. Around 68% of Nigerians are literate. Part II - Positions on Topics: General Assembly A

Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity Nigeria recognizes that the international community must come together and take action to maintain our current levels of biodiversity by preventing any further harm to the environment and looks to colleagues in the General Assembly to take steps to address important global ecological issues like the rampant destruction of wildlife and the critical endangerment of plant and animal species. Although Nigeria had in the past benefited from this deforestation (under a the rule of a corrupt military leader), Nigeria would like to see the General Assembly establish protected safe havens of uncontaminated wild life, for the ecological benefits and also the billions of dollars that could be put to use into rebuilding each nations infrastructure. To begin to address these issues on a global scale, Nigeria would like to join its partners in the General Assembly to create ecological safe havens, to be left unaffected by the growing industrial and urban path of mankind. These enterprises should serve to perpetuate the biodiversity of earth, step by step towards gradual ecological balance . Nigeria would also like to initiate a program that will incentivize business in the private sector to become involved, specifically by providing funds and grants towards those who create, innovate and implement cleaner, greener solutions to other conflicts that may arise while the sanctuaries are being built. There is an economic value in preserving our biodiversity, it will be our jobs to make sure that all those who confront these ideals understand the true scope of what is being prevented. Extinction of not only a few plants and animals, but extinction of the earth itself, and humanity along with it. Australia is a potential ally in implementing wildlife sanctuary initiatives because of it's stunning biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef, which has faced it's own ecological scares. Like Nigeria, Australia believes that the preservation of in all living organisms help alleviate chances of mass extinction. Madagascar serves as a model of a incredibly biologically diverse and economically-driven nation, and believes that the best way to advance this balance is by setting strict parameters on land only to be used as nature reservations. The United States also focuses on the prevention of species extinction and could help by utilizing its global presence to persuade other nations.

Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Nigeria is hesitant to support the ideals of Sustainable Energy, due only to the fact that there are too many costs surrounding renewable energy sources that will only destabilize struggling infrastructures and completely prevent new systems from being created in developing nations. Fossil Fuels still supply the world with nearly 90% of its Energy. So Nigeria has advocated for the continuation of more petroleum ran infrastructures and would like to see other nations adopt similar stances. The costs are too high, while the payout will never be enough. During this session of the General Assembly, the continued use of traditional fuel sources in the public sector should be addressed by the United Nations. The United Nations must not do what these idealist nations wish to do, as the implantation of their plans will bankrupt millions, and still negatively affect many others. Nigeria recommends the dismissal of all proposed changes, initiatives, and programs that involved alternative fuels. But is up to the entire international community. All possible solutions are merely economic bankruptcies waiting to occur. The United Arab Emirates has similar views on this topic because it has prior experience of economic success while still maintaining ties with the oil industry. The General Assembly should draw from the experience of the UAE in developing a plan to grow financially while still staying tied to the safe and reliable tether that are fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia recommends that any new standards related to energy infrastructure be broad enough to allow for a nation to grow financially and in regard to technology, yet strict enough to prevent the complete severance from fossil fuels. Finally, both Iran and Iraq believe in a strengthening the legal framework that protects nations from such blatant and dangerous treatments from foreign nations in regards to energy sources both traditional and renewable. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

Nigeria believes that the best way to resolve the impending hunger crisis is through increasing the production of Genetically Modified Organisms. The GMO's will serve as a direct combatant against the growing food needs that go hand in hand with a growing population. Nigeria admits that in the late 70s, our agricultural sector was neglected and because of that neglect, we have become reliant on our trade allies for at least a portion of our nourishment. We believe that all nations present should do everything possible to promote healthful and beneficial GMOs . In instances when this is not possible, Nigeria believes that it is instrumental that countries with the means to do so should intervene and assist countries which may not be able to handle the GMO implementation by themselves. By 2050, there will be almost 10 billion humans across the globe, and it is our responsibility to provide the firm, steadfast structures needed to create the levels of Agricultural Productivity necessary to feed them all. Although certain attributes of the GMOs are still being argued as being more detrimental than beneficial, it is still the roles of the General Assembly to provide the best solutions to the general public. These new age produce will provide an incredible amount of health benefits to regions where the citizens may desperately need them, all the while creating a more efficient way of farming, therefore increasing the overall yield of farmers. Nigeria recommends that members of the General Assembly immediately initiate pro GMO campaigns and also offer monetary incentives to the first agricultural workers who begin with the new crops in order to keep our agricultural sector alive and flourishing. Other African nations, such as Ethiopia and Angola, both have similar views on this issue. Like Nigeria, they both depend rather heavily on their Agricultural sector at the least in regard to their nation's economy , and would look to the United Nations and their initiatives for more efficient farming techniques, especially if those techniques offered higher crop yields and healthier ergo more valuable crops. China is a potential ally because it shares the belief that United Nations bodies serve to the overall advancement of all nations, therefore something like the GMO initiative could be quite appealing to them also. Finally, the United State shares Nigeria's view that the General Assembly should promote the ideals with the most facts supporting it and the ideals with the most potential for success, which in this case is obviously the GMOs.

Bibliography: "GMO Fears Overblown." The Breakthrough Institute. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/conservation-and-development/gmo-fear s-overblown>. Mayell, Hillary. "Human 'Footprint' Seen on 83 Percent of Earth's Land." National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 25 Oct. 2002, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1025_021025_HumanFootprint_2.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016. "Human 'Footprint' Seen on 83 Percent of Earth's Land." National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 25 Oct. 2002, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1025_021025_HumanFootprint_2.html. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016. "Nigeria Land use." Index Mundi, 8 Oct. 2016, www.indexmundi.com/nigeria/ land_use.html. Accessed 1 Nov. 2016. Thomas, David. "Niger Delta Oil Production, Reserves, Field Sizes Assessed." Oil & Gas Journal, 13 Nov. 1995, www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-93/

issue-46/in-this-issue/exploration/niger-delta-oil-production-reserves-field-sizes-assessed.html. Accessed 1 Nov. 2016. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency, 8 Oct. 2016, www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2097.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2016. Commisceo Global, editor. "Nigeria Guide; A Look at Nigerian Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Commisceo Global, Commisceo Global Consultancy, 2016, www.commisceo-global.com/ country-guides/nigeria-guide. Accessed 14 Oct. 2016. "Federal Republic of Nigeria." Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federal Government Of Nigeria, 2016, www.nigeria.gov.ng/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016."Nigeria Population." Worldometers, Worldometers.info, 2016, www.worldometers.info/world-population/ nigeria-population/. Weisenthal, Joe. "FORGET THE BRICs: Citi's Willem Buiter Presents The 11 '3G' Countries That Will Win The Future." Business Insider, 22 Feb. 2011, www.businessinsider.com/ willem-buiter-3g-countries-2011-2?slop=1. Accessed 15 Oct. 2016.

Name: Jaiveer Johal Delegation: St. Joseph High School Metuchen Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: North Korea Jaiveer Johal Saint Joseph The Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK) Environment and Technology B North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is the 27th populous country in the world, with about 49 million people spread over an area of 96,000 square kilometers. The country is in East Asia and is bordered to the north by China, while the remainder of the Korean Peninsula to its south consists of South Korea (the Republic of Korea). The Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South in 1945, after being liberated from Japanese occupation in the Second World War. North Korea was originally in the Soviet Union's sphere of influence and officially remains a socialist state. Its government is authoritarian. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, known more commonly as North Korea, is a communist state and a dictatorship.Chief of State Kim Jong-un and Premier Pak Pong-ju oversee federal government matters from the nation's capital, Pyongyang. While Pak Pong-ju is head of the nation's government, Kim Jong-un leads the National Defense Commission of North Korea. In terms of renewable infrastructure, North Korea is self-sufficient in energy production and imports less than South Korea. Additionally, access to electricity is somewhat sparse in rural areas due to the governmental control and distribution of energy. The capital, Pyongyand, though is powered by a thermal plant that is reliant on fossil fuels. A major form of energy that is emerging from North Korea currently is solar energy. Though North Korea has not published any figures, the panels can be seen on the balconies of nearly every apartment building in the capital,Pyongyang, and many streetlights are powered by the sun. Larger arrays, along with solar water heaters, have been affixed to industrial sites such as the Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Silk Factory and the Jangchon collective farm on the southeastern outskirts of the capital. A large solar field was installed last fall on Pyongyang's Ssuk Island near a new showcase complex called the Sci-tech Center, which also boasts of having geothermal technology.Although North Korea does heavily rely on fossil fuel for energy, the country and its leaders are pushing towards more sustainable sources of energy like solar and geothermal energy. As a result of the electricity shortage, North Korea has resorted to a rationing system. The country often experiences blackouts for extended periods of time, and power losses due to an antiquated transmission grid are high. Rainfall improved in 2001, but some hydroelectric facilities are believed to be out of operation due to flood damage from major flooding in 1996. Problems with the North Korean coal industry are closely related to the problem with electricity supply. Coal-fired power plants have been running well

under capacity in recent years, due in part to problems with rail transportation of coal. The issue with the energy aspect of North Korea is that there is not enough production, and the importation of other energy sources like petroleum causes uneven distribution of energy across the nation. A issue with not gaining enough energy would be sanctions like the one with the United States to North. Any expansion of any energy that does not rely on fossil fuels highly, like geothermal energy and solar energy should be expanded on by cutting back expansion in the slowly fading oil industry. North Korea would not like aid from any country that has created sanctions between them. Major enemies would be The United States, South Korea, and japan. Any potential allies would mainly be Bulgaria, Russia, and China due to similar governmental control and views on issues. Russia has a large reserve of natural gas, so North Korea could open wider trade markets with Russia to obtain more natural gas. Also, China is starting to expand its horizon in terms of the solar and wind power, and this could also aid North Korea in its expansion in these fields. The DPRK's land area is 122,762 square kilometers; its climate is extreme and highly seasonal, similar to that of northern Wisconsin and North Dakota in the United States. Most of North Korea's territory is mountainous and volcanic, with fertile soils, but on slopes often too difficult to cultivate sustainably. Environmental degradation is widespread. In 2003, a report was prepared in cooperation with the United Nations to address the environmental problems faced by the country and ways in which they could be alleviated.1The report, published by the United Nations Environment Program, was the product of long-term cooperation between the agency, the DPRK Ministry of Land and Environment Protection, and the United Nations Development Program. The document constitutes the first comprehensive report on the state of the country's environment. In it, an effort was made to identify key environmental issues that act as barriers to attaining sustainable development and to provide policy settings and options that could mitigate unfavorable environmental trends. The report identifies five priority areas: forest depletion, water quality degradation, air pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity. Within the DPRK, the population is highly concentrated in the roughly one-sixth of the country that is suitable for agriculture, mainly along the coasts and in river valleys inland. The extensive forests that naturally clothe the country's mountain slopes are heavily used as a source of firewood for energy. The forests are also often ravaged by fires, landslides, and insect pests. It is probable that global climate change will accelerate the loss of natural forests to pests, as it has done so severely in comparable North American forests. Satellite images reveal that more than 40 percent of the forests in the DPRK have been lost since 1985, most of them converted to low-grade agricultural systems. Firewood from the forests is being used at a faster rate than the forests can support. As everywhere, the depletion of forests-a good proportion of it illegal-leads to flooding and soil erosion, and it is also a major driver of biodiversity loss. A possible solution for this issue has been address by the supreme North Korean

Government as the DPRK has adopted a "Ten Year Plan for Afforestation/Reforestation," intended to rehabilitate two million hectares of degraded forests. The plan explicitly recognizes the need for basing reforestation efforts on sound science, which also should be applied to determine the most efficient ways forests can be used sustainably as a source of fuel and for other purposes. Additionally, it would be wise to educate citizens about the importance of the environment and the impact pollution and misdemeanor has on the great biodiversity that North Korea has. Considering the many benefits of biodiversity to human beings, it would seem important to try to gain a better appreciation of the Korean Peninsula's representation of different groups of organisms in order to help manage them sustainably and conserve them efficiently. Organizing the information about these organisms in databases would be in line with one of the nation's overall objectives, that of developing a high-quality information technology system. Such an effort would enable effective inventories of different groups to be carried out and their results made readily available. The concepts of "parataxonomists" or "citizen scientists"-training people to recognize and collect organisms systematically throughout the country-seem to be applicable to the possibilities in the DPRK. Some great allies to maintain and boost the preservation of biodiversity in the great nation of North Korea would be China and Russia. Both of these countries have issues with either maintain their biodiversity or clean it up in some shape or form just like North Korea must do. Working with countries like China and Russia would aid North Korea in advancing its own environmental protection for the better. The agricultural productivity of North Korea is very limited due to the limited arable land. Additionally, the climate and inconsistent rainfall in North Korea is unfavorable for cultivation. Although it is difficult to create crops consistently, agriculture is nearly 22% of the country's GDP and its usually obtained through the manual farming of individuals. The major issue with the agricultural productivity in North Korea is the food shortages that occur due to "dry" periods of cultivation. North Korean agricultural policies are directed towards solving the problem of food shortages through the "four improvements" in agricultural technology: irrigation, farm mechanization, rural electrification, and agricultural chemicals. The government has also carried out a number of reclamation projects to increase the area of arable land. Priority has been given to improving the agricultural infrastructure, especially expanding irrigation facilities, and terracing and draining new arable land. In order to become self-sufficient in fertilizers, North Korea has built new fertilizer plants. Agricultural research and guidance services have been expanded to improve farming technology, particularly the application of fertilizers and pesticides. A program was begun to replace the production of miscellaneous cereals (Italian millet, milo etc.) by corn. The area of arable land planted in corn increased from 10% in 1953 to 35-40% in the 1990s. North Korea is now improving agricultural production by promoting crop diversification, and supplementing agricultural chemicals with organic farming methods. Under Kim Il-Sung, maize became the single most important upland crop throughout North Korea. This policy did not take

fully into account the wide variation in soils and climate in mountainous areas, where before 1945 many different crop species and varieties had been cultivated. Although there have been shortages in food in recent years, North Korea has had several laws or pieces of legislation that have eased the burden of lower amounts of food. One of the main acts that has aided the reduction of food shortages is the Land Reform Act. Under the Land Reform Act, nearly 54% of cultivated land in private ownership was confiscated. All land holdings held under continuous tenancy or in excess of 5 ha (12.3 acres) was also confiscated. By August 1958, all individual peasant farmers had been absorbed into the newly created collectives. Immediately after the completion of collectivization, a major program was launched to expand the scale of farming. The government considered that the prevailing size of collectives was too small to realize economies of scale, particularly for the use of farm machinery. Farm mechanization was regarded as one of the most powerful ways of transforming traditional farming into a modern system. All collectives, which so far had been based on the traditional village unit, were merged to make a single collective in each Ri (the smallest administrative unit, equivalent to a district). As a result, the number of collectives fell from more than 50,000 to only 4,000, while their average size expanded to around 500 ha, each containing about 300 farm households. Today, the average farm size in North Korea is 466 ha (1,151 acres). Each farm is operated by 80 - 300 farm families. These types of farms are generally larger and more highly mechanized than collectives, and are also managed more efficiently. The management of collective farms is in the hands of management committees made up of agricultural and technical experts. The committee sets production quotas, allocates resources, determines and disburses wages, monitors credit and directs the use of seeds, tractors and fertilizers. The collective farms have also developed the Chongsan-ni method of management, a personalized, on-the-spot guidance method which requires management committees to help farmers to improve production through incentives and other encouragement. The use of this act allowed for more efficient and effective farming, thus creating less food shortages. If North Korea, expands on this type of legislation, the agricultural productivity of the country will increase. Allies for North Korea in this instance would be any country that agrees with the methods of North Korea's cultivation of crops. Countries like Sudan and Rwanda both have high amounts of agriculture development. Also, these countries are working towards greater efficiency in their own agriculturally efficacy like the type that North Kore tries to obtain. Works cited

Global Energy Network Institute. "National Energy Grid."National Energy Grid of North Korea - National Electricity Transmission Grid of North Korea - Global Energy Network Institute - GENI Conducts Research and Education On: Renewable Energy Resources Interconnections Globally, World Peace, Stable Sustainable Development Solutions. Na, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016 09.09.2013, Peter H. Raven -. "Engaging North Korea through Biodiversity Protection."Science & Diplomacy. AAAS, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. Na. "The World Factbook: KOREA, NORTH."Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Name: Vincent Lamonica Delegation: Washington Twp High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Norway Part I- Norway description Due to Norway being positioned in the western part of the Scandinavian peninsula it is mostly uninhabitable and covered with mountains, moors, glaciers, and rivers. Norway is bordered by Finland and Russia on the north east side, Sweden on east and the Skagerrak strait to the south. Norway has a long coastline on the North Atlantic ocean and the Barents Sea. Norway has a population of 5,213,985 (as of may 2016) and is ruled by King Harald V. Erna Solberg is the current prime minister. Norway separates state power between the parliament, the cabinet, and the supreme court. Norway has a administrative and political subdivisions on two different levels; countries and municipalities. This nation has a combination of market economy and a Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a social security system. Norway use Latin writing system and the official language is Norwegian. The capital of this country is Oslo. Norway is filled with about 84% Norwegians and 16% Immigrants. When talking about conditions of traveling in Norway and road network, the roads and well kept but as you go north, some become less kept and narrower. Norway is said to be expensive when buying things like food and drinks. When discussing the weather, the winters tend to be mild and the summer, cold. This is somewhat an affect of the warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift. The profits of agriculture are very high and mining on the mainland or Norway includes iron ore, lead, copper, nickel and granite. Because of Norway's beautiful landscape, stable government, and fun culture it makes for a great vacation or traveling spot. Part II- Positions on Topics: Environmentand Technology B Noway Topic 1- Creation and Implementation of renewable infrastructure Norway's transportaion infrastrucure is currently good and sustainable. This is surprising since Norway is filled with mountains, moors, rivers, and glaciers. Travel is difficult through winter months in the north but can be accessable by ship car or aircraft easily. In the southern part of Norway is where most of the railroads are located. There are more roadways in highly cencentrated/ populated areas and the road network totaled at 90,741 kilometers in 1999. Although the roads themselves are not renewable they mine iron ore, lead, copper, nickel, and granite which some of theseresources can be used in the road network. Though Norway has one of the largest oil productions, they also get most of their energy through hydropower. Just about 60 percent of all the exploitable water resources have been utilized already.

In connection with finding a stable renewable infrastructure,Norway would like to adress this concern by explaining a renewable resource that can be reused and utilized to the max to ensure the most production. Norway would benefitmost from expanding their hydropower workings and attempt to tap into more water resouces to ensure they are getting the most possible energy. Hydropower is power or energy that comes from moving/falling water. Hydopower can be contained and made into power by things such as water wheels and dams. Dams are almost like a wall of machinery that separate one water way into two. As one water way flows against the wall it concentrates into a small section of the dam that lets out the water to the other side. This concentrated and fast moving water that pours out into the second separated water way is contained using machinery in the dam that generate power form the moving water. This fantastic technology can be used throughout Norway and can spread across the nation to ensure the use of all water ways. By using all water ways and dams to capture the energy of moving water, Norway can increase its energy/power production which will not only help their economy greatly but also atract other to travel to Norway because of the advances. This is an example of a solution Norway would use to finding a Renewable resource Infrustructure. In order for Norway to achieve a succesfful infrustructure of hydro power (main example:dams) they need the help of neighboring countries and allies. Finland, Sweden, and russia are all neighboring places that border norway but also, Denmark, Germany, and iceland (which are all huge allies) can help Norway in its hydropower expansion project. Germany is a huge trading partner and because finlad and sweden are so close to Norway, they can help the most in the creation of hydropower machinery such as dams. Topic 2- Preservation of biodiversity In order to make sustainable life for all organisms you need biodiversity. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity so all organisms work and play an important role. When one organism does not do its role in the ecosystem then it messes up the whole process and the ecosystem declines. If all organisms are equal and play their part, they can have most productivity. If there is too much or not enough of organisms, it can mess up the process. A thriving ecosytem with biodiversity that is immensely protected, can last long and have the most productivity. Norway needs to preserve and protect the organisms that inhabit the land to ensure the ecosystem thrives and creates the possible productivity. Things like wood from trees, foods from plants, foods from organisms, and fertalized soill all comefrom a thriving ecosystem with biodiversity. Norway is going to protect the biodiversity in ecosytems accross their nation to ensure they recieve the most resources they can. Noway will protect the biodiversity by creating things such as the NBIC. The NBIC is the norwegian biodiversity information centre. This organization explains not only how biodiversity work in norway but also its importance and how people in Norway can help.

If Norway creates more organizations like this, study the organisms that are in their country, attempt to help them, and inform people about the problems in biodiversity they will help their nation in many important ways. Sustaining healthy and protected biodiversity in all ecosystems would boost productivity of necesities. Other neighboring countries and allies would most likely react in a positive way because they give more resources to trade and also gain techniques about organisms and ecosystemsthat are spread through trade networks and travel. The increase of trade will help Norways economy and also improve the living conditions of organisms which will help them grow and make more ecosystems. In end, the preservation of biodiversity is a key part in improving Norway in trade, economy, turrist traffic, and allow communication between allies and neighboring countries. Topic 3- Agricultural Productivity A big part of Norways economy is agricultural producticity. My improving and innovating Norways agricultural techniques in farms and plantations we will be able to produce mroe products, goods, and resouces. Norway currently using big tractors for harvesting and planting crops. Norway also started using a machine developed by Orkel that is able to compact and package many difference crops such as maize andchipping of cod heads. This new machinery and the tractor have many environmental benefits. By creating new machinery such as the one made by Orkel and the tractor, prdouctivity of crops will grow immensely. Creating, making, and using these techniques and machines will help Norway with any aricultural problems they would have had before. Also i belive that other countries and areas surrounding Norway will be pleased with the new technology used in Norway and will take some of the ideas we used. Other countires and allies can also be important when looking for other technologies to use in agriculture. All in all Norway can benefit from many things and has plans for mostly every problem that they may come through. Work Cited 1-Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.infoplease.com/country/norway.html 2-"Norway, General Information."General Information about Norway. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.havetravelfun.com/norway/norway-information.htm

3-"Norway - Infrastructure, Power, and Communications."Norway Infrastructure, Power, and Communications, Information about Infrastructure, Power, and Communications in Norway. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Norway-INFRASTRUCTURE-POWER-AND-COMMUNICATIONS.html 4-"Norwegian Agri-tech Goes Global."Sciencenordic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://sciencenordic.com/norwegian-agri-tech-goes-global 5-"Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?"Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares? - Global Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares

Name: Harrison Schwartz Delegation: Council Rock South Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Pakistan Name: Harrison Schwartz Delegation: Council Rock High School South Nation: Pakistan Committee: Environment and Technology Pakistan was originally created to have a separate country for Indian Muslims. The structure of the country is not based on the traditional European model, but the democratic faith of Islam. Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government with a president. In 2013 after a political coup, they switched from a president to a prime minister. The primary religion of Pakistan is Islam. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad. Pakistan is 796,095 square kilometers, and has a population of 49 million. Pakistan is divided into 4 provinces, which are subdivided into divisions and districts. Their national currency is the Pakistani Rupee. The nation language is Urdu, but the official language is English. There is only a 51% literacy rate. It is located in south Asia, making its main exports: cotton, textiles, rice, leather, carpets, sporting goods, fish, and fruit. Renewable energy in Pakistan is not a booming industry. The government would like to change this due to the large amount of energy coming from the private sector, and the high prices for energy. The demand is much greater than the supply; this also drives the need for more renewable energy sources. With the abundance of sunshine and wind in Pakistan, it is only natural for the country to move in this direction to make the energy more available and affordable. In order to fix the issue of the lack of energy, Pakistan would invest money into the research and development of improving energy sources such as wind and solar power, so they can be more affordable and available for the government to implement. They would like to continue to their efforts to expand solar energy to citizens by giving solar cookers and solar panels to more people. They would also continue to develop and build more wind turbines and wind power plants.

Germany would be a large supporter of this plan, because they have done extensive development of renewable energy, and their proven models can be replicated in Pakistan. Their success would be an excellent example of how solar and wind energy can improve a country's energy problem. Education must accompany the push for renewable energy, to help overcome the temptation to use readily available coal, by informing the people of the long-term consequences. In Pakistan, desertification and land degradation have become too common, and are the main causes for the loss of biodiversity. There is virtually no plan in place for the use and preservation of land. Therefore, water and wind erosion along with overgrazing and deforestation is running rampant and unchecked throughout the country. Several species have died out, and many more face extinction, due to loss of habitat and exploitation for food, sport, and trade. Pakistan's plan to fix the issue would involve setting up a Coordination Committee to watch over the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and to insure that it is implemented smoothly. They would also utilize Steering Committees to aid in mobilizing resources and to facilitate integration across multiple sectors. Another key part of the plan is to inform people of the importance of biodiversity, as a study showed most people did not even know what biodiversity was. There will be thematic workshops in order to teach citizens about biodiversity, and train them to use relevant tools to help. These workshops will look to the citizens to find flaws in the plan and suggest solutions. Iran would be a strong ally, as they also believe in educating the public about biodiversity. That is one of their main focuses as well as Pakistan's. Egypt would also be an ally, because they believe in cooperation, something that Pakistan lacks but would like to improve upon. These countries would be very useful in promoting Pakistan's NBASP. Pakistan is facing a litany of problems that severely inhibit its agricultural productivity. Only 28% of the landmass is cultivatable, of which one third is unused. Water salinity is an issue that plagues agriculture. There is an extremely low yield per acre, due to outdated technology and poorly trained labor. Inadequate roads, storage, electricity, irrigation, etc., all play a part in the misuse and substandard production. There is also a dearth of stable markets for the farmers to sell their crops, making it difficult to be successful as a farmer.

Pakistan's plan is to establish a credit system for farmers in order to establish the necessary funds for them to acquire the technology, equipment, and training that is needed to properly cultivate the land. They would also construct a system of dams to control floodwaters and improve irrigation. Pakistan would like to offer educational programs for farmers and farm workers, so they can maximize the use of their land. They would also create and maintain markets for the crops to stabilize the prices for the farmers' goods. Cooperation with other countries that have better crop yields is vital to the success of Pakistan's agriculture. Other countries, such as Afghanistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, that have similar climates to Pakistan would be strong allies in the pursuit of better farming practices. If they are in a similar area, then they would most likely need to have similar farming practices in order to prosper. It is important that they work together in order to feed the hungry, and protect the farmers. Works Cited

Ali, Nazim. "All About Pakistan." General Knowledge, 25 Apr. 2011, nazimali4800.blogspot.com/2011/04/all-about-pakistan_24.html. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. Convention on Biological Diversity. www.cbd.int/nvasp/search/deafult.shtml. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. 23 Mar. 2015, www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/nbsap_1st_draft_23_3_15.pdf. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. Hasnain, Tahir. "Pakistan - Prospects for Renewable Energy Transition." Pressenza International Press Agency, 17 Dec. 2012, www.pressenza.com/2012/12/pakistan-prospects-for-renewable-energy-transition/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. "History of Pakistan." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Pakistan. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016. Khan, Ahsan. "Major Problems of Agricultural Sector of Pakistan." Economics and Education, 23 Apr. 2012, ahsankhaneco.blogspot.com/2012/04/major-problems-of-agricultural-sector.html. Accessed 27 Nov. 2016.

Name: Abhijay Dutta Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Panama Part I-Country Description Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. Panama is considered to be a Constitutional Republic. With a population of about 4 million people. The official language of the nation is Spanish. Its capital is Panama City. Panama's current president is Juan Carlos Varela. The currencies used in Panama is the United States Dollar and Panamanian balboa. Panama is known for the Panama Canal, a manmade waterway opened in 1914. The canal cuts through the isthmus, linking the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic) with the Pacific Ocean. Panama's take up a total area of 74,177 km squared. In the capital, Panama City, modern skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs contrast with colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district and the rainforest of Natural Metropolitan Park. Part II-Positions on topics Topic One: Preservation of Biodiversity Biodiversity is very important to Panama. Panama is located in the world's most biodiverse region. Therefore, biodiversity is very prominent due to its ecosystems and because of the tourists. Although the recent decrease in biodiversity is causing poorly regulated tourism. Panamanian forests provide an important biological corridor for species migration. The country is however particularly vulnerable (it is only 100 km wide) and at risk to experience multiple natural disasters and severe impacts from activities linked to climate change, which can easily disrupt this corridor through the destruction of habitat, among other consequences. Significant land use changes are also occurring in the country as a result of agricultural expansion, urban sprawl and tourism.

Nations can promote a transition toward renewable sources of energy by reducing greenhouse gases in the environment. Simple ways of doing so are using are using less electricity and less gasoline (electric cars use less gasoline). Nations could also incentivize private businesses and organizations by selling more eco-friendly products. Example include electric cars, reusable batteries and bio-friendly light bulbs. Nations can also help them understand the necessity of protecting the Earth's wildlife by having these nations learn or agree with/the CBD. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future Topic Two: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Currently, Panama relies on mostly reusable gases. The development of roads, power lines, hydroelectric plants, among other infrastructure, triggered by urban sprawl into buffer zones around protected areas, such as Chagres National Park and other protected areas in the Panama Canal watershed, is transforming natural conditions with effects on biodiversity. In addition, the buffer zones around the Volcan Baru National Park and La Amistad International Park (a transboundary protected area with Costa Rica) are particularly affected by land and water pollution resulting from the use of agrochemicals, sewage dumping, among other factors. A similar situation is occurring with respect to the San San Pond Sak River which is a carrier of chemicals used in plantain production which, in turn, is affecting the habitat of manatees.

Countries could synthesize the immense economic burden of providing universal access to clean utilities by using the energiewende which is an energy revolution that scientists say all nations must one day complete if a climate disaster is to be averted. Among large industrial nations, Germany is a leader as it came up with this revolution. Last year about 27 percent of its electricity came from renewable sources such as wind and solar power, three times what it got a decade ago and more than twice what the United States gets today Infrastructure is the set of structural elements that supports the day-to-day function, and influences the direction of human society. Sustainable infrastructure refers to the designing, building, and operating of these structural elements in ways that do not not diminish the social, economic and ecological processes required to maintain human equity, diversity, and the functionality of natural systems. Infrastructure is critical to sustainable community development, our future well-being and the day-to-day lives. The infrastructure we are building today will shape tomorrow's communities. The year-long research program is looking at five key infrastructure areas that we consider crucial to sustainable development: Energy, Transportation, Waste Management, Land Use and Planning and Governance. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) produces comprehensive renewable energy statistics on a range of topics. This organization can help countries ideas and data so the countries can invest in green technology. Topic Three: Agricultural Productivity

Significant land use changes are also occurring in Panama as a result of agricultural expansion, urban sprawl and tourism. The agricultural frontier has expanded throughout almost the entire country, at the expense of forests and mountain ecosystems. According to land use classifications, 25% of the country (1.8 million hectares) has a potential for agricultural and livestock production, while the rest is suitable for forest use with severe limitations on suitability for agriculture (the actual use for agriculture and livestock production has however been estimated at between 2.8 and 2.9 million hectares). More efficient production of food: Genetic modification can help farmers skip steps in the process, such as spraying their crops with pesticides, because the foods are already resistant to pests. Although Environmental risks: Introducing plants and animals that do not naturally occur into the ecosystem could have devastating effects on current species due to cross breeding and cross pollination. Herbicide resistant plants could spread their qualities to weeds, which would make them harder to kill. Therefore, nations can incentivize poor farmer to stay on their farms by understanding GMOs and perhaps paying more for more (paying farmers more for them to have GMOs) GMOs in accordance to the place(Nation) and when you should and shouldn't use GMOs. Nations can increase agricultural output A rough calculation of current rates of soil degradation suggests we have about 60 years of topsoil left. Some 40% of soil used for agriculture around the world is classed as either degraded or seriously degraded - the latter means that 70% of the topsoil, the layer allowing plants to grow, is gone. Because of various farming methods that strip the soil of carbon and make it less robust as well as weaker in nutrients, soil is being lost at between 10 and 40 times the rate at which it can be naturally replenished. Even the well-maintained farming land in Europe, which may look idyllic, is being lost at unsustainable rates. To reduce the continually declining fertility of the soil from excessive use nations must change farmers methods so that they don't strip the soil of carbon and make it less robust as well as weaker in nutrients. Also nations can increase agricultural output by improving these methods for the future so that there is an output per acre to feed a rapidly growing world and can counteract the effects of global climate change.

Work Cited "Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. Countrymeters.info. "Panama Population." Panama Population 2016 Current Population of Panama. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. "Panama - Country Profile." Main Details. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. Nationsonline.org, Klaus Kastle -. "___ Panama." Panama - Republic of Panama - Country Profile - Nations Online Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. "Sustainable Infrastructure." Sustainable Infrastructure CRC Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. Kunzig, Rob. "Why Germany Could Be a Model for How We'll Get Power in the Future." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.

"IRENA Publications Reports and Papers." IRENA Publications Reports and Papers. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. Convention on Biological Diversity. London: Stationery Office, 1995. Web. Asaff, Beth. "Pros and Cons of GMOs." LoveToKnow. N.p., 30 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. Forum, World Economic. "What If the World's Soil Runs Out?" Time. Time, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Name: Karina Vizzoni Delegation: Cranford Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Peru Part I- Country Description The nation of Peru is located in the Western portion of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean on its left side, and separating Chile and Ecuador from its northern and southern perimeters. Peru is comprised of approximately 30 million people, 45% of which are Amerindian, 37% mestizo, 15% white, and 3% part of other ethnic groups. Spanish is the predominant language, and Roman Catholicism is the chief religion practiced amongst Peruvians. The Peruvian government consists of a democratic republic, containing the Executive, the Legislative Power or National Congress, and the Judicial Power. The Executive is representative of the republic's president or chief of state, and is elected every 5 years, along with the Congress, by a universal, secret, and direct vote. The Legislative branch involves the unicameral Congress, which holds 130 seats. The Judiciary, holding nationwide authority, contains the Supreme Court in addition to lower courts and tribunals. 25 regions exist for local administrative purposes and encompass the regional government. In terms of political proceedings, voting is mandatory for all citizens from ages 18-70, and a multitude of various political parties exist. These parties are representative of a wide variety of views, from Conservatives to Socialists, including the left wing Nationalist Party United Peru and the right-wing National Unity. The complex diversity of Peru's geography is embodied in its equally diverse economy. The mountainous regions host a variety of mineral resources, and the coastal regions provide optimal fishing. Peru is considered the world's second largest producer of silver, as well as the third largest producer of copper. Over half of Peru's exports consist of ores and minerals, and the majority of its imports are final and intermediate products. Peru is engaged in a free trade policy, as nearly all of its exports are encompassed in its various free trade agreements, and its US-Peru Free Trade Agreement of 2007 has dramatically widened Peru's trade margins. In the 2000s, Peru experienced economic growth, in part attributable to high mineral prices. A decline in prices from 2014-2015 resulted in a deficit, but the former half of 2016 evidenced a recovery in exports. The Peruvian GDP growth rate as of 2012 is 6.3%, a number that displays dramatically increased economic growth. Peru maintains cooperative relationships with its neighbors

such as Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, and especially those involved in the Pacific Alliance (Mexico, Colombia, and Chile). Peru is a member of a variety of international groups, including APEC, FEALAC, and CELAC, as well as having song relations with the US and Australia. Topic 1: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Peru is amongst a variety of countries harnessing energy through renewable domains. The forefront of this prowess in renewable energy consists of the usage of hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power makes up approximately 36% of total installed capacity as of 2012, and by 2014-2015, the National Energy Plan expresses the notion that 60% of electricity should be derived from hydroelectric sources and objectives exclude increasing gas use. Currently, installed capacity is divided amongst thermal and hydroelectric sources, but about 63% of Peru's energy is obtained from hydroelectric facilities. This trend demonstrates Peru's ventures to develop a sustainable energy basis and advocacy for cleaner, renewable energy endeavors. The ability for approximately 90% of the Peruvian nation to be in possession of electricity demonstrates the country's expanding economic grasp, and the continuance of this trend could provoke further developments in the realm of greener energy. In contrast to this pattern, though, Peru also has the lowest rural electrification rate in the Latin American sphere, indicative of further expanse for improvement upon the energy sector, due to lacking finances to extend and install mini grids. Despite its immense potential for harnessing wind energy, Peru has been barred from utilizing this sustainable energy source and does not fully possess the capabilities, especially economically, to take advantage of this optimal source. The nation is endowed with a wind energy potential of approximately 22,450 megawatts, but only has the current capability to employ 1% of that. Therefore, Peru has taken various strides to develop the energy component of the nation's infrastructure and has succeeded in improving upon their sustainable energy capabilities. As a country, Peru would be unopposed to considering plans regarding the expansion of forms of renewable energy. Peru would also accept mechanisms to further the advancements of energy infrastructure within its own borders, as well as encouraging them elsewhere. The Peruvian nation would highly consider resolutions involving progression of wind energy use as well as the expansion of energy into its rural sects.

Other South American countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia are also aiming to continue to rely upon and exceed their renewable energy use. These country may be upon to a South American alliance or resolution to encourage further development of renewable energy infrastructure, not only in the countries who have already implemented it, but in those that have not yet taken those strides towards renewable sources. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity In terms of biodiversity, the most recent numbers indicate that Peru is increasing in its biodiversity, being home to approximately 25,000 flora and fauna species. Peru is home to portions of the Amazon Rainforest, housing a wide variety of species. Many of these species, though, face threats, largely due to the decimation of their ecosystems, brought about by expanding agriculture, logging and hunting, and mostly deforestation to produce roads. Along the coast, carob forests are the most abundant, yet after recovering from the effects of El Nino, they still face widespread deforestation. Despite these occurrences, over 73 million hectares of natural forests still exist and protected areas maintain their level of biodiversity. With regard to marine biodiversity, Peru is a major outlet for fishing, but has encountered issues regarding overexploitation in the fishing industry. Peru has, though, seen an increase in eco-friendly exports and businesses that promote the maintenance of biodiversity. Additionally, the Peruvian nation adopted a 2014-2018 Plan of Action aligning with the declarations of the 1997 Law on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity. The Plan outlines biodiversity preserving measures and is supported by a wide basis of participatory groups. The country of Peru would be in agreement with measures aiming to preserve biodiversity. Although Peru has suffered from environmental detriments, largely attributable to the generation of roads, it is not due to a strategic, purposeful destruction of the environment, but because of a need for national expansion. The Peruvian nation would accept any plans that could simultaneously maintain their level of biodiversity, but also provide the country with means of expansion and transportation without jeopardizing the environmental state. Many nations with a more impactful global standing share Peru's position on preservation of biodiversity, recognizing that it's an issue, but maintaining focus on the impactions for its own country. Due to this trend, more developed nations such as

France, the UK, and Australia may be willing to join forces with those that also share a neutral position, but are willing to increase their motivation to improve biodiversity. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Peru is a significant nation for agriculture, primarily providing crops such as potatoes, asparagus, maize, cotton, sweet onions, herbs, mangos, sugarcane, quinoa, and coffee. Before recently, though, the agricultural sector has received little attention from the nation. Lately, the nation is working on improving they agricultural sect, expanding their agricultural productivity. The improvement of irrigation systems has increased Peru's agricultural exports and widened the agricultural sphere, as the country has chosen to focus more of their attention on diversifying agriculture as oppose to a strict emphasis of traditionally exported goods, whose revenue has fallen. Peru has developed a reliance upon synthetic fertilizers to fuel they agricultural output, a system that could be much more sustainable if guano, the former form of fertilizer, was used in place of synthetics. The world's recent captivation with using organic fertilizers could cause Peru, though, to revert back to its previous form of fertilizer. Peru would undertake any plans to benefit their agricultural sect and to improve upon the quality of their agricultural practices. The nation would be willing to better the yield of their exports by improving their agricultural practices, especially in terms of sustainability, and fulfill their agricultural potential. The country is inclined to widen their agricultural prominence, doing so in a green manner if given the proper assistance and tools to do so. If these practices could also be supported in terms of economy and politics and not strictly from an environmental perspective, the nation could pursue superior practices and simultaneously increase its agricultural realms's productivity. The Peruvian nation does participate in trade involving their agricultural goods, and would be willing to continue this free trade with countries involved and extend it to others. In order to do so, Peru would be willing to link with nations with a more developed agricultural sect, with the ability to participate in this free trade of agricultural goods, but nations with the capability to provide assistance and aid by contributing to the development of Peru's agricultural sphere and by accepting the exchange of agricultural goods between the Peruvian nation and its own.

Works Cited "Agricultural Exports on the Rise in Peru." Oxford Business Group. N.p., 21 Feb. 2016. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. FocusEconomics. "Peru Economy - GDP, Inflation, CPI and Interest Rate." FocusEconomics. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. "Peru - Country Profile." Main Details. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. "Peru - Government and Society." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. "Peru Energy Situation." Energypedia.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. Portal, International. "About Peru." Peruvian Government. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. "The World Factbook: PERU." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016.

Name: Andrew Most Delegation: Scotch Plains Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Philippines Andrew Most Scotch Plains Fanwood Delegation The Philippines Part I - Country Information The Philippines is a large country with roughly 100,000,000 people and is located in Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. My country is governed by a unitary presidential constitutional republic. Regarding the commerce, my country has a free market economy with very little but some corruption. The economy is in great condition, with low unemployment and low price fluctuation. Our GDP is $741 million. The Philippines often trades with the U.S., China, Japan, and Indonesia. The Philippines participates in numerous world organizations. Most people in the Philippines are either Catholic or Muslim. People from many countries, religions, and ethnic groups are represented in the Philippines due to its shear size. Part II - Positions on Topics: Environment and Technology B Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure The Philippines would like to contribute towards the general goal of the conference by providing clean water, electricity, communication services, and sanitation to people who live in areas where these services are not provided. The Philippines recognize that the large increase in human population will leave an extremely large and negative affect on the environment. In order to limit the negative effects we have on Earth, the Philippines

understand that we must play our part in helping find ways to build or renovate existing infrastructure in order to provide the people of the world with more basic services. We must do this without a large, negative effect on the global economies, and help out poorer countries with financial aid from the UN. Upgrading the world's infrastructure would help lessen or end the threat of global warming by reducing carbon emissions, and recycling materials. The United States may support us in starting a renewable infrastructure initiative due to current environmentally friendly movements in the country. The U.S. currently has government and private sector groups that are working towards greener energy solutions in place of fossil fuels, and this research and sharing of a common goal of finding a cleaner energy source would indicate that the U.S. would indeed provide financial support to our initiative. Canada may also support our initiative, as Canada is using more and ore wind and solar power to produce electricity and spaghetti squash. They are supportive of green energy, and thus would support our renewable infrastructure initiative. Topic 2: Agricultural Productivity If we do not find ways to grow more food, than human populations around the world would rise until an extremely large, mass die off and decrease in population due to starvation. Food prices would go up, economies would fall, and it is possible that governments will fall too if we are not able to find a means to increase food production. The Philippines recognize how big a problem this is, and would like to work with other countries in developing new strains of crops, farming practices, or farming tools to help increase our agricultural yields. The world needs to produce a lot more food by 2050 due to increasing populations. Accomplishing higher agricultural yields may be done by better farming practices. Countries that need help performing this task should be given financial aid from members of the UN, and companies or other groups that do most of the farming should have financial aid from respective governments in achieving this goal. The United States, Canada, and China would be prospective allies in helping or working with Singapore to increase agricultural yields. This is mainly due to the fact that these larger countries already are aware of their size and how they need to have a sufficient amount of food in order for theirs or any other country is to survive. These

countries are also rather large, and would greatly help the Philippines with their wealth and their research on farming yields. Topic 3: Preservation of Biodiversity The Philippines would like major greenhouse gas emitting countries like china to reduce their carbon footprint. We would like the countries of the world to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, and move towards alternative renewable energy solutions. This would affect climate change, which would in turn have a positive effect on the animals on our planet. By ending or lessening the severity of climate change, key environments would be saved, thus aiding in the preservation of the species that live on our planet. The Philippines would also like countries to implement or follow UN initiatives for fishing regulations, and laws prohibiting deforestation. Since this may be harder to do for poorer countries, the countries of the UN should all pitch in to create a financial support plan for any financially struggling countries. A large amount of the world's greenhouse gases come from China and their burning of coal for electricity. Finding an alternative way to produce electricity would help China and countries similar to China to become independent from fossil fuels. Obviously, this may prove to be a financial struggle for less financially secure countries. Therefore we must come up with a plan to set up financial aid in order to help these countries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. They are most likely using fossil fuels due to the fact that it is a much cheaper and more effective means of energy production. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels would slow down or work to end climate change, thus bettering the environments of the animals on earth.

Name: William Curtin Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Poland Name: William Curtin Delegation: Rancocas Valley Regional High School Country: Poland Committee: Environmental and Technology B Poland is a medium size country located in central Europe, east of Germany. The total area of Poland is 312,685 square kilometers and is ranked 70th in comparison to other countries in size. The population of Poland is roughly about 38,523,261 as of a 2016 estimation. 98.2% of the people are officially Polish, 1.1% are Silesian, .2% is German, .1% is Ukrainian, and 1.7% is other and unspecified. The terrain of Poland is relatively flat except for the southern border of Poland that has mountains. The climate of Poland is typically cloudy severe winters with precipitation and mild summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. Their government is a parliamentary republic with an executive, legislative, and a judicial branch. The executive branch consists of the president himself (along with his cabinet) and the prime minister. Their executive branch consists of the Senate and the Sejm. The Judicial branch consists of their supreme court which has 116 judges and a president of the entire supreme court. Poland's economy has grown somewhat slowly in the past couple years but with the help of economic reforms they hope to spur long-term growth for the nation. Poland already has strict sanctions within its country to preserve its biodiversity. They believe strongly in the preservation of biodiversity and since 1991 have passed four laws regarding the environment and preserving the animals as well as the plants. These acts include the Inspection on Environmental Protection, the Poland Animal Protection Act, an act regarding waste, and an act on access to information on environmental protection and environmental impact assessments. In a span from 1990-2010 Poland has lost 73 hectares to deforestation. However, they make great efforts in reforestation and have countered deforestation greatly. Poland as a country is for preserving biodiversity due to its own great biodiversity and need to preserve it to keep balance.

While Poland already made the necessary reforms to preserve its own biodiversity we could benefit from other countries worldwide doing the same. Other countries could consider the work we have done such as the acts we have passed or the actions we did. For example a country could pass similar acts to the Poland Animal Protection Act to ensure the survival of a dwindling species living in their country. In addition they could do some reforestation to counter the deforestation that occurs within their borders. As a unified community worldwide many countries can benefit from acts being passed worldwide to preserve the biodiversity in every country but individually, Poland is in a good place as it does not require any immediate action to preserve its biodiversity. The reactions to other countries by using our acts as an outline for their own would be nothing short of pure satisfaction. All countries could benefit from an act passing preserving not only animals but the environment they live in as well. Countries who are against the idea of worldwide acts preserving biodiversity might be countries who are not that threatened by deforestation. In addition to this it might be countries who don't have a lot of endangered species living in their country. With a large dependency on fossil fuels, approximately 89% Poland is in need of the improvement of their energy infrastructure. Due to their Cold War era infrastructure construction, Poland pollutes their environment heavily. This includes waste running into freshwater ways and polluting the atmosphere. They are again heavily dependent on fossil fuels and specifically coal, lignite, and petroleum. With only 11% dependency on clean renewable energy Poland needs to increase the percent to not only have clean renewable energy but to also save and protect their environment. With such a large dependency I propose a plan to cut down the use of fossil fuels and cause countries to invest into clean energy. I propose that countries invest a minimum 10% of their national budget into clean renewable energy programs. From this they can cut back on fossil fuel usage have sustainable renewable energy. They an invest the 10% into energy such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. Of course with this plan each country would have to alter their national budget but they can not only save more money due to the renewable energy but they can save their environment and prevent pollution.

From this plan I expect to see mixed reactions from a bunch of countries. Countries already heavily invested into clean energy will be not happy since due to the fact they don't need to invest anymore into clean energy. Countries who are not invested into clean energy will be mad. This is due to the fact they will be forced to change not only their national budget but also invest into an energy source different from those they have become dependent on using. Although mad the countries will benefit from this plan significantly in the long run. In the country of Poland, its agriculture is essential to its economy. Being the second largest producer of rye and potatoes we thrive off the sales of these within the country and on the international level to make a profit. We fully use the space of land we have within our country and the quality of the soil to have our agriculture continuously thrive. Approximately 60% of the land in Poland is taking up by farming and being such a large percentage puts emphasis on the importance and role it is has in our economy. As we are under no direct threat in terms of our agriculture we see no need to make actions for it. Again, Poland is already set in terms of agriculture we have enough to feed our people and enough to sell to people who need it. We do not feel to the needs to make a plan and change our ways when we as an individual nation our set. If a plan was to be suggested we could suggest a plan that designates certain countries with the space, climate, and population able to work as countries to be mostly agricultural countries. With this in place we can grow enough food for countries worldwide and in return the countries would receive profit and allow a steady incline of wealth in their countries economy. Other countries may see how we don't show a lot of interest in forming a plan, however, this is all due to the fact we have figured out to be successful agriculturally and do not want to have to change our ways. They may view us as selfish when in fact we don't want to change our system and everything we have built in terms of agriculture. They themselves must work out how to grow agriculture or countries in the same position must collaborate to grow their agriculture. Countries who have the system of agriculture working for them should not have to alter everything they have.

Name: Mikayla Butz-Weidner Delegation: Council Rock South Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Portugal The Portuguese Republic, or Portugal, has a population of 10,833,816 people. It is located in the southwestern portion of Europe. On the east, it borders Spain, its only bordering country. To the south and west of Portugal is the Atlantic Ocean, giving the nation a huge coast. In fact, Portugal occupies about one-fifth-and most of the western coast-of the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal has four major rivers in it: the Minho, Tagus, Guadiana, and Douro. At one point, most of Portugal was occupied by forests, but today only 37% of the country is occupied by forests. Much of the country has turned to urbanization, which has had significant environmental effects, specifically with air pollution, water pollution, and soil erosion. Most of the Portuguese diet is predominantly fish as the coast is convenient. The government in Portugal is a parliamentary democracy with a president serving as head of state and a prime minister serving as head of government. The head of state and is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president appoints the prime minister, who in turn works with the president to select the Council of Ministers, which comprises all the ministries of government. The current president is Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa and the prime minister is Antonio Luis Santos da Costa. The legislative body is the 230-member Assembly of the Republic, one-chambered parliament whose members are directly elected by the people on the basis of proportional representation for four-year terms. The parliament discusses and votes on legislation, raises government revenue, and approves laws. Portugal has a judicial branch completely separate from all other branches of government. It is comprised of a thirteen member Constitutional Tribunal and a sixty-one-member Supreme Court of Justice. Since the revolution in 1974, the two most prominent political parties in Portugal have been the Social Democratic party and the Socialist Party. The Social Democratic Party supports a free market economy with increased privatization of state enterprise and encourages close ties with the European Union. The country has only been democratic since 1976 after a rebellion coming at the end of a long reigning dictator, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. In modern times, poverty has been a huge problem in Portugal. Following a downturn in the global economy in 2001, high unemployment and budget deficits are major concerns for Portugal's current government. Most manufacturing jobs are in concentrated areas, consequently resulting in large emigration number from isolated and less prosperous rural areas. The tourist industry is equally large in Portugal, but like other industries, struggles to find a balance between profits and not harming the country environmentally. Two main problems resulting from the industry are urban sprawl (uncontrolled expansion of cities) and overpopulation. These are two problems that often challenge national policy makers. Over 70% of families in Portugal live in substandard living conditions without electricity or water. As more people immigrate to

the cities, there is a shortage of urban housing. This leads to an increase in the development of Shantytowns, also substandard living and often without sewage systems. Bus service links all Portuguese cities, towns, and principal villages. Most road travel is on paved but winding roads. There are few highways, and many back roads are inaccessible to traffic. Like the roads, the state-owned rail system runs mainly north/south, branching eastward into Spain in places. The main ports are Lisbon, Setubal, and Porto. In terms of technology in regard to communication, Portugal has a state of the art phone system with broadband and high-speed capabilities. Radio is also utilized for communication greatly. More people use cell phones than telephones on lines. About 11 million subscriptions to mobile phones are in portugal, in face exceeding the population. Within the country, only 68.6% of the nation, or 7.43 million people, use the internet. Agriculture is a huge part of Portugal which takes place in rural areas often. This, in combination with the lack of highways, omnipresent railways, and updated roads contributes to the lack of communication via internet that skips over 68% of the nation. Improving infrastructure and consequently communication could improve these statistic of technology prevalent throughout the country. As mentioned before, fish is the primary source in the Portuguese diet. The average person in Portugal eats about 45 kg (100 lbs) of it every year. This is due to the fact that portugal has such an advantageous coastline where they can freely fish. As fish plays such a massive role in Portugese food, preventing water pollution is vital. However, due to the oil and cellulose industries, coastal areas are threatened by pollutants. Portugal has 37 cubic kilometers of renewable water, of which 53% is used to support farming and 40% is for industrial activity. To remedy this water pollution, preserve the non polluted water, and make a more sustainable future for Portugal, wind energy should be integrated into the industries, specifically manufacturing, to usurp the need for oil. Wind energy, although not necessarily sustainable enough to support all of Portugal, could be supplemented in cases where possible to lessen the amount of oil drilling on the coast occurs. This would also aid the fish living on the coast and continue biodiversity. In all, the nation's cities produce about 2.6 million pounds of waste per year. Air pollution also poses a huge threat to Portugal. The emissions of nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxides, and carbon through the industrial factories are high in Portugal. Investments in scrubbers for chimneys in factories should be made to capture some of these emissions before they can reach the air. Also modernizing factories not up to code or standards would help decrease air pollution. Erosion and desertification of land is a significant problem in Portugal as well. Of Portugal's land, 39.7% is used for agriculture, but 12.4% of the population is living under the poverty line. While farming is widespread, it is not necessarily lucrative in all cases and many farmers may not be able to farm in the most sustainable ways. One effect of this other than air pollution from low grade farming technology is soil erosion. Eroding soil threatens to significantly affect the food and exports available from Portugal. The nation grows many fruits including peaches, strawberries, oranges, figs, plums, pineapples, and

passion fruit, but with soil eroded, these fruits may not be able to grow, affecting the nation's food supply and profits from exports of produce and trade. Also without these fruits growing, organisms that depend on them for resources will decrease in population, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Desertification occurs with the masses of people migrating from rural agricultural areas to the cities, or in some cases the Shantytowns, for hopes of employment and better communication. Desertification is bad for the country because it forces organisms off the land, decreasing biodiversity, and it it wastes the land while there is severe overpopulation in cities. Works Cited "Portugal - Environment." Environment - Portugal - Average, Farming. Advameg, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Portugal." Gale Encyclopedia of World History: Governments. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Student Resources in Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Portugal." Kids' Games, Animals, Photos, Stories, and More. National Geographic, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Portugal." Portugal - European Environment Agency. European Environment Agency, 18 Feb. 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. "Portuguese." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Jeneen Hobby. 2nd ed. Vol. 5: Europe. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 390-394. Student Resources in Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

"The World Factbook: PORTUGAL." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Name: Ritik Shah Delegation: Community YMCA Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Russia Part 1- Country Description The country of Russia covers over 17 million square kilometers in Europe and Asia. Most of Russia's northern land borders the Arctic Ocean with Russia's eastern coast bordering several seas that are a part of the northern Pacific Ocean. Russia's vast land even extends to the Caspian and Black Sea. Due to its far reaching boundaries Russia borders many countries including Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Ukraine, and China. Russia's primary language is Russian and of Russia's 143.5 million residents, 20% are Russian Orthodox and 15% are Muslim. Russia's large area is home to many different geographical landmarks like the Siberian Plateau and the Ural Mountains. Russia also has many rivers most of which flow northward into the Arctic sea but the longest river, Volga, flows southward into the Caspian Sea. Russia's natural resources are mainly oil and lumber. Because of this Russia's major exports are primarily petroleum, wood, and natural gas, but also include chemicals and metals. Agriculturally, Russia has wheat, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, milk, and beef. Russia's industry is comprised primarily of textile and mining industry but recently, industrial growth has stalled. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the economy shifted from a central economic system to a more open market system. Russia still has a large amount of wealth concentrated in the hands of officials even after significant changes. Changes in the 1990s also privatized many industries which goes hand in hand with the shift towards a market based system. This market based system has also led to the rise of dependence on exports like steel, lumber, and oil. Russia's export partners include China, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Belarus, and Japan. Russia's export dependence has also made it very susceptible to boom and bust cycles and in 2015 Russia suffered an economic recession with the GDP dropping nearly 4%. This recession occurred after a prosperous decade from 1998 to 2008. Russia's current GDP is 3.72 trillion USD for PPP and 1.325 trillion USD for official exchange rate. Politically, Russia identifies as a semi-presidential federation. After the fall of Gorbachev and the Soviet union, Boris Yeltsin took over in 1991. From 1991 to 1999 there was a period of political and economic turmoil in Russia which included the Chechen war in 1994 and an economic recession in 1998. What followed was a steady recovery from the recession and the election of Vladimir Putin on the year 2000. From 2000 to 2008, Putin was president and once again resumed from 2012 until present day. In between was a period when Dmitry Medvedev was president. Currently Russia's semi-presidential federation consists of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch consists of President Vladimir Putin and his administration. The legislative branch is the federal assembly which has a 178-seat

Federation Council and 450-seat State Duma representing the 21 Russian Republics and 66 independent regions and territories. The Judicial branch has the Supreme Court with 170 members organized into various panels and the Constitutional Court. The executive branch in Russia, primarily the president, controls the direction of foreign and domestic policy, but the president also has other more authoritative powers. The president can issue decrees without judicial review and even dissolve the state duma when he or she sees fit. This gives the President far more power than the other two branches. The legislative branch discuss primarily subnational policies and have the power to remove the president from office. The judicial branch deals with national level cases and determining whether certain policies fit the requirements laid down by the constitution. Much of the current political system in Russia was created by Boris Yeltsin when he started his term in 1991. Russia is in alliance with NATO and belongs in groups like CIS and OSCE. Part 2- Positions on Topics Topic 1: Preservation of Biodiversity When it comes to biodiversity, Russia is keen on preserving it. Through its legislation, Russia has made clear that they give importance to "favorability" of land. Russia has several federal laws which show that it wants to preserve biodiversity. One of their laws is designed to give priority to conservation of natural ecosystems, natural landscapes, and natural complexes. Russia already has many facilities set up for wildlife like 35 national parks and 100 strict nature reserves known as Zapovedniks. Russia preserves wildlife by Studying and protecting endangered plants and animals and recording them in the Red Book of Russia. Russia is also creating and managing protected natural areas, improving environmental legislation, and developing and implementing federal programs for preservation. One way to improve biodiversity is to increase the use of renewable energy since things like oil and coal causes pollution, which harms biodiversity. A potential method for increasing use of renewable energy is publishing a set of guidelines for a renewable energy program that is still profitable for nations. This results in a slower incorporation of renewable energy rather than a programmed switch to renewable energy. Since the beginning of 2016, oil prices have dropped drastically, thus making it less profitable for nations to produce their own oil, especially for countries like Russia. Now would be the ideal time to incorporate renewable energy especially because many countries have the space and resources to do so. One problem deals with private sector corporations that

fail to comply with national and international preservation goals. These efforts would be accounted for if nature preserves existed within privately owned areas. One way to do so is making laws that require companies to build rooftop gardens or other nature preserving structures in their facilities. This can be paid for by the government but must be upheld by the company. It is critical to ensure that laws prohibit private corporations in building factories in areas that would destroy ecosystems or harm nearby ecosystems due to emissions. If needed the government could also penalize companies and perhaps make them pay a fee for using certain areas of land. This money could go towards nature reserves and would also discourage companies from building on grounds close to important ecosystems. Russia would also like to improve upon current regulations being implemented by countries. The most important thing to keep in mind for regulations is that they must be incorporated slowly, giving companies time to adjust. In order to create incentives, it is possible to give recognition to companies who invest in natural preservation sites. This would boost the image of the company in the eyes of other institutions in the private sector. Countries like China, Germany, Mexico, United Kingdom, North Korea, and the United States all share the same vision as Russia. They all have the potential resource requirements for increasing biodiversity and all take measures to do so. However, these countries also want to take further steps to improve biodiversity and are willing to invest in order to do so. Topic 2: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Currently Russia is not very advanced in terms of sustainable energy infrastructure, however Russia does plan on incorporating more sources of renewable energy in the near future. At the moment, Russia runs on 17% renewable energy with 16% of it coming from hydropower. Russia does meet the geographical requirements for renewable energy with vast amounts of open land. In the next few years, Russia will need to add 20,000 MW of energy generation technology in order to provide adequate energy to its citizens. Russia plans on making a lot of this infrastructure renewable energy and the IFC already is involved in a plan known as the Russian Renewable Energy Program. One goal of the UN is to improve current infrastructure to make it more efficient and attain the UN Millennial goals for sustainability. One way to do this is to improve transportation systems. There are thousands of train systems that are still running on very old technologies; One way to fix this problems is to modernize transportation systems with something like maglev trains which are much more efficient than conventional rails. Countries like China have had success with this. Another way to

improve current infrastructure is to make heating and cooling systems more efficient by updating the technology. In order for a lot of these renewable energy programs to be possible, the private sector needs incentives to invest in the projects. To do so, the government can create stable and fair tax policies on renewable infrastructure facilities in order to attract investors. To take this one step further, governments can subsidize these projects with something like the PTC or production tax credit. With PTCs governments would financially support the renewable energy project for the first few years which would give investors in the private sector a stable startup program. Countries such as China, Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, and France all have the geographical requirements for building sustainable energy infrastructure, but have not yet done much building. Despite this, these countries, just like Russia, plan on building such infrastructure soon, and will most likely want to do so slowly without massive economic repercussions. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Russia is the largest country in the world by a large margin and owns 22% of the world's timber resources, yet their agricultural productivity is not very potent. In fact, despite exporting a massive amount of grain, Russia imports more and their economy is not as efficient. Russia however does want to change this and have issued a state programs that financially supports agriculture every year. Even if Russia continues support agriculture, it must do so intelligently by increasing agricultural efficiency and making good use of its resources. The world is becoming increasingly urban: From 1950 to 2014 the number of people living in cities has risen from 746 million to 3.6 billion. With all this urbanization, farmers would be tempted to migrate to cities and search for opportunities. The problem is that these farmers are the basis of many economies and need to stay. Most of the time, farmers go to cities in order to search for better opportunities because their farm is not doing well. The government can get farmers to stay however by offering expensive and vital machinery that farmers would usually not be able to afford. This would allow farmers to be more efficient and cause them to stay in more bucolic area as well. It's also important to know that with this urbanization has come immense population growth. Land is limited however, therefore we need to work towards increasing efficiency and output per acre in order to feed the growing world population. One way to do this is to improve irrigation systems. Historically we have seen early civilizations take advantage of irrigation and allow them to become more powerful. We too can learn from this and improve our irrigation systems. We also need to make sure land stays fertile. Four-field rotations should already be in place and on top of that we need

to use better fertilizer. Scientists are always developing new fertilizers to improve our agriculture and we must give funding to research programs and implement these more efficient fertilizers instead of sticking to older, less efficient fertilizers. Currently soil fertility around the world is dropping due to excessive use of pesticides and herbicides leading to runoff. An up and coming solution to this problem is implementing the use of Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis crops. These genetically modified crops have genes that act as a natural pesticide. BT crops are environmentally friendly and even cheaper than pesticides since you need no manpower or fuel costs to implements them. Simply obtain the BT seeds and plant as usual. This is a great investment for any country to make but should be used in moderation since Bt crops can also be poisonous to monarch butterflies. The United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, China, and India all fall under the same conditions as Russia. All these countries need support in terms of agricultural productivity just like Russia. They may have plans to improve this but for the most part they need some sort of direction. Work Cited Katona, V. (2016). Realizing Russia's renewable energy potential in 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.russia-direct.org/opinion/realizing-russias-renewable-energy-potential-2017

Liefert, O., Liefert, W. (February, 2015). Russia's Economic Crisis and its Agricultural and Food Economy. Choices. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/russias-economic-crisis-and-its-agricultural-and-food-economy REC::Air. (2016). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://education.rec.org/ru/en/biodiversity/in_russia/04-04-05-02-01.shtml Russia Renewable Energy Program. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/RegProjects_Ext_Content/ifc_external_corporate_site/home-rrep The Power of Renewable Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/increase-renewable-energy#.WD-PXKIrKu6 The World Factbook: RUSSIA. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html World's population increasingly urban with more than half living in urban areas UN DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (July, 2014). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/world-urbanization-prospects-2014.html

Name: Zachary Hom Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Singapore Name: Zachary Hom Delegation:Westfield Country: Singapore Committee:Environment and Technology B Part I - Country Information Singapore is a smaller country that is located in southeast asia, with approximately 5, 785,000 people. My countryis governed by a parliamentary republic; we have a president who appoints the Prime and Deputy Prime Ministers. Singapore's executive branch is controlled by its legislative branch. Regarding the commerce, my country has a free market economy with very little corruption. The economy is in great condition, with low unemployment and low price fluctuation. Our per capita GDP is $55,182.48. We border Malaysia, and very oftentrade with China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. Singapore was one of the original founders of ASEAN, and participates in numerous world organizations. Most people in Singapore are either buddhist, muslim, or taoist. People from many countries, religions, and ethnic groups are represented in Singapore, and one may describe Singapore a cultural melting pot. Part II - Positions on Topics: Environment and Technology B

Topic 1: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Singapore would like to contribute towards the general goal of the conference of providing clean water, electricity, communication services, and sanitation to people who live in areas where these services are not provided. Singapore recognizes that the increase in human population will leave an extremely large and negative affect on our environment. In order to limit the negative effects we have on Earth, Singapore understands that we must play our part in helping find ways to build or renovate existing infrastructure in order to provide the people of the world with more basic services that human beings should have in the 21st century. We must do this without a large, negative effect on the global economies, and help out poorer countries with financial aid from the UN. Upgrading the world's infrastructure would help lessen or end the threat of global warming by reducing carbon emissions, and recycling materials. In beginning our plan to upgrade the world's infrastructure, Singapore asks other countries if they would like to join our effort in the Environment and Technology Committee and help find ways for us to pay for or create infrastructure plans that are less harmful or even beneficial towards the environment. For all countries who would need assistance in building their infrastructure, Singapore asks that a financial aide program be implemented accordingly. The United States may support us in starting a renewable infrastructure initiative due to current environmentally friendly movements in the country, as well as the fact that the US is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The US currently has government and private sector groups that are working towards greener energy solutions in place of fossil fuels, and this research and sharing of a common goal of finding a cleaner energy source would indicate that the US would indeed provide financial support to our initiative. Canada may also support our initiative, as Canada is using more and ore wind and solar power to produce electricity. They are supportive of green energy, and thus would support our renewable infrastructure initiative. Topic 2: Agricultural Productivity

If we do not find ways to grow more food, then human populations around the world would rise until an extremely large, mass die off and decrease in population due to starvation. Food prices would go up, economies would fall, and it is possible that governments will fall too if we are not able to find a means to increase food production. Singapore recognizes how big a problem this is, and would like to work with other countries in developing new strains of crops, farming practices, or farming tools to help increase our agricultural yields. The world needs to produce a lot more food by 2050 due to increasing populations. We need to find ways to create more food, getting the greatest yield of food for the time, space, and nutrients that would be spent growing it. Accomplishing higher agricultural yields may be done by better farming practices. Countries that need help performing this task should be given financial aid from members of the UN, and companies or other groups that do most of the farming should have financial aid from respective governments in achieving this goal. The United States, Canada, China, and Russia would be prospective allies in helping or working with Singapore to increase agricultural yields. This is mainly due to the fact that these larger countries already are aware of their size and how they need to have a sufficient amount of food in order for theirs or any other country is to survive. These countries are also rather large, and would greatly help Singapore with their wealth and their already existent research on farming yields, and botany in general. Three of the four countries above are on the security council, and if this problem is brought to light, it is sure to eventually become a major topic on the security council's agenda, as food shortages can easily cause the people to become angry and hostile Topic 3: Preservation of Biodiversity Singapore would like major greenhouse gas emitting countries like china to reduce their carbon footprint. We would like the countries of the world to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, and move towards alternative renewable energy solutions. This would affect climate change, which would in turn have a positive effect on the animals on our planet. By ending or lessening the severity of climate change, key environments would be saved, thus aiding in the preservation of the species that live on our planet. Singapore would also like countries to implement or follow UN initiatives for fishing regulations, and laws prohibiting deforestation. Since this may be harder to do for

poorer countries, the countries of the UN should all pitch in to create a financial support plan for any financially struggling countries. A large amount of the world's greenhouse gases come from China and their burning of coal for electricity. Finding an alternative way to produce electricity would help China and countries similar to China to become independent from fossil fuels. Obviously, this may prove to be a financial struggle for less financially secure countries. Therefore we must come up with a plan to set up financial aid in order tohelp these countriesreduce their reliance on fossil fuels. They are most likely using fossil fuels due to the fact that it is a much cheaper and more effective means of energy production. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels would slow down or work to end climate change, thus bettering the environments of the animals on earth. Decreasing overfishing and deforestation would have a direct, faster impact on the species in those ecosystems, and in order for our above plan to work, we need to at least keep current populations of species alive, and that means preserving their habitats and making sure that their populations do not drop too much due to our fishing practices. Other smaller, poorer countries would agree with my country in receiving financial aid in making our way towards achieving our goal of protecting the world's biodiversity, like Malaysia, South Africa, Congo, Liberia, etc. Larger countries, like France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China would be willing to offer financial support in protecting and preserving our world's wildlife. Works Cited Central Intelligence Agency. "East & Southeast Asia :: Singapore." Edited by Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, edited by Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed 19 Oct. 2019. Department of Energy. "Electric Power." Edited by Department of Energy. Energy.gov, edited by Department of Energy, Department of Energy. Accessed 10 Nov. 2016. Leinbach, Thomas R., et al. "Singapore." Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2016. Accessed 19 Oct. 2016. The World Bank. "GDP per Capita (current US$)." The World Bank, edited by The World Bank, World Bank Group. Accessed 19 Oct. 2016.

---. "GDP per Capita (current US$)." Edited by The World Bank. The World Bank, edited by The World Bank, World Bank. Accessed 19 Oct. 2016. Natural Resources Canada. "About Renewable Energy." Natural Resources Canada, edited by Natural Resources Canada, 29 June 2016. Accessed 10 Nov. 2016. Tesla Motors. "Solar Roof." Tesla, edited by Tesla Motors, Tesla Motors. Accessed 10 Nov. 2016.

Name: Tapasya Nangpal Delegation: Montgomery Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: South Korea The republic of South Korea occupies the lower half of the Korean peninsula, neighboring North Korea. The peninsula is connected to the continent of Asia. At 38,691 sq miles (99,720 square km, Even smaller than New York State) and has a growing population of 50,924,172 (As of july 2016). With small amount of land in comparison to the large human population it is no surprise that South Korea has developed into a highly urbanised and industrialised nation. The government is a democratic republic and their current president is President Park Guen-hye. She is the first women who has been elected for the position and is serving the third of her four year term as of 2016. Despite the fact that the vast majority of the Korean population are of Korean descent, more and more people immigrate their annually as immigration becomes easier, bringing different cultures together. South Korea is located relatively close to the equator, the climate is temperate with rainy summers and cooler winters. However, with its highly industrialized economy comes several environmental issues which would be important to address within this community. South Korea suffers high levels of air and water pollution from sewage and factory emissions. South Korea is the second largest importer of liquefied natural gas in the world. However, about one third of South Korea's energy consumption is nuclear energy. As mentioned in the description of South Korea, our country is highly urbanised. 88% of people live in urban areas, which seems logical due to the high density of humans in comparison to the relatively small size of the country. While in recent decades industrialization has created a wealth of prosperous opportunities for mankind to expand, it poses many issues that could perhaps have a largely negative impact on the human race. In this meeting regarding renewable energy and infrastructure, South Korea aims to identify a way to reduce the amount of fossil fuels being used as of today by replacing it with an environmentally friendly substitute. However, we also want to make sure that these new implementations are financially feasible and that it can cater to the high demand for electricity in our society. Korea's wildlife and ecosystems strongly resemble the ones in the nearby regions of the republic of China. However, recent years have proven that with the high urbanization of our country, our biodiversity in in grave danger. We have cut down most of our forestal regions and overfishing is also taking its toll on our aquatic habitats. South korea would like to support resolutions that would help us preserve land from further human

settlement and agriculture. However, we can not let this be a heavy financial burden as we would like to allocate more of our gdp for alternative energy. Nearly 20 percent of our land is used for agriculture. Despite the fact that none of our main exports root in agriculture, we do weight it heavily in importance because it is required to feed and sustain our people. With a growing population it is no surprise that we and other countries are looking for a way to make our fields yield better and numerous crops. However, the environment does take a toll when we use it for farming and that is an issue south korea is willing to look into and fund. When we make a body of land suitable for farming, we are also tearing that habitat away from its inhabitants, therefore tampering with our ecosystems. South Korea would like to support and would be very much in favor of any resolutions pertaining towards making the land we do have more effective for farming and any resolution that allows us to sustain our ecosystems alongside our agricultural department.

Name: Max Lusk Delegation: Scotch Plains Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Sudan Sudan, the largest country on the continent, is located in north-east Africa, and its capital is Khartoum. The 36,729,501 Sudanese people citizens draw from the Arabic, English, Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur languages to communicate. A presidential republic, Sudan grants universal suffrage to all those over the age of 17. The last elections held in 2015 resulted in the selection of Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR as President of Sudan. Sudan's GDP is $167 billion, which is a world ranking of 71, and GDP growth rate is 3.5%. The GDP breakdown is as follows: Agricultural - 28.6%,Industry - 20.5%,Service - 50.9%. Sudan's key natural resources include petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower. Major trading partners of Sudan include the United Arab Emirates, China, and Saudi Arabia. The average life expectancy in Sudan is 64 years, and for every 1000 individuals, the number of births is 28.5 and deaths are 7.5. The literacy in Sudan is 75.9%, with 2.2% of GDP being used for educational expenditures. The majority of people in Sudan practice Sunni Muslim, with a small Christian minority. Sudan has a large level of biodiversity, with its geography fostering a wide variety of insect species. The uniqueness, and rarity of many native plant species make it critical for Sudan's biodiversity to be preserved and protected. There are currently many threats that pose a danger to Sudan's biodiversity, a few are drought, civil war, poaching, and fire. The populations in Sudan's rural regions are all approaching their carrying capacity. Urban development as a result of citizens migrating to cities is a major threat to biodiversity. Efforts are being made to combat the dangers to biodiversity. Unfortunately, weak infrastructureand loose laws make it difficult to secure protection. Sudan has a large rural population that depends on agriculture for personal resources and as a source of income. The nation's had large amounts of arable land due to its extensive groundwater resources. Sorghum, cotton, sunflower groundnuts, fruit trees, wheat, vegetables, alfalfa, forage sorghum are the main crops grown in irrigated farming. Sudan's crops are grown in a variety of soils including yermosols, arenosols, vertisols, nitosols, ferralsols, and hill soils. Works Cited

"Sudan - Country Profile." Main Details. CBD Secretariat, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. <https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/default.shtml?country=sd#facts>. "The World Factbook: SUDAN." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html>. ZAROUG, MAHGOUB. "Sudan." Sudan. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. <http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/sudan/sudan.htm>.

Name: Keegan Martin Delegation: Cranford Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Sweden Part One: Country Information Sweden, a Scandinavian country, is located in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Finland and Norway and is connected to Denmark via tunnel. Despite being the third largest country in the European Union, it has a fairly low population of 9.9 million inhabitants, with a 21 person per square kilometer density. Most of its citizens live in urban areas, comprising 85% of the total population. There is no official data on the major ethnicities found in the country, however the official language is Swedish. The current government stands as a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, led by Carl XVI Gustaf, the monarch. Some of the major religious groups are Protestants, Muslims, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians. Sweden ranks highly in almost all social equality indicators, scoring 7th in per capita GDP and 14th in HDI. Because of Sweden's relatively small population, little energy is needed to support the people, however, as a result of a fuel crisis in 1973, the country has become almost completely reliant on renewable energy sources. Likewise the consumption of fossil fuels for the creation of energy has also largely decreased. Part Two: Position on Topics Topic One: Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Prior to 1970, the primary source of energy in Sweden came from oil, but in 1973 a crisis in the supply led to a rapid shift in the country's source of energy. In 1970, oil comprised 75% of Sweden's source of energy, whereas today it makes up only around 20%. Since the crisis, the Swedish government has continued to expand the renewable resource industry with the addition of wind turbines. Currently, the largest sources of energy come from hydroelectric and nuclear power. Additional sources of energy also include biofuels and peat. Despite the success of these many alternative energy sources, there has been recent controversy over the use of nuclear power because of the possible dangers it poses. Following an accident regarding a nuclear power plant in the United States, Swedish officials proposed a possible ban of nuclear power, however the ban was voted against

by the public, with 83% favoring nuclear power. Despite this, officials plan to institute several long term programs that would end domestic oil use, decrease the amount of nuclear plants, and increase the number of hydroelectric and wind-powered generators. While there aren't many countries that have become fully reliant on renewable resources, many have started the process. Countries such as Iceland, Norway, Uruguay, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo would strongly agree with Sweden's actions as all of them rely heavily on renewable resources for energy. Countries such as Cuba, Afghanistan, Chad, Bangladesh, Israel, Kuwait, and Iraq would strongly disagree with Sweden's policies because they rely heavily on fossil fuels for energy production. Topic Two: Preservation of Biodiversity Based on its far northern location, Sweden is has relatively low biodiversity. Therefore, in addition to extensive environmental to many government instituted amendments that limit land use and protect the environment, Sweden isn't particularly concerned with any issues of maintaining biodiversity. Despite this, Sweden does face a few problems in regards to biodiversity and its upkeep. The two main difficulties are the logging industry and pollution discharge. Logging will be discussed in the proceeding topic, but the causes of pollution in Sweden are sourced from agricultural and waste treatment runoff. These pollutants have caused harm to the native flora and fauna, acidifying the bodies of water in southern regions of the country. However, the government has imposed laws that regulate and manage waste disposal. These enactments had been greatly successful, as remains as one of the top environmentally-dedicated countries in Europe. This has allowed them to increase their percentage of recycled material to 99% of all solid waste. Countries such as Poland, Switzerland, Chad, Finland, Denmark, and Kuwait would agree with Sweden's policies on biodiversity because they too have been able to limit the number of endangered species in their territory. On the other hand, Indonesia, Cameroon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and the United States may disagree with Sweden's policies regarding biodiversity because they have May endangered species in their country. Topic Three: Agricultural Productivity Because of its small population and subarctic location, only 7% of Sweden's land is dedicated to agriculture, with only 3% of land overall being urbanized. The remaining

land is largely uninhabited, 65% of it existing as forest. While agriculture has not created very many issues, the logging industry has. Logging currently stands as the largest threat to Sweden's biodiversity and ecology. Over 2000 species forest-dwelling are currently endangered as a direct result of logging. This problem continues to exist as Sweden's largest obstacle with only small efforts being made to impede it. Works Cited "Sweden." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2016. MUN Matrix

Name: Jennifer Polios Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: UAE Jennifer Polios United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. UAE is in the Middle East and it lies between Oman and Saudi Arabia. It is a federation made up of seven emirates. The total area of the country is 83,600 kilometers. It is the 115 highest in the world. The UAE is about the size of Maine and only slightly larger than South Carolina. The terrain of the UAE is mixed between mountains in the east, flat land, and sand dunes of the desert. The length of the coastline is 1,318 kilometers. On both sides of it are the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The population is a total of 5,927,482and is 112 highest in the world. The main religion of the UAE is Muslim (official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15%. The official language of the UAE is Arabic, and other languages spoken are Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu. United Arab Emirates is a federation of monarchies. They have a mixed legal system of Islamic law and civil law. Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the president of the UAE. The UAE is most known for their iconic skylines of high-rises and famous beach resorts. They are dependent on exporting oil, and a large expatriate workforce. Some of their agricultural products are dates, vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and fish. The GDP for purchasing power $644 billion as of 2015. They are the thirty-third highest in the world. The UAE has a low unemployment rate at 2.4%. Some of the most common career fields in the UAE are Healthcare (60%), Retail/Trade and Logistics (55%), and IT and Telecom/ISP (49%). The UAE is 100% dependent on fossil fuels. Since they supply a large portion of oil for the world the UAE has been reluctant to shift towards renewable energy resources.The government is aware that if they do switch over to renewable resources there would be a saving of 1-3.7 billion. Due to the fact that the government has been reluctant to switch over to renewable resources they have incentivized solar installation which can produce 3,000 MW and nuclear reactors which can produce 1,400 MW. The solar installations are renewable because solar power is renewable. The nuclear reactors are non-renewable because nuclear power plants use uranium and uranium is a nonrenewable resource. The UAE would want the UN to make a resolution that would help the country stay with the the energy supply they have now. The reason that they are using fossil fuels is because there is the vast availability of it and the lack of geographical advantages to sustain renewable energy. They know that if they switch over to renewable resources they would actually be able to save that 1-3.7 billion. They would want this because, they would stay with what they know and what they are comfortable with. The UAE

would want the UN to make a resolution that would help the country stay with the energy supply they have now. There are some countries that agree and disagree with the UAE. Some of the countries that would agree with the UAE are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Poland, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, and Ukraine. They would agree with the UAE because they all predominantly depend on fossil fuels. The countries that would disagree with the UAE would be the countries that are switching over to renewable resources or the countries that are dependent on renewable resources. They would disagree because they believe that we will run out of fossil fuels and not have any way to get energy. The UAE maintains a moderate perspective on the preservation of biodiversity. When it comes to preserving biodiversity and focus on facing their own, unique challenges toward achieving preservation the UAE is neutral on this. The UAE has been setting goals and strategies to support biodiversity for the years to come. From 1990-2010 they gained 285,000 hectares of forests. As of 2009 they only had 32 endangered species. Due to the fact that the country is especially hot and dry it limits the richness of the biodiversity. There are some places where wildlife is able to survive and in those places there is a decent amount of plant and animal species. Due to climate change, tourism, and lack of arable land those species are in danger. To try and help this issue the country has made the "Biodiversity Strategy of the United Arab Emirates (2014-2021). The UAE would want the UN to make a resolution that would help protect the species that are in the areas that are at risk. They would want this because it would keep their species safe. The reason why people want to protect endangered species is because once they are gone their there is no coming back. The UAE has already made their own organization that protects the species, but with help from the UN they will be able to have more resources. With the more resources they will be able to do more to help the species. There are some countries that will agree and disagree with the UAE. Some countries that would agree with the UAE are Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, China, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe. They would agree with them because they all have a moderate perspective on the preservation of biodiversity. Countries that would disagree with the UAE would be countries that strongly advocate the preservation of biodiversity. Other countries that would disagree with the UAE would be countries that are harming biodiversity. The UAE wants to help protect their biodiversity.

The UAE has primarily subsistence/ independent farms. While the UAE has a relatively low amount of land for agriculture they still manage to grow a reasonable amount of fruits and vegetables. Some of the things that they grow are citrus fruits, mangos, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, melons, and peppers. Agriculture as a percent of GDP is pretty low at 0.7%, as of 2011-2015. The cereal yield (kg/hectare) from 2011-2015 was 16,461. Compared to other countries that have the same opinion as them they are on of the highest for cereal yields. The UAE would want the UN to make a resolution that would help protect the land that they already use for agriculture. They would want this because their agricultural sector is not as developed, and their majority of independent farmers face issues that must be addressed to sustain economies and the ever-growing population of the future. This would help because the farmers need to know that even though they do not have the most developed land that they will still be able to farm. By protecting the independent farmers land it actually will help the country overall. It will help the country overall because by protecting those farms it is also protecting another source of income for the country. There are some countries that will agree and disagree with the UAE. Some countries that would agree with the UAE would be Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chad, China, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. These countries would agree with the UAE because these countries also have primarily subsistence/ independent farms. The countries that would disagree with the UAE would be the countries that have strong agricultural sectors, and countries that lack agricultural resources. Due to the fact that the UAE has low amounts of land for agriculture, the land that they do have needs to be protected.

Name: Rohan Rahalkar Delegation: Montgomery Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Ukraine Name: Rohan Rahalkar Delegation: Montgomery Nation: Ukraine Committee: Environment and Technology Part 1-Country Description The country of Ukraine is the located in the Eastern Europe. Ukraine is also the second-largest country (behind Russia) in Europe. The country borders the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia. The total land area of Ukraine is a bit smaller than the size of Texas, with a land area totaling 603,700 sq km (or 233,090 sq miles). To this date, Ukraine faces many environmental problems, such as nuclear contamination. 1/10 of the total Ukraine population have been exposed to this radiation and nearly 7 million acres of combined forest and agricultural lands have also been contaminated. The country releases most of its polluted water, heavy metal, organic compounds, and oil-related pollutants into the Black Sea. This makes the water in the Black Sea too polluted for people to drink the water, use the water in any way, or take a bath in the sea. Air pollution has long been a problem for Ukraine, dating back to the early 1990's. As of the year 2000, the country's total carbon dioxide emissions was at 342.8 million metric tons. Whereas in 1992, Ukraine's total carbon dioxide emissions was at 611.3 million metric tons. That was a decrease but Ukraine still had the world's 7th highest level of industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Ukraine currently protects only 3.9% of the wetlands which equals to a total of 22 wetlands across the country that are currently being protected by the government. Though Ukraine does not have an official religion, most of the country identifies themselves as a Christian, Roman-Catholic, or no-religion. These religions can be traced back to the long Soviet dominance and existence of Ukraine before the Soviet Union collapsed. The country is known for its famous architecture, such as beautiful churches and golden-domed cathedrals. Annually, Ukraine generates $1.2 billion in tourism profit and has an average of 15 million tourists visiting the country. Ukraine has a forecasted GDP of $97.98 USD Billion for the year 2016, continuing a steady pattern of GDP decline since the 2010's decade started. Topic 1: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure

To drive up their tourism and agricultural-based industries, Ukraine has been reliant on modest reserves of natural gas and oil. As of January 2004, Ukraine has a proven estimated total of 395 million barrels of oil reserves while they produce an estimated 86,000-90,000 barrels per day. Over the past few years, Ukraine has seen a consistent pattern where consumption has been outstripping output. For example, demands for oil averaged around 330,000 to 430,000 barrels per day. According the Oil and Gas Journal, Ukraine had their natural gas reserves estimated at around 40 trillion cubic feet. In the mid-2000s, their natural gas production was estimated at 0.69 trillion cubic feet while their consumption of natural gas was estimated at 3.03 trillion cubic feet. However, even though oil and natural gas have helped them, Ukraine relies heavily on coal production to drive up profits.Ukraine has always been one of the world's leading producers of iron ore as well as major world producer of ferroalloys, ilmenite, steel, and manganese ore. Ukraine has currently employed 500,000 people working in the in mining industries across the country. Ukraine generates nearly $20 billion (in USD) annually in exports. About 60% of Ukraine's total exports came from the "mineral exports" category whereas in the 1980s, mineral exports were 5% of the total exports sent out by Soviet Union's dominated Ukraine. In the late 2000s, Ukraine had coal reserves estimated at 37.6 billion short tons. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Ukraine is known for the tourism industry that the government relies on a lot. Ukraine knows that challenges it faces in pollution will only hurt their tourism industry. To help fight against pollution and other environmental problems the country faces, Ukraine decided to part of Basel Convention, the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Air Pollution, Ramsar, CITES, the London Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol, MARPOL, and the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea and Climate Change. Fishing in Ukraine is usually done at Black Sea. The problem with fishing in the Black Sea is that Black Sea has been know to be the epicenter of pollution, due to the waste being dumped there. The fishing industry generates nearly $20 USD million annually in exports. The problem the fishing industry faces that a lot of fishers may not want to export fish caught from a filthy, polluted sea. This may cause a decline in profits generated in global exports and tourism which may generate problems and headaches for the fishing community in Ukraine. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity

Agriculture in Ukraine accounts about 10% to 11% of the country's total GDP and employs a quarter of Ukraine's total working population. My country also has 42.8 m ha of agricultural land and 71% of the total land area in Ukraine is devoted to agriculture and farming. Ukraine has favorable climate for large-scale agriculture, rich agricultural soils and access to abundant land and water resources. Thirty percent of the world's black soil is in Ukraine, and 42 million of the country's 60 million hectares (231,660 square miles) is agricultural land where wheat, barley, rapeseed and sunflowers grow in abundance. The crops constitute about 55% of the total agricultural output. Among the leading crops are wheat, maize, sunflowers, sugar beets, tobacco, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Livestock farming includes cattle, pigs, sheep, horses etc. Ukraine is also emerging as a major producer of organic food. Already, hundreds of thousands of acres are devoted to organic farming and agricultural officials and outside experts believe that Ukraine can become a major exporter and help satisfy the increasing demand in Western Europe for such products. As of 2015, Ukraine is #1 in sunflower oil exports worldwide, #3 in barley exports worldwide, #4 in maize exports internationally, #6 in wheat exports worldwide, and #7 in soybean exports worldwide. Works Cited "Ukraine." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. http://www.ukraine-arabia.ae/economy/agriculture/

Name: Kellen Shao Delegation: Council Rock South Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: United Kingdom Kellen Shao Council Rock HS South United Kingdom Environment and Technology Country Description The United Kingdom is an island kingdom located in Northwest Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, that contains England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It has a population of roughly 62.8 millionand is approximately 243,610 square kilometers in area. The major religion of the United Kingdom is Christianity. It has a modest temperate climate for being situated north, and it is subject to natural hazards such as winter windstorms and floods. The UK is highly dependent on exporting and importing finished goods, which consequently brings about issues of agricultural dependence and domestic production. In addition, the UK also has issues regarding the presence of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutionand is trying to reduce them and increase the use of renewable energy sources such as wind power, bioenergy, hydroelectricity, and solar power. The UK also has a diverse spectrum of endemic plant and animal species, which is due to its mild climate and varied land terrains and elevations. There are approximately 1,623 plant species and 103 mammals, 557 birds, 16 reptiles, and 12 amphibians that reside in the UK. The UK has a gross GDP of $2.679 trillion, with services contributing 80%, industry contributing 19.4%, and agriculture contributing .7%. Sustainable Energy Infrastructure The UK has made significant innovations in order to develop and establish a sustainable renewable energy infrastructure. However, it has not fully committed to it as it is dependent on the use and importation of fossil fuels, which is shown as the country still relies on them for 64% of their energy use. The UK would like to reduce fossil fuel emissions by implementing more renewable energy sources, which would be killing two birds with one stone. So far, The UK has established onshore and offshore wind farms, which generate around 80 and 400 TWh/year. The prior only accounts for 15% of a projected 2030 demand, while the ladder has significant potential for generation around Scotland and the West and East coasts of England. Even more potential lies in waveand tidal energy, which are both estimated to produce 40 TWh/ year. Solar power also produces around 140 TWh/ year, although this is a very expensive option.

The UK imports over 1.047 bbl of crude oil per year, which contributes to the 568.3 million Mt carbon dioxide emission in 2013. The quantity of air pollution has only increased since then, so establishing new renewable energy sectors and investing in them could decrease spending on importing oil, which would consequently decrease the air pollution in the country. The UK would also support resolutions that would reduce the dependence of crude oil that would also encourage nations to pursue renewable and sustainable energy sources. Preservation of Biodiversity The UK houses over 74,000 species of plants and animals. However, due to a combination of pollution, the overuse of resources, commercial developments, and climate change, many species have been threatened, and the list of endangered species is increasing. The UK has a post 2010 action plan published by JNCC and Defra listing out 5 different strategic goals ranging from safeguarding the environment in specific areas to increasing public awareness and incentivizing people to protect biodiversity. However, the UK would like to focus mainly on one goal, which is researching and implementing sustainable sources of energy in order to decrease pollution and reduce the effects of climate change. Not only would this help preserve the biodiversity of the country, but if successful, it would also give it new forms of sustainable energy sectors. If the UK were to combat pollution and climate change by decreasing the reliance that it has on fossil fuels and investing more in different sources of renewable energy, such as hydroelectricity and bioenergy. Commercial development and habitat destruction of plants and animals also needs to be controlled and restrained and will be the second priority of the UK. The UK would support positions that favor combating the decreasing biodiversity by establishing sustainable energy sourcesand would like to call upon other European nations to help protect biodiversity across the continent of Europe. Agricultural Productivity The UK lacks in its agriculture sector, with it only contributing only .7% to its GDP in 2015. The main agricultural produce is cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, cattle, sheep, and poultry. The amount agricultural land available in the UK is about 71% of its area, but most of that land (45.7%) is used for commercial pastures farms. Only 25.1 % of the land is arableand able to be used for farming. As an island, it also relies heavily on importing goods instead of pursuing its own agriculture sector for self-reliance. The UK also exports many of its agri-food to countries such as the USA, France, Germany, Spain, and Ireland. In order to increase sustainability for its agricultural sector, the UK has decided to invest 70 million in new agricultural technologies that would help it increase

the efficiency of food production, which in turn would let farming and science industries grow while also meeting an increased global and country demand for food. The UK would like to focus the implementation of more individual farmers using organic fertilizers. This would greatly increase the amount of nutrients and would help counter infertile soil and allow for the renewal of new nutrient rich land. Using inorganic fertilizers has taken a toll on the soil of farms, resulting in a decrease of the world's arable land due to erosion and the loss of nutrients in the soil using inorganic fertilizers or no fertilizers at all. Inorganic fertilizers provide nutrients to the crops themselvesbut have no impact on the soil. They are made from non-renewable sources such as fossil fuelsand have a worse impact on the environment when being compared to organic fertilizers, as the composition of the two differs. The UK would support countries that would implement and encourage farmers to use these methods to help preserve a sustainable agriculture environments around the world. Works Cited Carmen, Esther et al. "Arguing for Biodiversity in Practice: a Case Study from the UK." Biodiversity and Conservation, 17 July 2012, doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1264-x. Day, Julie. "Pros and Cons of Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers Today's Homeowner." Today's Homeowner, Danny Lipford Media, www.todayshomeowner.com/debate-over-organic-chemical-fertilizers/. "Find Agriculture Expertise in United Kingdom." Commonwealthofnations.org, Nexus Strategic Partnerships Limited, www.commonwealthofnations.org/sectors-united_kingdom/business/agriculture/. "Reegle - Clean Energy Information Gateway." Reegle - Clean Energy Information Gateway, www.reegle.info/policy-and-regulatory-overviews/GB. Smeed, Mark. "Renewable Generation." Renewable Generation Energy UK, Energy UK, www.energy-uk.org.uk/energy-industry/renewable-generation.html. "Sustainable Agriculture." doi:10.1787/22c0adbc-en. "What Powers the World? by Gocompare.com." Gocompare.com - Comparison Made Easier With Defaqto, www.gocompare.com/energy/what-powers-the-world/. "The World Factbook: UNITED KINGDOM." Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html.

Name: Rutvik Parikh Delegation: Colts Neck Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: USA Part I- Country Description The United States of America is located in the Western Hemisphere surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the left and the Pacific ocean to the right. USA for short, is in North America and the north is bordered by Canada, and the South is bordered by Mexico and South America. It has an area of 9630 million km squared, being the third largest in the world.It has 50 states, two of which are not on the mainland: Hawaii, and Alaska. Its capital is Washington D.C, in Maryland. The US has a population of 322 million people, and so the diversity it has means it has no set religion.However it is predominantly Protestant (56%), Roman Cathollic (28%), and Jews (2%). The others are 4% and none is 10%. The nationality is American and the two dominant languages are English (82%) and Spanish (10%). The literacy level is 97%. The United States' economy is run by industrialism; it is the leading industrial power in the world with motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, etc. Its currency is the US dollar. United states broke away from British rule in 1776, and since then it has grown to be an independent nation. It has a Constitution based federal governmen w.hich is split into three branches: legislative, run by congress, executive led by the president, and judicial, with theSupreme Court. The US' economy is based on labour, and with a continous flow of immigrants has led the gross GDP to be $17.91 trillion. Part II- Topics I: Renewable Infrastructure The United States is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy generation and transportation sustenance. Relative to other nations, the US has one of the highest per capita energy consumption rates, and has faced political challenges to breakthrough progress in reducing climate change. Although green energy has been made a "priority," there is a large disparity between high income and low income areas in the US. The US has a dependency of68% of fossil fuels, and uses only 13% renewable energy including nuclear power. However there are many barriers, to the uasge of renewable energy. The market only looks at the money part of using these energies and forgets to think about the long term effects from using them. Yes, even though the barriers are reasonable, such as locating a strong site to begin the construction of the renewable energy. Another problem, is installation, operation, and maintenance. It costs a lot of money; about $150 billion have been spent on renewable energy where as $290 billion has been spent on

traditional energy.America is pivoting towards renewable energy usage and hascommitted significant resources to diversifying its energy platforms. Even though,it isstill dependent on fossil fuels for energy generation, it hasa growing minority of green power plants. America hasexploitable geographic advantages to enable renewable energy production. II: Biodiversity Biodiversity is America is plenty, and there have been steps taken to solve the problem of our ecological problems. Although the United States is home to a vast variety of unique plant and animal species, the country is not doing enough to preserve its wildlife. As a result, over 500 species native to the United States have gone missing, presumably extinct. Likewise, although the US government has set aside lands, such as national parks, for the preservation of nature, they are too small and far apart to be considered effective. America has deforested 50,000 acres which has led to putting 1,203 species on the Red List for endangered species. The world and its environment is changing too fast for animals to adapt to the certain conditons, which is killing them and endangering them. Steps to reducing the endangerment of animals arevery simple. More awareness should be given to the general public, who will realize the effect they have on saving ecosystems. There should be stricter laws about fishing and hunting and of course a decrease in deforestation. Forests are home to many animals and 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their daily lives. III: Agricultral Productivity Agriculture was a big part of America's history. When USA became its own independent nation, factories and industrialist businesses were not created or even thought of. America was an agricultural society, until the Industrialist Era. During this time, factories began to open up, and farming labour decreased significantly. From there on, agriculture and industrialism fused.Being a major net exporter of food, the United States's agriculture is a major contributor to the nation's economy. However, due to its high population to sustain, the United States has turned to increasingly industrialized methods of farming. Although this is not necessarily bad, it has resulted in a steady depletion of water sources and soil fertility. 1.4% of America's GDP comes from agriculture and the cereal yield is 7637 kg/hectare. Agricultural products in America: wheat, corn, grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, poultry, and dairy products. America exports soybeans, fruit, and corn with Canada, Mexico, China, and Japan; it imports agricultural products grains, sugar, preserved fruit, dairy, and meat with China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Germany.

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/united_states.htm https://climatepolicyinitiative.org/2012/03/12/what-does-the-u-s-government-really-spend-on-energy/ http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/barriers-to-renewable-energy.html#.WD-eO6IrKu4 http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/topics/encyclopedia/renewable-energy/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLVWx5a2d6VERDVUU/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLQlZwai0wWXg5Y2c/view https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9CPmFKicXLLc09FU2hMX0RMeW8/view

Name: jack sharkey Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Uzbekistan Part 1 : Country description The country Uzbekistan, is located in Asia. Their population is 30.24 million people, and their people are known to speak Uzbek. Uzbekistan although not being one of the richest countries, is somewhat financially stable. Their GNP is 159.9 billion $ and the average income of an Uzbekistan citizen is 1,878$. Uzbekistan makes all of its money off of Cotton, as for they are the 6th largest cotton producers in the world. Unemployment remains high in Uzbekistan, however their literacy rate is very well which is a shocking 99.6%. Uzbekistan is not culturally diverse. Basically, it is an Islamic country. Uzbekistan's armed forces are known to be the largest, and strongest country in Central Asia. The leader of Uzbekistan is a respected man named Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Ultimately, despite the pre- reputation UZbekistan has, they ultimately are a fair economically stable country. Topic 1: Sustainable Energy Infrastructure. Recently, humans have been directly impacting nature negatively, which has broken the balance between humans and animals. Humans thrive off of animals, and there is absolutely no reason for us in return to deprive their ecosystem. The main causes to this drastic change are pollution and climate change. Halting this destruction will be difficult, but it is manageable if we cut down on greenhouse gases. Uzbekistan has substantial potential in terms of renewable energy, which exceeds the current annual volumes of production of fossil fuels by a factor of three. Solar energy is the most promising renewable technology for Uzbekistan as it is accessible nationwide for many days of the year. Increasing use of solar energy in Uzbekistan can make more gas available for export while meeting the national demand for electricity and heating, especially at remote locations. Topic 2: Preservation of Biodiversity Gaining money is on everyone's mind, but some companies go so far as to destroying wildlife for capital gain. This should happen no more. The government needs to take action and prevent powerhouse companies from taking and urbanizing too much land. Also, the government should create infrastructures that can sustain the gases, and shield humans from too much exposure. Thus, we are safer and the environment around us thrives. Uzbekistan's biodiversity has suffered in past times. Our country's contribution to the common cause of preserving the world's biodiversity is increasing. An important role in this project is given to the UN Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan "National Biodiversity Planning to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the

Convention on Biological Diversity in Uzbekistan for 2011-2020". About the start of the project was announced at Tashkent introductory seminar for senior officials of ministries and departments, companies, enterprises, scientists from the Academy of Sciences and universities, non-profit community organizations. Topic 3: Agricultural Productivity Growth in agriculture and its productivity are essential in achieving sustainable growth and significant reduction in poverty in developing countries. According to the World Development Report over 1.3 billion people are living on less than $1/day and around 2.7 billion people lived on under $2/day [1]. Between two thirds to three fourths of them live in rural areas while 90 per cent of the world's poor inhabit Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa [2]. Therefore, it is in the vast rural sector that significant manifestations of poverty exist. Over the last five decades the world population has increased by 140 per cent. By the middle of this century the world is likely to witness a population growth of 3 to 4 billion with most of this increase occurring in the poorest regions. It is in these countries that the income elasticity of demand for food is very high. Agriculture is the backbone of Uzbekistan's economy, contributing almost one-third to the annual GDP. More importantly, agriculture provides the livelihood for most of the population who live in rural areas [3]. Agriculture is also a great consumer of the natural resources, it accounts for 92% of Uzbekistan's total water use [4], equivalent to 60% of all water use in Central Asia. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, 80% of Uzbekistan's water supplies have come from neighbouring countries, primarily via the Rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya [5]. Thus, agriculture and agricultural policy in Uzbekistan now have significant international dimensions. In the present study different factors that explain differences in the productivity of regions are identified. http://www.heritage.org/index/country/uzbekistan Unknown. "Uzbekistan." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. Heritage.org, 5 Oct. 2016. Web. 08 Nov.2016.

Name: Catelyn Petrucelli Delegation: Rancocas Valley High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Venezuela Catelyn Petrucelli Delegation: Rancocas Valley Delegation Nation: Venezuela Committee: Environment and Technology B Venezuela is a federal republic located on the northern coast of South America. It is bordered by Brazil on the south, and Columbia on the west. Venezuela has a population of about 31,028,337 people. They are considered having extremely high biodiversity with habitats ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazon Basin rainforest in the south. Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522, and in 1811, it became one of the first Spanish-American colonies to declaire independence, and wasn't really securely established until 1821. Which was when Venezuela was a department of Federal republic of Gran Colombia. It gained full independence as a separate country in 1830. Venezuela's food safety is not very good. They have good food availability and stuff like that but the type of food is not all that great. The food is very dirty and unhealthy and the quality of the food is terrible and many people (their residents/population) get sick from the food. There is a national food crisis going on in the world and they do not want to be a part of that. Their president, Hugo Chavez Frias says that they are not going to fall into this food crisis. In fact, he is going to help other nations who are facing this crisis. They found this new thing called Artisanal fishing which is new equipment such as nets, boats, and a cooling facility which would help the food to be cleaner and better to eat. These new ways of getting food will help to get cleaner, better, and healthier food to Venezuela's people. Their new system is not with any competition with anyone so they have no worries. They now catch a variety of different fish and species. They are doing so well with this system, that they are using it to help out other countries. Other countries would have a little bit to say about the ideas that venezuela has. Many, many, many other countries are struggling with food a LOT worse than venezuela. So they see that Venezuela found this new way of getting better and healthier food so they want to do the same thing too. Although, other countries would be close to Venezuela because Venezuela helps them out and helps them with this new fishing technique. Other countries would respect Venezuela and their new technique.

Considering Venezuela is partially surrounded by water, piracy is a problem. There was an instance where pirates invaded a ship and held everyone inside hostage, and the one pirate was trying to steal the gold rings on one of the workers on the boats hand. They said that the pirates were ruthless and VERY violent. The Venezuelans were told that it was safe to go sailing and that it is a "dead" pirate zone. Meaning that there are no more pirates. They were lied to and their lives were put at risk. My country Venezuela would like the committee to solve this problem. One way by arming the cargo ships. Even though Venezuela is against guns, they should be allowed to stock the ships with weaponry so that they can protect themselves. The reason pirates attack is because they know that the people on the ships cannot protect themselves. If they have weapons, they would be able to defend themselves, and not just have the pirates attack them. Several other countries dealing with piracy would take the same exact measures to stop piracy from continuing. It may go against a lot of beliefs, but if this issue is ignored, it could seriously get out of hand. This is not an issue to ignore. So therefore, other countries would want to help solve this issue too. Venezuela is in need of solar power. It helps that is is always sunny and hot where Venezuela is, so solar power would be perfect for them. They were thinking of pairing with China to help them with this solar issue. They are trying to become a cleaner place and trying to make it a better place to live. They are trying to get solar power. Venezuela is now making a gigantic solar energy landscape. They partnered with China in making one of the largest solar energy landscapes in the country. They are proud to have partnered with Yingli to bring green energy into the archipelago of Los Roques, which is a region that is known for its incredible natural beauty and biodiversity. This system is huge and will help out Venezuela greatly. Other countries would think that this is a great thing. Such as China, they helped out Venezuela in accomplishing this so they are good allies. Other countries think this is a good idea because it is a green and safer alternative rather than doing the oil stuff. Other countries would like to do the same thing that Venezuela is and China but most of them are not able to do it because they cannot afford it.

Name: Ivan Chau Delegation: Montgomery Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Vietnam Name: Ivan Chau Delegation: Montgomery Nation: Vietnam Committee: Environment and Technology B Country Description The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a relatively large country located in Southeast Asia surrounded by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. It is home to 95.3 million inhabitants, one of the highest populations in the world. Vietnam is proudly a multiethnic country, containing fifty distinct ethnic groups. Of the three largest groups, 86.2% of the population is Vietnamese, 1.9% Tay, and 1.7% M╞░ß╗Øng. Vietnam is one of the four one-party communist states remaining in the world. The government is composed of the President, Tran Dai Quang, Secretary-general, Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, many executive powers, and the National Assembly of Vietnam, the legislation. The elections are indirect, and each candidate is approved through the National Assembly. In terms of the economy, the country has one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia and is planned on becoming a developed nation in 2020 through economic reforms in public investment, state-owned enterprises, and the banking sector. The GDP of Vietnam is approximately 552.3 billion and is the 36th highest in the world, it has grown around 5-6 percent yearly, one of the highest GDP growth rates compared to other countries. Vietnam's revenue and economy revolves around services and industry, over 82.5% of their GDP is composed of their combined revenue. Vietnam's labor force and industrial production growth rates are amongst the highest in the world. Position on Topics : Creation and Implementation of Renewable Infrastructure Despite Vietnam's ubiquitous access to electricity throughout the country and hydroelectric power plants, there are few places where clean, renewable or nuclear energy is present, although there have been efforts to increase renewable infrastructure recently. Its current infrastructure is 55% dependent on fossil fuels, with emphasis on

coal processing. However, Vietnam has adopted several projects to integrate renewable energy into its electricity grid, including the 'Vietnam Renewable Energy' Development Project' (2009 - 2016) and the 'MOIT/GIZ Energy Support Programme' (since 2013) and has offered support and incentive for environmental protection activities, which has shown positive impact in terms of hydropower plants. The stipulated incentives include investment support and lower rates for electricity prices and taxes. The urgency for energy has grown with Vietnam's scaling economic development and therefore the opportunity to switch to clean, renewable energy. To address environmental issues, Vietnam would like to promote a multilateral platform to provide support and incentive for renewable infrastructures. This plan would prioritize countries with large carbon-dioxide emissions or large dependence on fossil fuels to receive financial support for a renewable energy program in the nation. This policy can be paired with light regulations on carbon-emissions, such as a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, which would further encourage greatly the switch to renewable energy sources. This switch to renewable energy is the most effective solution and antidote to climate change and important to sustainable development. To approach these issues, Vietnam would partner with allies Sweden, Laos, France, and Canada, who all share similar policies in the transition to and integration of renewable energy sources. A multilateral agreement regarding renewable infrastructure will bring benefits to the environment including lowering carbon emissions and the production of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it can be very good economically for the nations involved given the efficiencies of renewable energy and economic incentives provided by the agreement. For more partners, we would consider reaching out to those participating in the International Renewable Energy Alliance (REN Alliance), a collection of organizations within different countries. Countries that may be hesitant to enter this agreement would inevitably have high dependence on fossil fuels or low economic infrastructure to handle the investment. For countries like Cuba or Egypt, the accessibility of petroleum, geographical and political stability of these countries may factor into their decision to adopt the agreement regarding the transition towards renewable energy. Preservation of Biodiversity Home to over 417 endangered and diverse species, Vietnam desires to preserve and scope its wildlife habitats for the future. The 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ranking of countries with the largest number of threatened species placed Vietnam 6th, 15th and 18th for reptiles, mammals and birds, respectively. There are several protected areas in Vietnam so that these species can thrive through a network of National Parks,

Nature Reserves, and Cultural and Historical Sites. This system has been in use since its inception by Ho Chi Minh in 1962. However, research on these discovered species is needed and the expansion of these protected areas and zones are of the highest urgency. This urgency is exemplified with the Vietnam National University partnering with The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History (CBC-AMNH) and the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) in 1998 for a multi-year collaborative research, education and training effort to measure the extent and distribution of Vietnamese species diversity and to identify conservation priorities and potential new protected areas. Many other laws were passed regarding deforestation and biodiversity, including the "National Biodiversity Action Plan" (1995), Law on Forest Protection (2004) and the Biodiversity Law (2008). Realizing the detriments of deforestation and fragmentation to the environment, Vietnam urgently pushes for a solution to preserve its diverse and endangered wildlife. To further preserve and prevent extinction of the biodiversity in the nation, Vietnam would like to propose the creation of a global conservation group to monitor biodiverse areas and to establish and expand protected areas across several countries concerned with large numbers of endangered species or deforestation. Protecting forests is only a niche to preserving wildlife. Tropical rainforests, glaciers, lakes, and marshes should also be monitored based on a country's discretion. Furthermore, penalties must be in place to prevent and discourage illegal logging, deforestation, or harm towards protected areas. Many other countries with diverse and endangered species, like Thailand, Indonesia, Colombia or Panama would agree that a step must be taken to preserve biodiversity and wildlife worldwide. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) can also provide support for future partnership and alliances. An opponent to our proposed policy would likely be countries who have their economy dependent or very reliant upon deforestation and wood, or those who do not have wildlife to protect, like Afghanistan or Sudan. However, it is still urgent to address this problem, especially in countries that are unintentionally harming habitats of endangered species. Agricultural Productivity Significant parts of the GDP and Vietnam's labor force depends on agricultural production. 63% of the population derives its livelihood from agriculture. Furthermore, Vietnam is a top exporter and producer of several items, including rice, rubber, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, wood products and fisheries. However, Vietnam is looking to transition and explore new types of crops and improve its current agricultural infrastructure, mainly due to the high prevalence and instability within recent years. To

remain competitive in economic markets, Vietnam needs to improve in supply, quality, and food safety. There are potential points in failure springing from irrigation ruptures and poor weather that would cause Vietnam's rice crop, which composes 94% of the arable land, to become poor and even unsafe in quality. Vietnam also seeks development in other agricultural sectors, such as harboring, fishing, animal husbandry, and the usage of greater technology which would increase product quality and food safety and stabilize the agricultural sector. Improving Vietnam's agricultural sector would involve a shift to modern technology and agricultural systems and adoption of different crops, which may or may not be genetically modified. A system to monitor the quality and safety of certain crops would also be very beneficial and would better the economic output of the nation with higher quality crops which the market desires in the long term. This could also be paired with economic incentives and services for incorporation of biodiverse crops into respective agricultural systems. Adoption of these reforms would overall strengthen the agricultural infrastructure of the nation and stabilize the sector to be ready for shocks in weather or economic slump. Vietnam would partner with other countries like Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Laos who also are single-crop dependent to advocate for greater crop biodiversity, quality, and safety. While other countries may believe they are not affected due to their lack of arable land or dependence on agriculture, Vietnam urges for their support in improving agricultural systems across the world, which in turn will provide economic benefits nationwide. In addition, Vietnam would be gracious for the support from the Food Safety and Quality Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to help spread the ideals of our cause; to improve agricultural infrastructure and the lives of people dependent upon it. Work Cited Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 25 Nov. 2016. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html> News, BBC. "Vietnam Country Profile." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16567315> Sembiring, Margareth. "Vietnam's Vision for a Renewable Energy Future East Asia Forum." East Asia Forum. East Asia Forum, 12 Aug. 2016. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/08/12/vietnams-vision-for-a-renewable-energy-future/> Hurley, M.M., comp. "Multi-Taxa Biotic Inventories of Three Unprotected Forested Ecosystems in Vietnam." Retrieved 25 Nov. 2016 from the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA: http://amnh.org. <http://www.amnh.org/our-research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/research-and-conservation/place-based-research/mainland-southeast-asia/vietnam-research-conservation> "Vietnam - Agriculture." Agriculture - Vietnam - Export, Area, Crops, Annual, System, Sector. NationsEncyclopedia, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Vietnam-AGRICULTURE.html> "Challenges and New Opportunities For Vietnams Agriculture In The International Integration Process." Challenges and New Opportunities for Vietnam's Agriculture in the International Integration Process. Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <http://www.vietrade.gov.vn/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2246:challenges-and-new-opportunities-for-vietnams-agriculture-in-the-international-integration-process&catid=270:vietnam-industry-news&Itemid=363> "Transforming Vietnam's Agriculture Sector Will Stimulate Higher Growth." World Bank. The World Bank, 27 Sept. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016. <http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/09/27/transforming-vietnams-agriculture-sector-will-stimulate-higher-growth>

Name: Matthew Cetlin Delegation: Westfield High School Committee: Environment and Technology B Country: Zimbabwe Part I - Country Information The Republic of Zimbabwe is a landlocked sovereign state located in southern Africa, with a population of 14 million people. Zimbabwe was formerly known as Rhodesia. The capital and largest city is Harare. Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls, is located in the country's extreme northwest sector. The country is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique. Zimbabwe has sixteen official languages; English, Shona, and Ndebele are the most commonly spoken languages. Zimbabwe has an abundance of natural resources such as copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, coal, and tin. Despite being rich in natural resources and one of the highest literacy rates (90.7%) on the continent, Zimbabwe remains one of the poorest countries in Africa, with an unemployment rate at a staggering 95% (including underemployment). Robert Mugabe, the leader of the Zanu party, has been the Prime Minister since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, and the President since 1987. Under his authoritarian regime, there have been numerous human rights violations, which resulted in international sanctions and suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1980, the minority white Zimbabweans made up 0.6% of the population but held 70% of the country's fertile agricultural land. In 2000, the Fast Track Land Reform program, aimed at redistributing land to the majority black population through brutality, corruption, and confiscation, resulted in a serious decrease in agricultural exports, which historically was the country's leading export-producing sector. In July 2016, nationwide protests took place to protest the economic collapse of the country. Mugabe has continually blamed Zimbabwe's economic problems on Western capitalist countries. The largest ethnic group is Shona. Traditional arts are basketry, textiles, pottery, sculptures and carvings. It is estimated that 60% - 70% of Zimbabweans follow mainstream Western Christian denominations. As a whole, 85% of Zimbabwe is Christian, with the majority of regularly attending church services. Foreign missionary groups are present in the country.

Part II - Positions on Topics: General Assembly A Topic 1: Global Healthcare The top three threats facing the people of Zimbabwe are HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, and malaria. These diseases have contributed to a significant increase (more than triple) of maternal and childhood illness and death over the last twenty years. In 2006, according to the United Nations, Zimbabwe had one of the lowest life expectancies - 44 for men, 43 for women - but has since recovered to 53 and 54, respectively, still very low. The health system had deteriorated to the point of collapse. A decade of economic downturn and rising costs has eroded the health care system of Zimbabwe, which was known in the region for its well-educated doctors and the ability to provide advanced medical care. During the 2008 economic crisis, the Zimbabwe Medical School shut down, along with several hospitals. Due to hyperinflation, basic drugs and medicines were unattainable. Skilled health care workers left the country to pursue better opportunities.

Zimbabwe would like to see further policy developments, targeted financing, and programs introduced to address inequity in the health care system. Advocacy groups, church and youth organizations, as well as members of the Zimbabwe National Army and Republic Police, have marched to highlight the need for at least 15 percent of the national budget to be spent on the health care sector. There are many nations in the Western world that support the need for affordable and accessible health care for the nation of Zimbabwe. The Health Transition Fund (HTF) is sponsored by several EU members and managed by UNICEF. The fund is used to train and retain health workers. It also goes towards purchasing supplies of drugs and vaccines, and planning and financing health policies. Also, USAID organization, in partnership with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care, supports programs to reduce deaths and lessen the burden of disease, especially among women and children.

Topic 2: Human Rights - Torture Under the rule of President Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, there are continuous reports of escalating human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch assert that the government violates the decent human rights of shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence to the citizens of Zimbabwe. Opposition is frequently met with brutal attacks by the police force. The government denies that torture is a standard used on its people and assures us that the human rights of all Zimbabweans are respected at all times. The government of Zimbabwe has generally responded to accusations of human rights violations from Western countries by counter-accusing that colonial attitudes and hypocrisy are what drive these accusations. If the government would cease governing by oppression and allow freedom of expression and freedom of the press, in addition to granting visas to foreign journalists, the Western world might be able to alleviate mistreatment of Zimbabweans. The United States shares the same fundamental interest as the Zimbabwean people: a stable, peaceful, democratic Zimbabwe that reflects the people's will and provides for their needs. The U.S. and members of the EU believe that those few Zimbabweans using their position of power to undermine the democratic process are not benefitting from their actions. The easing of restrictive measures, sanctions and travel bans can only occur in the context of credible, transparent, and lasting democratic measures by those Zimbabweans using their position of power.

Topic 3: International Disputes

Most of the sanctions on Zimbabwe relate to those by Western countries targeted against individuals and companies engaged in alleged human rights abuses. Zimbabwe has also faced restricted access to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund due to the non-servicing of debt. Restrictions imposed by international financial institutions on access to credit have more than likely constrained Zimbabwe's economy the most. However, the sanctions by the West have been the most polarizing and contentious, splitting the citizens of Zimbabwe, as well as between African, international and Western-policy makers. Since the 2013 elections, Western powers have been caught between two sides: those who maintain that lifting the remaining sanctions would endorse the state's flawed human rights and elections record, and business voices bemoaning the missed opportunities if Zimbabwe turns towards the East (China, Russia) as an alternative. Reductions in sanctions by the Western world would signal a willingness to engage Zimbabwe. Arguments for reducing sanctions point to the sanctions hindering political progress. Targeted measures directed at President Mugabe would be lifted if Zimbabwe can continue to normalize and eventually resume relations with the international community.

Works Cited "Country Profile Zimbabwe." Web Archive, web.archive.org/web/20080226160722/http://infoexport.gc.ca/ie-en/DisplayDocument.jsp?did=1589. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. International Press Service, IPSnews.net. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. Zimbabwe Constitution. Constitute Project, www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Zimbabwe_2013.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016.

US Agency for international Development. www.usaid.gov/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. U.S. Department of State. Us Government, State.gov. "Why ICT is critical in 'illiterate' Africa." Biztech Africa, 3 Dec. 2012, www.biztechafrica.com/article/why-ict-%20critical-illiterate-%20africa/4841/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016. ZImhealth. Thimpress, Zimhealth.org. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016.