The Security Council (UNSC) was formed in 1945 with the founding of the United Nations and since has acted as one of the most powerful organs of the UN. According to the UN charter. It is the responsibility of the Security Council “to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.” In today’s climate, some of the major issues faced by the Security Council include food insecurity, especially worsened due to recent events and bringing greater attention to the vulnerabilities that ladened the world system, and the violence surrounding the conflict in Ukraine. While the Security Council is focused on solving these issues, competing interests and viewpoints may make it difficult to reach a consensus. Delegates in this body should approach the other members with the spirit of collaboration and dedication that these international crisis’ merit.

The UN’s Environment Programme was started in 1972 and its central body assembly (the UNEA) started in 2012. For decades, UNEA delegates have been a key voice regarding the human harm that results from environmental degradation and the importance of multilateral efforts to combat the grave issues facing our planet. This 2023 Environmental Assembly must consider the ongoing climate crisis affecting countries worldwide, along with recent energy and food shortages impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. These shortages have reverberated through the supply chain, making plans for sustainable development even less certain and putting a brighter spotlight on the push towards advancing greener energy sources. Smaller nations with less resources have called out for more equity in climate funding and pushed for collective action to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and the subsequent natural disasters that come with that change. In particular, this committee must confront the key issue areas relating to the way countries are endeavoring to transform their energy sector, strengthening climate resilience in the face of natural and man-made crises, and protecting biodiversity in the ocean.

Since 2002, the African Union has pushed a vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” This body has tackled some of the most pressing and long-standing issues facing the continent, including: liberation movements, apartheid, continuing effects of colonialism, and many pressing public health crises. Today, the body faces many more pressing issues and collective and immediate action is required. Climate change is rewriting the status quo for communities and livelihoods worldwide and the African continent is disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. Conflict areas in the DRC, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso have created waves of immigrants and internally-displaced persons (IDPs). The most pressing of these areas is the DRC Congo where food insecurity affects about a third of the countries’ population. As part of this body, you are tasked with creating progress and dialogue on these issues. It will not be easy to bring differing voices together and there are often no clear solutions to these issues. However, the current situation is too severe for inaction, and with the right approach, the African Union can yet again show it’s mettle and make the continent a better place.

The International Press Delegation (IPD) produces The CIMUN Chronicle, a digital newspaper, and partners with the CIMUN News Network (CNN), a staff-run broadcast news program.

All press coverage during CIMUN is provided by Delegates from the International Press Delegation.